QA W81K00-27-Q-A015_Reviewed.pdf
PDF 90 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Calibration and Temperature Mapping
- Solicitation number
- W81K0027QA015
- Issued by
-
Department of the Army Medical Command
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document for solicitation W81K00-27-Q-A015, a new equipment calibration and maintenance requirement issued by the U.S. Army.
The requirement encompasses calibration services for laboratory equipment including approximately 280 pipettes (with both single-channel and multi-channel units), 25 balances (Sartorius Cubis and Ohaus Adventurer Pro models), 9 reference thermometers (liquid-in-glass type), and 3 Steris Amsco LAB 250 autoclaves. Services include pipette calibration at two annual visits, temperature mapping of autoclaves, and calibration of balances and thermometers split between the two visits. Pipette repairs and reference weight sets were removed from scope in Amendment 0001. The contractor must be ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited or subcontract calibration services to an accredited laboratory while maintaining overall contract administration. Accreditation from any recognized body (such as ANAB) is acceptable; A2LA accreditation is not mandatory. Calibration certificates must include the contractor's certification number at no additional cost. This is an unrestricted acquisition open to all business sizes.
Autoclave temperature mapping requires 6-9 temperature probes per cycle positioned at front, back, and center of the chamber on both the top and bottom shelves, with the chamber empty. The sterilization temperature setpoint is 121°C, which must be maintained for a minimum of 15 minutes. Pass criteria include temperature stability and maintenance of 121°C for the required duration; failure occurs if temperature instability occurs or if 121°C cannot be maintained. The same mapping requirements apply to all three autoclaves. Detailed specifications for thermometers, balances, and pipette configurations are contained in attached calibration certificates and spreadsheets. Each visit is charged separately, with two visits per year required.
View the file
Other files
Show all 23
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Question and Answers for Solicitation W81K00-27-Q-A015
1. Is this a new requirement?
Answer: Yes. This is a new requirement
2. Can the accreditation requirement be satisfied by an ISO 17025:2017 accredited teaming partner that will perform the calibration services?
Answer: Yes
3. May a prime contractor that is not itself ISO/IEC 17025 accredited satisfy this requirement by subcontracting the calibration, temperature mapping, and repair services to a qualified ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory, while the prime contractor retains overall contract administration and responsibility? If so, may the subcontractor's current accreditation certificate and scope be submitted as evidence of compliance?
Answer: Yes
4. Please identify what equipment "LIG-300" refers to, including the equipment type and manufacturer/model if available.
Answer: Liquid in glass thermometers (reference thermometers).
5. The SOW includes up to 6 reference weight sets, 9 reference thermometers, and up to 12 pipette repairs, but separate pricing CLINs are not apparent. Please advise how these services should be priced.
Answer: This was corrected during Solicitation Amendment 0001. LIG-300 is the reference thermometers. Reference weights and pipette repairs were removed.
6. Please confirm whether ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from another recognized accreditation body, such as ANAB, is acceptable provided the resulting calibration reports satisfy A2LA requirements, or whether A2LA accreditation itself is mandatory.
Answer: Any accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is acceptable. The company must provide calibration certificates with their certification number at no additional charge.
7. SF 1449, Block 10: Please confirm whether this acquisition is unrestricted or set aside for small business.
Answer: This is an unrestricted acquisition
8. Could you please let me know if all of the equipment will need to be scheduled for the same visit.
Two visits per year. All pipettes will be calibrated at both visits. The thermometers, balances, and autoclaves will be split between the two visits.
9. Please confirm which quantities should govern pricing. Section B lists three autoclaves, 25 balances, and 280 pipettes, while Section C specifies up to five autoclaves, 26 balances, and 200 annual pipette calibration slots. Could a corrected pricing schedule be provided?
Answer: This was corrected during Solicitation Amendment 0001
10. What equipment or service does CLIN 0003, “LIG-300,” cover? Please also clarify where reference weight sets, reference thermometers, pipette repairs, replacement parts, and shipping costs should be priced.
Answer: This was corrected during Solicitation Amendment 0001. LIG-300 is the reference thermometers. Reference weights and pipette repairs were removed.
No equipment will be shipped.
11. How many visits should the quantity of one under CLIN 0007 cover? Should this line include the total annual cost of all required visits, or a fee for one visit?
Answer: Each visit is charged separately. Two visits per year are required.
12. Could the Government provide equipment makes, models, calibration ranges, and applicable calibration protocols?
A. Autoclaves: Make and model: Steris Amsco LAB 250
B. Thermometers: Make, model, and measurement range Certificates attached
C. Pipettes: Make, model, and volume range/capacity and/or or volume ranges for the fixed, single-channel, and multi-channel units Certificates attached
D. Reference weights: Make/model or applicable specifications Certificates attached
E. Balances: Make, model, capacity, and readability for all 25 balances:
Sartorius (Cubis), Ohaus (Adventurer Pro),
13. For autoclave temperature mapping, please identify the required cycles, operating temperatures, load conditions, and number of mapping points.
Answer: See 2026 calibration report; need max temp and stability at low and high temps. Temps taken at front, back and center of chamber.
14. please also provide the required calibration points and tolerances, or previous calibration certificates.
Certificates attached
15. Is it possible for us to bid only on the pipette calibrations? No. The awardee of this contract will cover all aspects of the statement of work.
16. Can you confirm the actual number of single-channel and multichannel pipettes?
See attached spreadsheet
17. Can you provide a breakdown of the multichannel pipettes, specifically whether they are 8-channel or 12-channel pipettes?
See attached spreadsheet
18. How many mapping runs/cycles are required for each autoclave? See 2026 calibration report
19. What is the expected cycle duration? Must maintain sterilization temp (121 C) for a minimum of 15 minutes.
20. What temperature setpoint(s) must be evaluated? 121 C
21. How many temperature probes/data loggers are required for each mapping? Our standard configuration is typically 5 or 9 probes. 6-9 probes (front, back, center of chamber; top and bottom shelf)
22. How many shelves are installed in each autoclave, and are there specific probe placement requirements? Two shelves; front, back and center on each shelf.
23. Should the mapping be performed with the chamber empty, loaded, or both? If loaded, could you please provide the representative load/configuration?
Chamber empty
24. What pass/fail criteria or tolerances should be used to evaluate the mapping results? Pass = temperature stability and maintain sterilization temps for a minimum of 15 minutes. Fail= temperature instabilitiy, fails to maintain 121 C for a minimum of 15 minutes.
25. Are there any additional requirements, such as biological indicators, heat distribution studies, specific hold/exposure times, or other customer-required protocols?
Question is unclear
26. Do the same mapping requirements apply to all three autoclaves, or does the required protocol differ by unit? Same requirements for all three.
27. Could you please provide the manufacturer/model, temperature range, required calibration test points, and applicable acceptance tolerance for each thermometer? I’m assuming that these are liquid in glass type thermometers?
On calibration certificates provided
28. If available, could you please provide the max capacity of your balances, and your tolerances?
On calibration certificates provided
29. I also noticed that repairs on the pipettes were included in the original RFQ but were removed on the amendment. Will repairs be needed on the pipettes?
Answer: Repairs are outside the scope of this requirement
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .