B.2 STATEMENT OF WORK

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

1. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR):

Name: Tim Foley

Section: Research & Development Service (BT/151)

Address: VAMHCS, 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Phone Number: 410-605-7000 x53421

Fax Number: 410-605-7906

E-Mail Address: timothy.foley2@va.gov

2. CONTRACT TITLE: Individually Vented Cage (IVC) Rack Systems for Humanized Mice Core

3. BACKGROUND: The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) Research and Development (R&D) Service has received FY26 Lab Animal Major equipment (LAM) funding to establish a colony of ~400 mice with humanized immune systems. This will allow VAMHCS scientists to create more relevant animal models for preclinical biomedical research. Humanized mice enable the study of human immune mechanisms that underlie diseases disproportionately affect Veterans, including chronic viral infections (e.g, HIV), cancer, neuroinflammation, age-associated immune dysfunction, Gulf War Illness (GWI) and PTSD. Thus, humanized mice are crucial for bridging the gap between animal research and human clinical application, allowing for more accurate, "personalized" testing of treatments for Veteran-specific health challenges.

4. SCOPE: To house immunodeficient humanized mice, rooms BB-117 and BB-113 within the former Bio Safety Level III area of the Research and Development Veterinary Medical Unit will be operating as a Bio Safety Level II unit with positive air pressure and house 2 Individually Vented Cage (IVC) Rack Systems. IVCs pull air from the room passing it through HEPA filters and then through hoses to each individual animal cage. The purpose of these systems is to ensure a high level of biological containment by preventing cross contamination and disease transmission between animals. Commercially available IVCs contain anywhere from 120-160 cages each with 60-80 cages on each side. Cages house 1-3 mice each depending on the operating procedures of the animal facility.

The VAMHCS R&D humanized mice core will house ~400 necessitating 2 IVC racks with 120-160 cages each (racks with 60 cages on each side will total 120 per rack, racks with 80 cages per side will total 160).

mailto:timothy.foley2@va.gov

Individually Vented Cage (IVC) Rack Systems specifications brand name or equal to the Allentown NexGen Mouse IVCs:

Line-Item Description Quantity

1. Racks:

• Must have 120-160 cage holding capacity per rack (60-80 cages each side)

• Approximate dimensions should range between 19”- 35” W x 53”-72” L x 75”-80” H

• Approximate weight should be between 300-600 lbs

• Cage configuration is arranged in columns and rows

• Racks must have casters with locks for transport

2 each

2. Air Handlers Units to include:

• Must have 50-80+ air changes per hour

• Must have a maximum air speed. o5 m/sec or less

• Must have ability to switch between positive and negative pressure

• Must have G4 or F7 prefilters

• Must have HEPA/ULPA filters between 99.99%- 99.995% efficiency

• should have energy efficient electronically commutated motor blowers

• must have supply tower, exhaust tower and manifold

• power supply should be 110-

240V, 50/60 HZ

2 each

5. Hose Assembly Kits

• must have hoses and hose assembly kits for each rack to connect the cages to the air handlers

• hoses must be made of flexible wire reinforced polyurethane or autoclave silicone

2 kits

• hoses should be 50mm- 75mm diameter

• hoses should have nylon, polycarbonate or special grade rubber nipples and couplers

3. 240-320 Cages (2 racks with 60 cages per side will equal 240 cages, 2 racks with 80 cages per side will total 320 cages) with:

• Cages will be sterilized in an autoclave and must withstand temperatures up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit

• Cages should be made of Polysulfone, polyphenylsulfone or ultem material

• Cages must have 75-80 square inch floor area

• Cages must have seals and latches, so cages are airtight and air-proof to regulate microorganisms

• Cages must have bases, wire lids, caps and card holders

240-320 (2 racks with 60 cages per side will equal 240 cages, 2 racks with 80 cages per side will total 320 cages)

4. 240– 320 Water Bottles (2 racks with 60 cages per side will equal 240 water bottles, 2 racks with 80 cages per side will total 320 water bottles) with:

• plastic bottles must come with covers and holders

240-320 (2 racks with 60 cages per side will equal 240 water bottles, 2 racks with 80 cages per side will total 320 water bottles)

The vendor will provide delivery of the cage rack systems. The place of performance is

VA Maryland Health Care System Research and Development Veterinary Medical Unit 10

N. Green Street – BB-117 and BB-113, Baltimore, MD 21201

5. PERFORMANCE MONITORING: COR will inspect the cage rack system upon delivery with the animal facility manager and the subject matter expert and inform the vendor of any deficiencies.

6. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: N/A

No special security requirements are necessary

7. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE)/GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED

INFORMATION (GFI). No special security requirements are necessary.

8. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.

a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work. N/A

b. Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI). N/A

c. Identification of Non-Disclosure Requirements. N/A

d. Packaging, Packing and Shipping Instructions.

The COR and vendor will discuss any special requirements for shipping and set up. Items will be packaged and itemized on all invoices. The equipment will be delivered to the main receiving dock at 10 N Greene St, the dock is approximately 4 feet high, 10 feet deep, and

20 feet wide-

A box truck is recommended for delivery rather than a semi-trailer because of the navigation to the dock from the street. Upon delivery the components of the IVC Rack

Systems will be unloaded and unpacked, positioned in rooms BB-117 and BB-113 then assembled. Usage training will then be provided.

e. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.

Acceptance based on quality of performance at set-up.

9. RISK CONTROL: There are no risk factors of concern, the air supply and exhaust units are stand alone and do not require tie into facility HVAC systems.

10. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

VA Maryland Health Care System

Research and Development Veterinary Medical Unit

10 N. Green Street – BB-117 and BB-113

Baltimore, MD 21201

11. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Delivery is expected within 90 days ARO.

12. INVOICING: Contractor shall submit a consolidated invoice monthly in arrears of the month for which services are being billed. One all-inclusive monthly invoice shall be provided, which shall contain an invoice number, contract number, obligations order number, and an itemized list of services provided. An acceptable master (all-inclusive) itemized list of services shall be agreed to between the Contractor and the COR prior to submission of the first invoice.

All invoices from the contractor shall be submitted electronically in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests.

VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System (IPPS) – The VA Financial Services Center (FSC) uses a third-party contractor, Tungsten, to transition vendors from paper to electronic invoice submission. Please go to this website to begin submitting electronic invoices, free of charge:

http://www.tungsten-network.com/US/en/veterans-affairs/.

More information on the VA FSC is available at: http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp.

Vendor e-Invoice Set-Up Information:

To begin submitting your electronic invoices to the VA FSC for payment processing, free of charge, please contact Tungsten at the phone number below or email address:

Tungsten e-Invoice Setup Information: 1-877-489-6135 Tungsten e-Invoice Email: VA.Registration@Tungsten-Network.com.

If you have a question about the e-invoicing program or Tungsten, please contact the FSC at the Below phone number email address.

• FSC e-Invoice Contact Information: 1-877-353-9791

• FSC e-Invoice Email: vafsccshd@va.gov

13. CONTRACT TYPE: Firm-Fixed Priced Contract.

14. EVALUATIONS FACTOR:

i. Brand Name or Equal to Allentown Next Gen Mouse IVC. Required features

IAW SOW.

ii. OEM Authorization/distributor letter from the manufacturer is required for all quotes, if no OEM letter is supplied the vendor will be considered non-responsive and the vendor will be dis-qualified at the time RFI will close.

iii. Delivery Lead Times.

iv. Completed Buy American Certificate.

v. The Government will evaluate offers in IAW with the policies & procedures of part 25 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

vi. Price.

http://www.tungsten-network.com/US/en/veterans-affairs/ http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp mailto:VA.Registration@Tungsten-Network.com mailto:vafsccshd@va.gov