6640--Notice of Intent to Sole Source Tecniplast Emerald Line IVC Caging Systems

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta VA Health Care System (VAHCS), Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Tecniplast USA, Inc. for Tecniplast Emerald Line IVC Caging Systems, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. The Atlanta VAHCS VMU requires replacement and additional caging systems for ongoing research projects due to an expanding population and the need to modernize an aging facility that needs to replace obsolete, damaged, or no longer usable caging. Tecniplast Emerald Line IVC Caging Systems support trio breeding (an IACUC-approved method incorporated into the animal protocols of many VAHCS VMU researchers, which has specific cage floor spacing requirements), and is the only known system that meets the floor space requirements constrained by non-standard/trapezoidal-shaped rooms that dominate the facility s usable footprint as structural renovations are not possible. Tecniplast also offers the only known proprietary built-in EAD sampling system for environmental health monitoring eliminating the need for a live sentinel animal program. It integrates with the existing VAHCS VMU Hydropac water pouch system; provides exhaust and intake that is not reliant on the medical facility s HVAC system, and its proprietary controlled airflow system incorporates energy efficient blower units that are small, light, easily portable, and detached from the animal rack itself that is a major benefit to the research animals as it reduces both noise and vibration within the animals microenvironment, a major factor in clinical health, breeding, and welfare. Tecniplast is the manufacturer and only known distributor of its proprietary Emerald Line IVC Caging System.

This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotes; however, any responsible source who can provide an equivalent product with the features described above, and who is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), authorized dealer, authorized distributor, or authorized reseller of all the items listed above, may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Tuesday, September 26, 2022, 10:00 AM, EDT. Interest/capability statements which specifically detail how your product meets the requirement may be sent to Shannon Hukriede at shannon.hukriede@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.