High Density Ventilated Rack Purchase

Introduction

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

Project Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Division of Intramural Research (DIR), Comparative Medicine Branch (CMB) is seeking to acquire High Density Ventilated Racks (HDVRs) with Individually Ventilated Cages (IVCs) and associated accessories including lids, water bottles, sipper tubes, wire bar lids, and bottle baskets, plus a 20% changeout as part of a phased lifecycle replacement project in the vivaria laboratories at NIAID. High quality racks and cages are integral to the daily husbandry and colony management driven by the many different and detailed research objectives at the individual laboratory level. This order will include two, 1-year option periods and quantity options within each option period.

In the base period, NIAID/DIR/CMB is seeking 12 High Density Ventilated Racks (HDVRs) with Individually Ventilated Cages (IVCs) with associated supplies and accessories including lids, water bottles, sipper tubes, wire bar lids, and bottle baskets, plus a 20% changeout (2304 cages). Option Period 1 consists of 17 racks plus a 20% changeout (3264 racks) with associated supplies and accessories, plus an optional quantity of 31 racks plus a 20% changeout (5952 cages) with associated supplies and accessories. Option Period 2 duplicates the same quantities as Option Period 1 to allow flexibility based on funding availability. The HDVRs and IVCs must meet all required minimum characteristics listed below:

1. Double sided rack with 160 cage capacity
2. Cage card holders
3. HDVR must accommodate reusable and disposal cage systems      
4. Cages must be high-temp polysulfone
5. High temp 5” wheels/casters
6. Fully autoclavable rack system
7. Top of rack mounted blower system to include HEPA filtered supply and exhaust
8. Cage runners consist of high-temp polysulfone
9. Cage runners with integrated spring-operated cage lock with docking indicator
10. Ability for rack system to operate in positive or negative mode
11. Supply air must enter at cage bottom level with point exhaust air through cage lid to plenum
12. Sentinel monitoring using the exhaust plenum air dust
13. Full cage wire bar lid with feeder/water bottle
14. Integrated gasketed lid
15. Exhaust port must utilize metal snap ring
16. Racks must include tethered silicone end caps to reduce labor/handling
17. Exhaust blower must include transition plate for ceiling connections and 6’ exhaust hoses

Anticipated Period of Performance

It is anticipated that an award will be made on or about September 1, 2024. Delivery of the racks and cages is needed within 180 days.

Capability Statement/Information Sought

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required HDVRs with IVCs and accessories plus 20% changeout which meet the minimum requirements and performance capabilities listed above, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, UEI number
2. Company location(s) and number of years company has been in business
3. Type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Other than Small, etc.)  pursuant to the applicable NAICS code
4. Type of ownership for the organization
5. Identification of any Best-In-Class contract vehicles including Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) (e.g., GSA schedule) they may possess or are aware of that would support this possible requirement. If your organization does not provide the products/services under a GWAC, please identify availability as OPEN MARKET ONLY.
6. Tailored capability statement addressing the capability of the racks and cages to meet NIAID’s minimum requirements. Capability document must be no more than six pages.
7. Place of manufacture for the HDVRs, IVCs, and components
8. Evidence that the organization is an authorized reseller or manufacturer of the equipment. Authorized resellers must identify the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the equipment proposed in their capability statement. Only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products are acceptable.
9. Please describe any customary commercial contract terms or conditions that you feel would make any resulting contract more effective if applicable.
10. Published price lists for your products. If commercially available list pricing is not available, provide a Rough Order of Magnitude.

Submission Instructions

Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above listed HDVRs and IVCs are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by August 1, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to seth.schaffer@nih.gov.

Disclaimer and Important Notes

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in SAM.gov.  However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).