Sources Sought - cage and rack washer

Added: Mar 14, 2018 8:35 am The Hines VAMC research service needs a replacement cage and rack washer for its Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU). This anticipated contract is for the equipment, freight and installation. The cage and rack washer will sanitize animal cage racks, large cages, carts, specialized rat "condos" and other animal husbandry devices that are too large to fit in the tunnel washer. Sanitization is required to meet Federal regulations and is required to maintain AAALAC accreditation. The VA has conducted market research to determine that a unit that will meet the VA s need is equipped with an oscillating jet system to provide improved coverage over systems that utilize rotary spray arms or stationary jets. The unit is constructed of stainless steel and has all stainless-steel piping, headers, jets and drain valve. The unit is designed with seam flanges on the exterior of the cabinet in order to eliminate protrusions, bolts, nuts within the chamber, which results in an interior that does not accumulate debris and can be readily cleaned to minimize cross-contamination. The unit is equipped with self-cleaning primary debris screens and an exclusive sump bottom flush that acts to back flush to the drain any debris that settles on the tank floor. The unit also comes equipped with a water hammer eliminator as well as a steam moisture separator that prevents water slugging in the steam supply line. The unit also comes with the capability to either return the acid solution to its reservoir for re-use or dump to drain after neutralization. Circulating pump has variable frequency drive to vary water output and spray pressure. Operation is controlled through a microprocessor that controls programmable cycles of automatic Operation and comes equipped with a diagnostic program for system calibration and assurance of proper operation.





Other relevant criteria/information

Stainless steel construction (doors, coils, piping, pumps, headers, drain valve, jets, floor grid); flangeless interior cabinet design

Interior load clearance 48" x 85" x 92"

Microprocessor controlled operation plus diagnostic program

16" x 18" safety glass view window in each door

Circulating pump pressure gauge

Electromechanical header drive system

Automatic vent damper

Automatic self-cleaning in-line screen

Three tank reservoir system for storage re-circulated and non-recirculated treatments

Drain cool-down system- direct cold water injection

Emergency stop button at each end

Pneumatic valves and controls

Neutralization of acid solutions prior to draining

Oscillating jet system

Water hammer eliminator

Friction release safety door hardware

2 inside safety stop cables (one on either side of chamber)

All controls and valves on left hand side

The washer is a two door pass-through model. The dirty side outer cabinet dimensions are: 106 tall x 96 long x 69 wide (exclusive of left-side controls and valves) with inclusion of the valves and controls the width is 97

The clean side is essentially a flush-mounted wall mount with door.

Minimal downtime required



The anticipated contract will be firm fixed price. This notice 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 Monday 3/21/18 at 12 PM, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Lynn Portman at lynn.portman@va.gov and should include company name, address, point of contact, business size, SDVOSB/VOSB status, and description on how the vendor can meet the requirements. All submissions must include a narrative description of how the proposed cage and rack washer will meet the requirements stated above AND product literature to include pictures. No telephone responses will be accepted. This notice is to assist the Government in determining sources only. A solicitation is not currently available. If a solicitation is issued, all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this announcement.