Irradiated Sani-chip Bedding

The Food and Drug Administration's National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) is soliciting quotations for irradiated Sani-chip bedding, a specialized substrate material used in primary animal enclosures at its research vivarium facility. The bedding must be cube-cut, heat-treated, and irradiated wood chip substrate composed of beech, birch, aspen, or maple, meeting strict specifications including a minimum 15 kGy irradiation dose and rigorous chemical contaminant limits for pesticide residues and heavy metals. Quotations are due by February 10, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. Central Time via email to david.kramer@fda.hhs.gov, and must remain valid through September 30, 2026. The solicitation is issued under FAR Part 12 for commercial products with quotations evaluated on a Firm-Fixed-Price basis. Key contract requirements include compliance with NIH Standard OSC CHEM 316.03, which mandates comprehensive documentation of facility sanitation procedures, integrated pest management programs, and closed manufacturing systems with specific thermal and moisture specifications, along with packaging requirements of 2.2 cubic foot bags in standard pallet configurations.

This is a non-set-aside acquisition for an indefinite-quantity contract with a guaranteed minimum obligation of $6,500 and an estimated maximum contract value not to exceed 10,000 units over the five-year period. The contract will consist of five one-year ordering periods from March 30, 2026, through March 29, 2031, with quarterly shipment frequency anticipated though variable based on NCTR's research needs, and individual delivery orders requiring minimum purchases of 500 bags and maximum orders of 1,500 bags per shipment. The contractor must deliver, unload, and haul all deliveries to NCTR facilities in Jefferson, Arkansas, with FOB Point Destination pricing that includes all shipping and handling. Payment terms are Net 30 days after government acceptance, with invoices submitted electronically through the Treasury Department's Invoice Processing Platform. The solicitation is assigned NAICS Code 334517 (Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,200 employees, and no current contractor or incumbent is identified in the available documents.