RFQ 75N98021Q00058 QA1.docx

RFQ 75N98021Q00058 Questions and Answer

Questions are in bolded red and answers in bolded blue.

Specifications

1. Interchangeability with existing racking systems which are Lab Products Part No. Primate Unit, Stainless Steel Mobile (4) (110 are currently in use) What is actual Part No.?

SPCL Primates

2. Standardization of caging systems in multiple primate facilities in Buildings 14B, 14D, 102, 103, 104 and 110A use Lab Products Part No. Primate Unit, Stainless Steel Mobile (4) It appears this is not a unique design and standardization could be met by several stainless steel manufacturers. Please elaborate.

Cages need to be manufactured as close as possible to existing racks for consistency in procedures of usage, cage security, animal transfers, safety of NHP’s as well as humans.

3. Cage racks shall not exceed seventy-nine (79) inches for animal room door clearance. Please provide ALL Rack detailed dimensions (L x W x H) 70” W x 32” D x 79”H approximate.

4. All cage rack components shall be compatible with Lab Products Part Number, Primate Unit, Stainless Steel Mobile (4) What is actual Part No.?

SPCL Primates And what features needed to be included in new rack to make compatible with existing rack.

Dimensions of cage front doors and door openings, Rack to rack access panels and openings, Rack to rack locking mechanisms.

5. The cages shall meet or exceed current USDA requirements for housing Group 4 primates up to 15 kilograms.

6. Primate units shall have four compartments with a minimum size of 6.1 square feet of floor space and inside height of 32 inches. Provide ALL inside cage dimensions? (L x W H) 32” W x 29” D x 32”H approximate

7. Primate units shall be made of materials that are completely autoclavable at high temperatures (270 F)

8. The construction of primate units shall be made of heavy duty stainless steel and the design shall facilitate ease of sanitation that eliminates the need for mechanical scrubbing. Please provide summary of SOP describing how existing NHP racks are washed and or autoclaved?

Pre-soaked with quaternary ammonia, gross material pre-washed with hose, washed in rack washer, cycles pre-wash, wash, rinse, and final rinse. Chemicals used alkaline detergent, phosphoric acid, pH control.

9. The construction shall be seamless as possible with minimal amounts of welded constructions so they will not trap organic matter

10. The primate units shall incorporate a design to provide enrichment to include solid stainless-steel panels, grid panels and clear high impact Zyfone™. Where are these panels located (middle of rack? Top and or Bottom of rack? Or on L and/ or R sides of units?) and in what order are they left to right ?

Enrichment panels for socialization are located between adjacent cage units.

The design shall have an adjustable 5-tiered system.

What does this mean?

Panels to be adjustable for 5 possible positions to methodically control interaction between cage units. Isolation, visual, touch, grooming, unrestricted.

11. The unit shall be designed with moveable interior panels to provide socialization of animals from side to side. Please describe specifications and sizes of these panel and their orientation on the rack. Where are they located? Panels are located between cage units and need to have the ability to be manipulated from outside the cage.

12. Waste pans shall be of seamless construction and sloped shall nest in such a manner as not to become stuck together. They shall be made of stainless steel to withstand repeated washing at a minimum of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Please add more details about the “slope” Clarification – Washdown pans, not waste pans. Troughs on back of racks to be sloped for drainage. Caging needs to be configured to accept waste pans.

13. All parts of the primate units shall be constructed to withstand repeated shaking and high impacts caused by non-human primates.

14. Primate units shall provide a safe and secure environment for non-human primates. Please list any specific locations of hasps for extra locks and specific locations of spring loaded locks.

Locking hasps – 2 per door, 1 per squeeze back, 1 per enrichment panel divider. Spring-loaded latches – 2 per side panels, 2 per squeeze back, 1 per door, 1 per pan.

15. The squeeze-back mechanism shall have a design that does not trap debris, organic matter and provides a high level of safety by eliminating pinch points to the non-human primate’s appendages. What is the grid configuration of squeeze back? What size are squares? Or is it a solid piece? What material? Stainless steel 1” x 3” mesh

16. Primate units shall be equipped with Edstrom stainless steel automatic water system. The quick disconnect for a recoil hose shall be located in an area that eliminates the potential for access by the animals. What is location on existing racks?

On rear of rack

17. The units shall have locking mechanisms and latches that are tamper proof by non-human primates and prevents escaped animals. Please list all specific locations of spring loaded locks.

Tamper proof guards to prevent unwanted opening of spring-loaded locks/latches and see 14 above

18. The feeders shall be designed to eliminate the ability of non-human primates to reach out and possibly injure employees. What material are these made of? Are they fixed or removable and where are they located on the front of rack? Stainless steel mesh 5/8”, 1 feeder per cage unit bolted on front of rack, can be removed.

19. Cage doors shall slide side to side when opening and closing. What direction do they slide and what are dimensions of door? What grid size?

Doors are on the fronts of each cage unit and slide from middle of the rack to the outside edge. 13” W x 18” H approximate opening. 1” x 9” grid

20. Primate caging units shall have the capability to latch and interconnect to compatible caging. Lab Products Part No. Primate Unit, Stainless Steel Mobile (4). Requesting site visit to see existing cages latch together and to check for compatibility. Need more details and specifications describing how existing cages latch together.

2 draw latches on front right side of rack, one lock loop on rear right. 1 receiving tab on front left and one on rear left.

21. What is grid pattern of floor? And are floors removable?

8 Ga. wire mesh, first 7 inches 1” square OC from front. Remainder 1” x 1.25# squares to rear of cage units

22. What are the sides of the cages made of? Grid? Solid? And are there any removable panels on the sides of the cages?

Bottom sections 18” x 28” solid stainless steel panels, upper sections 15” x 16” mesh 5/8” OC, 12” x 14” sliding panel for rack to rack access.

23. What are the front, Top, Rear of rack made of? Solid Stainless? Grid and what pattern?

Top 8 Ga. wire 1” x 3” mesh with a 1” x 1” mesh panel near auto water connection point. Rear stainless steel solid panels.

Deliverables Electronic and 1 (one) hard copy sets of drawings shall be provided in that demonstrates in detail the caging systems adherence to the specifications listed above. When? With bid response or at time of award? Electronic with bid response (see . Can be conceptual.

Please confirm if a site visit can be scheduled ASAP so bidders can evaluate and assess NIH’s existing cages prior to completing proposals.

Due to COVID protocols we are not doing site visits for this procurement.