6640--Modular Vivarium (VA-20-00029712)

The Veterans Administration, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Research and Development Group in Columbia, Missouri, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Arts Way Scientific. The Truman VA operates an exceptionally complex research program. The Open-Field Blast Core (OFBC) Facility near Rolla Missouri will support research into traumatic brain injury (TBI) and an additional portable 14x65 modular rodent vivarium to be transition from the University of Missouri to the Columbia VA. To ensure this program can proceed on-schedule and in strict compliance with VA accreditation, this structure must be fabricated in full compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition, and a sole source to Arts Way is required. In order to provide continuity of research, a similarly sized rodent vivarium to the ones currently in-use Rolla (the blast site) and in Columbia (for imaging and behavioral assessment) and by Research institutions accredited by AAALACis required. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:00 PM EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Elaine DiBucci at elaine.dibucci@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.