Specifications PRESOL4R0014 Coated Tubes.pdf

Polypropylene Copolymer Plastic Bleeding Tubes

SPECIFICATIONS

The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), Riverdale, MD, utilizes bleeding tubes for the collection of blood samples from cattle and swine. The blood sample is then sent via common carrier various laboratories for testing.

There are several off the shelf tubes and caps of acceptable quality on the market. This solicitation is intended for the off-the-shelf products. Offers’ must clearly demonstrate their ability to comply with the time frame for submission and approval of first article samples and the delivery requirements specified in this solicitation.

The bleeding tubes shall be 8 ml 13 x 100 mm, made from polypropylene copolymer plastic (reground material shall not exceed 10%), transparent (industry standard), chemically stable, withstand extremes in pressure without warping or otherwise changing shape or losing integrity, not shatter under pressure and have a rounded bottom.

Each tube has a plastic plug-type push-in cap which extends 5/16" (inch) above the top of the tube when inserted. The plug-type cap shall provide a leak-proof seal when inserted into the tube. This seal must prevent leakage of blood samples in transit to laboratories via package delivery services and the U.S.

Postal Service.

The tube furnished shall be centrifugeable at high speeds and withstand a minimum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit without distortion, clouding or loss of shape and thickness. There shall be no burrs or irregularities which could cause the tubes to tip or wobble and result in a spillage of the blood sample.

The tube must ensure rapid clotting of blood from various species of animals and prevent the adherence of the clot to the walls of the tube. This requirement is necessary to allow the efficient separation of the clot from the serum.

COATING PROCEDURES

It is required for the bleeding tubes be coated on the inside only. The outside of the tube may be coated at the contractor's discretion. The coating must be a polyalkylene glycol base stock lubricant, with a water solution ratio of 1:18. The Polyalkylene glycol lubricant is required and is the only lubricant that can be used.

CURRENTLY APPROVED PRODUCTS

Polyalkaline glycol lubricant is utilized to ensure that the livestock blood clots in the plastic tubes.

The only lubricant currently approved and acceptable for use on this contract is as follows

MANUFACTURER

Union Carbide Special Chemicals P.O. Box 8720 South Charleston, WV 24303-0720 Part Number 50HB 660

The following method is required to coat the inside of the tubes:

The tubes may be totally immersed in the solution so that the solution wets the inside of each tube for 5 seconds. The tubes must be drained of any excess lubricant then re-packed into the polyethylene bag liner.

The Contractor that is awarded shall deliver the tubes to the Delivery Destination. The tubes will be packaged, marked, palletized, as specified in the attachment. The shipment will be marked with the shipment number and the lot number and the shipment of coated tubes shall be marked "coated". The "Time for Delivery" is specified in this attachment.

Note: Alternate products other than the suggested coating specifications and recommended source for coating (Dow 50HB-660 (Union Carbide product) are acceptable so long as the product passes the First Article Testing.

FIRST ARTICLE TEST PROCEDURES

In accordance with Federal Acquisition 52.209-4 - First Article Approval -- Government Testing.

(Sep 1989) The USDA shall require first article testing. First article approval may be waived by the Contracting Officer if the contract is awarded to a company with recent related contract experience.

PACKING SLIP

Each shipment shall include a packing slip attached to the outside of one box and enclosed in a protective plastic pouch and one packing slip on the outside of the shipment box. The packing slip shall identify the contract number, delivery order number, item stock number and quantity shipped.

A legible copy of the delivery order may be used as the packing slip

PACKAGING AND MARKING

The bleeding tubes with plug-type push-top caps shall be packaged together in units of 1,000 tubes per carton and 1,000 caps per carton. Commercial caps are packed as 500 per bag so the supplier can put 2 bags of 500 in the case of 1000 tubes. A minimum 200 pound test corrugated carton shall be used. The carton shall be lined with a polyethylene bag liner.

Complete instructions for packaging and marking are included as an attachment to this solicitation.

The following information shall be printed on the label of each individual box:

The following information will be printed on the label of each individual box:

DELIVERY TASK ORDER NO: 126395FYYNNNN (EXAMPLE FORMAT)

STOCK NUMBER: Z888-00-000-0608

QUANTITY: 1,000 each

LOT NUMBER: ########

SHIPMENT NUMBER 1 of 30, 2 of 30, 3 of 30, etc

DESCRIPTION: Tubes, Bleeding, Plastic, Coated with Push-Top Caps

EXTERIOR PACKAGE MARKING & DISPLAY

The contractor must mark on the end of the exterior box the National Stock Number (NSN). Contractor must ensure all other packaging requirements outlined in this Statement of Work is followed.

Contractor will stack boxes on a pallet, include a flat carboard between every other layer for support and to prevent damages during transit. Shrink-wrap with the packaging label visible on outer layers when the shipment is received. The pallet should not exceed 54 inches.