RFQ_NIHOD201800017.doc

RFQ NIHOD201800017

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 "Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items," as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is being issued using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under the Authority of FAR Subpart 13.5.

This solicitation is a request for quotes (RFQ) under RFQ Number NIHOD201800017. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-97, dated January 24, 2018. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 332420-Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing with a size standard of 750 Employees. This RFQ is set aside for small business.

Order Type

It is contemplated that a single fixed price Purchase Order will be awarded on an all or none basis.

Schedule of Delivery Shipment from Factory: The autoclave sections will be shipped to the site 36 weeks from receipt of purchase order and approved drawings, as applicable.

NOTES:

1) Upon two weeks notification from NIH, the existing Autoclave shall be cut up and removed from the premises for disposal. This will help facilitate a smooth delivery and rigging through the facility and into the pit.

2) Site demolition work, i.e. demolition and removal of the existing autoclave is estimated to be completed within eight (8) consecutive normal work days, after start of onsite work.

3) Pit refinishing (provided by others) must be completed and cured before the new autoclave can be delivered.

4) Site installation work for the new autoclave, i.e. delivery, rigging of equipment sections into position, fit up, welding, re-assembly, start-up, Site Acceptance Testing, and Operator Training is estimated to be completed within twenty-five (25) consecutive normal work days after delivery of equipment sections to the site receiving area.

Description of Requirement

StatemeNT of WOrk Building 49 Bulk STEAM AUTOCLAVE / Sterilizer Part 1 Removal and Installation

A. Due to limited and restricted access through the facility to the final installation site, the contractor shall provide as part of the proposal a plan for the demolition of existing equipment and installation of the new bulk autoclave. Work will occur between the hours of 6:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Work over the weekend can be performed as long as arrangements are made with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

B. The plan shall include the planned access routes, equipment that will be used to move equipment to and from the pit; and access requirements, including duration of access; required area modifications (i.e. door removal, etc.); and the methods to be used to protect facility surfaces. The contractor is responsible for any facility modifications and resultant damages. The proposed autoclave (pressure vessel) will most likely need to be manufactured and delivered in two or more sections. Prior to submitting quotes, vendors shall have the opportunity to visit the site (during a prescheduled site visit) to confirm all dimensions, access into and through the facility.

NOTE: All vendors will be required to verify all measurements, to include but not limited to, the pit, the dimensions of the current, the proposed autoclave, required support equipment, and unit connections. The vendor must ensure that the proposed autoclave, equipment and material will be able to be moved through the facility and be assembled on site.

C. The removal and installation of the equipment shall be coordinated through the COR. All work shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes or prevents adverse impact to ongoing Building 49 Central Animal Facility (CAF) operations. It is the responsibility of the contractor to follow all applicable local, State, and Federal regulations, to include obtaining burns permits and having the appropriate safety equipment in place. In addition, all applicable CAF policies, procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) and entry requirements shall be followed and are available upon request. The contractor shall install a temporary barrier around the work area, during both removal and installation of the equipment. It is the responsibility of the contractor to maintain the integrity of the barrier at all times until the installation is complete and the equipment is accepted by the Government. Following acceptance of the equipment, it is the responsibility of the contractor to remove the barrier.

D. The existing Bulk Autoclave shall be disconnected from all utilities in coordination with the COTR and the Building 49 Office of Research Facilities Manager and sectioned as necessary to facilitate removal. It will be the responsibility of the contractor to dispose of the old autoclave. The contractor shall identify, prior to demolition, how they propose to dispose of the autoclave and all debris from the job site within a 24-hour period. Staging and storage areas are very limited and will need to be coordinated through the COR. If a dumpster is proposed, it must be coordinated with the COR and Office of Research Facilities Manager to ensure minimal impact to the building’s loading dock areas. The contractor shall confirm proposed site dimensions for disposal of dismantled autoclave at site visit.

E. Contractor will coordinate the delivery of equipment in a manner that ensures that no equipment is stored on-site for more than a 24-hour period prior to installation. Staging and storage areas for equipment and supplies on site are very limited and must be coordinated through the COR.

F. The contractor shall provide a proposed timeline for the entire demolition and installation process at the time of proposal submission. Quotes will be evaluated on feasibility, and minimization of impact on facility operations.

NOTE: For the vendor quote to be evaluated as technically acceptable, the vendor must sufficiently be able to fully and completely explain how their proposed solution meets the requirements of this RFQ, the technical requirements as well as the requested submittals, demolition and installation plan and schedule. Failure to provide all the requested items and or “parrot” the RFQ back in the proposal will automatically deemed the proposal technically unacceptable. To emphasize again merely “parroting” back the requirements statements and not providing a demolition and installation plan and schedule will result in the proposal being considered as technically unacceptable.

PART 2 General

Summary: Steam Autoclave / Sterilizer

2.01 References:

A. The following industry, association and government codes and standards are cited in this Section. They shall be followed as applicable to the design, fabrication, and assembly and testing of the specified equipment.

1. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

2. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

3. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

4. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX

5. National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

6. National Electric Code (NEC)

7. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Unified Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII

8. American Welding Society (AWS)

9. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

10. NIH Office of Research Facilities Policies and Guidelines

2.02 Submittals (UPON AWARD):

A. Product Data: Submit manufacturer's data for each item of equipment specified. Include dimensions, configurations, construction details, and attachments. Indicate location, size, and service requirements for each utility connection.

B. Shop Drawings: Provide large-scale plans and sections showing rough‑in and anchor placements, clearances, and location of utilities for coordination with other trades.

C. Test Reports: Submit test reports verifying conformance to specified performance tests.

D. Manufacturer's operating and maintenance manuals (2), and one (1) electronic version in a Adobe Acrobat file, and a copy of the program for the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

2.03 qualifications:

A. Manufacturer's Qualifications: Modern plant with proper tools, dies, fixtures and skilled workers to produce high quality equipment and meeting the following minimum requirements:

1. Three (3) projects where “Sectional” Bulk Steam Autoclaves of similar size that have been 100% installed and are in use.

2. Provide 3 References for “Sectional” Bulk Steam Autoclaves listing size of unit, name of customers, contact information for each…phone/email and date of installation.

Maintenance Support Services - Manufacturer shall have a trained staff of technical personnel to provide warranty, preventative, emergency, and on demand services as required. Telephonic requests for assistance, during manufacturer’s normal working hours, shall be answered within 60 minutes of initial call. On site response, capability shall be provided within 24 hours of request with the capability of problem resolution.

B. Installer's Qualifications:

1. Welders performing the welding at site must be ASME Certified.

2. Additionally, an A/I (Authorized Inspector) from an independent company shall check the package that is submitted. This package shall include but not limited to the following: Welder’s Qualifications, certs on the weld wire, certs on the chamber, jacket, and door materials of construction, validity of calibration on gauges used during hydro-testing, etc.

2.04 Warranty:

A. Provide manufacturer's standard warranty, at least 1-year, against defects in materials, design, and workmanship from date of acceptance at site.

B. For autoclave / sterilizer and ASME stamped pressure vessels, provide a manufacturer’s warranty against structural failure. Full duration and/or validity of Warranty shall not be limited or restricted to the manufacturer or its authorized representative performing maintenance. The warranty shall commence upon acceptance at site. Most autoclave manufacturer’s offer a 15-Year pressure vessel warranty.

PART 3 Products

3.01 Bulk Steam AUTOCLAVE / Sterilizer:

A. Performance Requirement:

The autoclave should meet the processing requirements of the Building 49 Central Animal Facility and be easy to maintain. Operator(s) shall be able to select from a wide variety of steam sterilization programs and test cycles to sterilize general laboratory products as well as animal cages (e.g. NHP cages/racks and Rodent cages/Racks, etc.), bedding, feed and water bottles. During the walk through we will provide examples of the NHP caging/racks and the Rodent caging/racks to ensure the vendor understands the size of autoclave we are looking for. The operator should be able to monitor and print out all phases of each cycle for verification, analysis, and record keeping. The autoclave shall be equipped with industry standard safety features to ensure the protection of both personnel and the unit. Engineering standards are always preferable over policy/procedural safeguards. As industry standards keep evolving, we are interested in, and looking for, innovations that are proven solutions for the unit to increase reliability, safety, ease of maintenance, throughput, and can reduce water and steam usage.

B. Internal Chamber Sizes:

Nominal internal chamber size shall be at least 48” W x 92”H x 96”L. (Autoclave manufacturer/supplier can confirm all critical site dimensions at Site Visit.)

C.

Construction:

1. Chamber is to be a jacketed vessel rated for a minimum of 40 psig (minimum) working pressure and 29.92"Hg vacuum. Inner chamber shall be constructed from solid stainless steel and exterior interlocking formed members constructed from stainless steel for the outer jacket. The interlocking members shall provide structural re-enforcement for the chamber. After initial chamber fabrication, the interior of the chamber & door surfaces shall be provided with manufacturer’s standard finish.

2. The chamber construction shall meet the current guidelines of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section VIII, Division 1, of the Unfired Pressure Vessel Code. After completing the welding fabrication, the vessel shall be pressure tested to the current guidelines of the ASME code. An approved inspector witnesses the test. Upon passing, the inspector ASME stamps the vessel in accordance with the ASME Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1. A signed copy of the ASME U-1 form shall be contained in the operations and maintenance manual. After the chamber pressure testing has been completed and met the ASME requirements, the insulation, and outer aluminum sheathing as described in Item C 6. shall be installed.

3. The pressure vessel shall be warranted for the manufacturer’s warranty period whether maintained by manufacturer, their authorized representative, customer’s maintenance staff, or a 3rd party service provider.

4. A stainless-steel diffusion baffle shall be mounted inside the chamber at the steam supply inlet to prevent direct steam impingement of product and to maximize temperature uniformity throughout the load. The baffle shall direct condensate towards the chamber drain.

5. Interior chamber drain(s) is/are to be provided and fitted with removable stainless-steel strainer(s). The strainer(s) and drain(s) shall be sized to prevent restriction of adequate flow across the chamber drain temperature sensor.

6. Chamber Insulation –The chamber weldment shall be insulated on all exterior sides with a minimum of two (2) inch thick rigid fiberglass or mineral wool. The insulation shall be sheathed in an aluminum embossed sheet metal covering.

7. Mounting - The autoclave/sterilizer shall be designed for pit mounting and recessing into one wall. The sterilizer shall have feet that are compatible with the existing pit and can be easily leveled.

8. External Loading Ramp - external loading ramp/plate shall be provided to facilitate loading and unloading. The loading ramp shall be used to cover the gap between the facility floor and the inner chamber floor, during loading and unloading. The removable loading ramp shall be constructed from durable, lightweight anodized aluminum plate or similar material and be properly supported to handle a load weight of up to 1,500 lbs.

D.

Fascias/Exhaust Hood: Stainless steel fascia panels shall be provided to cover over any rough opening around the autoclave and provide an aesthetically pleasing transition between the autoclave and the facility walls. Sheet metal fascia panels as described shall be fabricated to actual site conditions. The existing exhaust hood will need to be incorporated in the design. During the installation process the fume head may need to be modified to meet the design of the new autoclave.

E.

Door:

1.

The autoclave shall be equipped with a power operated raise/lower, lock/unlock door constructed from the same material as the inner chamber, either a single, manual swing, or an automatic, horizontally sliding door w/ safety interlocks. The Inner door surfaces shall be finished to the same level as the chamber. The loss of power or other utilities shall not cause the door to become mechanically unsealed. The gasket shall be mounted on the door and sealed against a flat-machined surface on the end of the autoclave. The door seal itself shall be constructed from silicon rubber or similar material. The door seal must be easy to replace without the need for special tools. The door design and assembly shall be provided with the means to manually unlock and open the door in the event of a power failure or emergency. The door shall be hinged on the left-hand side (when considering the autoclave chamber) if it is a single manual swing door.

9. Door Safety Features:

a. The autoclave shall be equipped with the following door safety features:

1) In accordance with the ASME code for quick locking devices / fixtures on pressure vessels, the door locking mechanisms, i.e. rollers, cams, bars, latches, etc shall be visible by the operators without the need to remove sheet metal or any other covering.

2) The door cannot be opened unless the chamber pressure is within +/-1.0 psig of ambient.

3) The door cannot open unless the load has cooled to 80 Celsius. (when processing liquids / solutions)

4) The door cannot open in the event of a power loss when pressure is in the chamber.

5) The cycle cannot start and steam will not be admitted into the chamber unless the door is locked and sealed.

6) The door cannot open until a cycle has been completed.

7) Door shall be insulated to provide an additional thermal protection barrier.

8) A safety feature is required so that the operator must manually hold down a button or switch to open/close the door, allowing the door to open/close only with direct operator supervision throughout the whole process.

F.

Controls:

1. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC):

A non-proprietary, PLC control system shall be provided. Equipment and control interface wiring shall be in accordance with the National Electrical Code. The control system shall provide independent chamber and jacket temperature control of sterilization temperatures from 105oC to 138oC (221oF to 280oF) with an accuracy of better than ±1.0oC. Pre-programmed parameters will be printed out at the start of a cycle. The PLC shall be programmed to incorporate standard cycles. The standard cycles provided with the autoclave/sterilizer are Hard Goods, Porous, Solutions (in vented containers), and a Vacuum Leak Test. Each cycle shall allow for selectable parameters that may be changed for specific load configurations. Control system shall can store a minimum of 20 preprogrammed cycles.

2. On line diagnostics:

The control system shall be provided with the necessary software and hardware. To facilitate remote monitoring, assistance, troubleshooting, and modifications via manufacturer’s service department, etc.

3. Main Operator Interface (MOI):

An operator control panel shall be provided and consist of an operator interface with keypad at the load end. The interface shall display the cycle status and allow selection of cycle parameters. The MOI should allow the opening and closing of the door. The necessary hardware shall be provided for interfacing of MOI to the PLC. The MOI shall be located within a stainless-steel enclosure. This enclosure shall be mounted within the sheet metal fascia or on a wall adjacent to the autoclave/sterilizer. This enclosure shall also be moisture/steam proof to prevent damage to the MOI from moisture/steam. If MOI will be mounted on a wall the transmission cables will be moisture/steam proof.

4. Data Acquisition:

A minimum 20-column alphanumeric printer shall be provided for data acquisition. The printer is located within the same stainless-steel enclosure as the MOI. The printer provides on-line monitoring and prints out the cycle parameters. These print outs shall include cycle number, time, temperature, pressure, alarm conditions, errors, and cycle summary. This comprehensive printout provides a record of the complete sterilization cycle. The printer shall use commercially available standard sized paper rolls and be easily changed on site.

5. Control System Safety:

Control system safety shall include door safety interlocks to ensure that: the cycle cannot start unless the doors are locked and sealed; the doors cannot open if the chamber is under vacuum or pressures >+/- 1.0 psig. This shall be accomplished in the quickest amount of time to maximize the use of the unit. Industry Standards shall be provided to document the acceptable time limits.

B. Mechanical Equipment:

The manufacturer shall provide non-proprietary and commercially available components for the supporting process piping and mechanical equipment. The mechanical equipment must be located in an accessible location directly on the left side and/or top of the unit. Equipment must be located to allow access to components for servicing. (Autoclave manufacturer/supplier to confirm site dimensions.) This equipment consists of piping, valves, heat exchanger, vacuum pump, pneumatic solenoid manifold, air filter, etc. Components requiring calibration shall be located for easy access. This shall be evident by the site drawings provided by the contractor.

1. Vacuum System:

A liquid ring vacuum pump system shall be provided and sized to evacuate an empty and dry chamber to 27”Hg (@ sea level) within 5 minutes. Motor starters, over circuit protection, and heat exchangers are to be provided to support the operation of the vacuum pump system.

2. Vent Filter Assembly:

A filter assembly shall be provided to facilitate a sterile air break after the vacuum excursions to the end of the cycle. The filter assembly is to be located external to the chamber and be properly supported.

3. Automatic Effluent Cool-Down:

An automatic effluent cool-down shall be provided to reduce the chamber discharge to a temperature below 140 degrees F before, it enters the building drain. The automatic cool-down shall modulate water as needed to reduce the discharge temperatures. Constantly open valves or fixed orifices will not be allowed.

4. Piping Materials of Construction:

All steam to chamber process piping, including piping up to the first drain isolation valve, jacket, water lines, vacuum pump, condenser, and drains shall be, as a minimum, steam rated copper, brass, or bronze materials. Unions shall be provided around major components to facilitate replacement. These pipe connections are soldered, brazed, threaded, or compression type fittings where applicable.

6.

Valves:

a. The autoclave manufacturer shall provide a pressure-reducing valve at the autoclave to reduce the facility provided steam pressure, as applicable.

b.

Chamber, jacket, air in-bleed and drain lines shall be provided with pneumatically operated valves. Other valves used in less critical applications may be solenoid type.

c.

The chamber and outer jacket shall be protected from overpressure by pressure relief valves. All relief devices are to be sized for the maximum working pressure in accordance with ASME code.

d. Thermostatic steam traps are to be provided and sized for proper removal of air/condensate. Traps shall be constructed from bronze, steel, or stainless steel as applicable.

e. All valves will be commercially available.

7.

Gauges & Pressure Sensor:

a.

Chamber and jacket pressure gauges shall be provided for pressure/vacuum indication as applicable. Gauges shall be ranged to indicate normal operating conditions at mid-span. Jacket and chamber pressure/vacuum and steam supply gauges shall be located at the load end. Chamber, jacket, steam, water, and compressed air supply lines shall be provided with gauges appropriate for the application.

b. A rugged platinum pressure transducer, rated for the environment, shall be provided for sensing of chamber vacuum and pressure. The connection of the transducer to the chamber shall be at the top or side. Connection of pressure sensing devices at the bottom of the chamber or drain shall not be permitted. The transducer shall provide signals to the control system for process control and monitoring.

c. Two rugged (2) platinum fast response resistance temperature devices (RTD), rated for the environment, shall be provided for temperature control, one for the chamber and the other for the jacket.

d. Internal sensors shall be protected from damage secondary to the loading and unloading of the chamber.

H. Testing - On Site Cycle Testing:

1. The autoclave / sterilizer instrumentation shall be calibrated prior to site testing. Testing for all cycles as specified (normally completed in the factory) shall be performed on site after final equipment assembly has been completed and documented. Documentation is to be submitted to COTR with on-site acceptance test data.

2. Testing shall include demonstration of standard cycles for example a leak test, feed/bedding and water using a biological indicator (B/I) test during the on-site testing.

3. Temperature leads will be provided so that test materials such as bedding and feed can be validated or at least define placements of (B/I).

4. Up to 8 hours of training for operators and maintenance personnel shall be provided.

I.

Deliverables:

1.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Manuals a.

Two (2) hard copies and one digital copy of the Operations and Maintenance Manuals are to be provided for the autoclave. The manuals are to be model specific and contain, at a minimum, detailed information for equipment safety, operation, and maintenance. The manual shall be provided with the following information: System Description; Operating Instructions; Component Functions, Preventive Maintenance; Flowcharts for Troubleshooting; Parts Listing; Vendor Literature / Cut Sheets; Technical Drawings; and programming.

b.

A detailed explanation to include an illustration of valve operations and identification of values are to be provided. Maintenance is to be broken down into two chapters: scheduled (preventive) and unscheduled. Preventive maintenance schedules for equipment service, at fixed time intervals, shall be designed to prevent the system from mis-operation. Troubleshooting section shall help identify the cause of the problem and describe corrective actions. Troubleshooting section will have a flow chart with if/then decisions to help trouble shoot the initial problem.

J.

Utilities: (All utilities are terminated within the mechanical equipment area by the contractor through coordination of the COR.) All utilities will be turned off/on by NIH through a request through the ORF facility manager. Any required utility shutdown will need to be requested through the COR at least 14 days in advance. Utility reconnection will also need to be coordinated in advance with the COR. The contractor will be responsible for disconnecting (not turning off) utilities and reconnecting them to the equipment.

Electrical Power

Control Power:

120 VAC, 1-Phase, 60 Hz, 15 Amps.

Vacuum Pump:

208/230/460 VAC, 3-Phase, 60 Hz, 45/40/20 Amp. (Fused Electrical Disconnect)

Steam Facility trapped steam supplied at 40-80 psig at 1,200 lbs/hr, 1½” - 2”NPT.

Water Facility water supplied at 30-50 psig at 15 gpm @ 70oF, ¾”NPT.

Compressed Air

Facility oil free compressed air supplied at 80 - 110 psig @ 2 scfm, ½”NPT.

Drain

10”floor sink with 3” drain or 6-inch open facility floor drain.

Vents

Facility vents to accommodate two relief valves outlets of 2” each.

C. PIT DIMENSIONS: “W x”L x” Deep. (Autoclave manufacturer/supplier to confirm site dimensions.)

End of Statement of Work

FAR and HHSAR Provisions/Clauses Incorporated by Reference:

· FAR Provision 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Jan 2017)

· FAR Clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items (Jan 2017)

· FAR Clause 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order (Aug 1989)

· HHSAR Clause 352.203-70 Anti-Lobbying (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.208-70 Printing and Duplication (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.223-70 Safety and Health (December 18, 2015) FAR and HHSAR Provisions/Clauses Provided in Full

· FAR Provision 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items (November 2017)-Quoters are required to include a completed copy of the provision in their quote. See Attachment #1

· FAR Clause 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items (Jan 2018)-See Attachment #2

· Invoicing Instructions-See Attachment #3

CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The following Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this Purchase Order:

TBD

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements.

The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

Pre-Quote Site Visit

A pre-quote site visit will be held with prospective vendors at Building 49 Central Animal Facility, located at 49 Convent Drive Room 2A46, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 on May 15, 2018 at 11:00AM EST. Information on visiting NIH can be found at https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/visitor-information. The pre-quote site visit will be held for the purpose of providing information concerning the Government's requirements which may be helpful in the preparation of quotes and for answering any questions which you have regarding this solicitation. The success of this type of site visit depends largely on the lead-time available to the Government for research in connection with questions submitted by offerors. Therefore, you are requested to email written questions concerning any areas of uncertainty which, in your opinion, require clarification or correction, in sufficient time to be received on or before to worshamz@od.nih.gov by May 10, 2018 at 3PM EST. Your email should include the solicitation number in the subject line. A set of all questions and answers will be furnished simultaneously to all prospective vendors whether or not they are in attendance. Because of space limitations, each prospective quoter shall be limited to a total of two (2) representatives. Attendance at the pre-quote site visit is recommended; however, attendance is not a prerequisite for proposal submission and will not be considered a factor in proposal evaluation. If you intend on attending, please email the contracting officer at worshamz@od.nih.gov by May 10, 2018 at 3PM EST and include the name of your company and the names of the one/two representatives that will be attending.

Evaluation Criteria All quotes will be given a thorough review. The evaluation process will be based on Best Value with technical and past performance being more important than price:

Vendors will be evaluated on the quoter’s experience in handling projects of this complexity and magnitude, their demonstrated understanding of the proposed project and required time line, as well as other qualifying criteria as outlined in the Statement of Work. Vendors shall provide at least 3 completed projects (within the last 5 years of solicitation due date) to whom the same or similar types of split chamber bulk autoclaves to include:

· Contract/Order Number

· Contract/Order Amount-Including Options

· Contract/Order Type (T&M, FFP, etc)

· Customer and CO Name, Phone Number, email address

· Contract/Order Description

Vendors are highly encouraged to provide innovative solutions to add “Best Value” to their quote. A site visit will be scheduled to review all aspects of the demolition and installation, including the route for removal and disposal of existing equipment and provide a Question and Answer period.

Accordingly, vendors shall submit a detailed technical quote containing requirements of the project as outlined in the statement of work e.g. design of autoclave, detailed diagrams, work details, demolition and installation time-lines, plan to eliminate or minimize adverse facility and program impacts during demolition and installation, etc. As outlined in the SOW merely “parroting” back the requirements statements and not providing the required documentation result in the proposal deemed as technically unacceptable.

Based on the information provided the evaluation criteria will be as follows:

1. Technical Request/Adherence to Statement of Work: 50 points

2. Projected Demolition & Installation Time lines: 20 points

3. Proposed Plan to Eliminate or Minimize Adverse Facility & Program Impacts During Demolition & Installation: 15 Points

4. Corporate Knowledge & Experience: 15 points

Price Quote Instructions The vendor will respond to all RFQ line items in a firm fixed price manner. Please also submit your reps and certs located in attachment #1 with price quote.

Evaluation of Quotes The technical quote will receive paramount consideration in the selection of the Contractor(s) for this acquisition. All evaluation factors, other than cost or price, when combined are significantly more important than cost or price. However, cost/price may become a critical factor in source selection in the event that two or more vendors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of all factors other than cost or price. The Government intends to make an award to the vendor whose quote provides the best overall value to the Government.

Quote Submittal Instructions Technical and Price Quotes (the technical and price quotes are to be separate documents/attachments) are due to Zedekiah J. Worsham, Contracting Officer via email at worshamz@od.nih.gov by May 22, 2018 at 4PM EST. Quotes delivered through fax, hand delivery, or mail will not be accepted. Electronic Quotes shall be in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Adobe Acrobat. NIH uses Microsoft Office 2013. Please include the solicitation number NIHOD201800017 and company name in the email subject line when responding to this solicitation. Any questions after the site visit can be sent to Mr. Worsham via email at worshamz@od.nih.gov by May 17, 2018 at 1PM EST. Technical Quotes shall be no longer than 20 pages in length that outline the requirements in the Statement of Work. Please contact Mr. Worsham at 301-402-3079 to verify your quote was received.

Summary of due dates/times (all due to worshamz@od.nih.gov)

· Pre-Site Visit Questions- May 10, 2018 at 3PM EST

· List of at most 2 vendor reps for site visit- May 10, 2018 at 3PM EST

· Site Visit- May 15, 2018 at 11AM EST

· After Site Visit Questions- May 17, 2018 at 1PM EST

· Tech/Price Quote Response- May 22, 2018 at 4PM EST List of Attachments

1. Representations and Certifications

2. Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items

3. Invoice Instructions