Tiered BAT caging

The U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center is procuring 9 units of specialized tiered bat caging designed for housing different bat species for wildlife disease research. The cages must meet detailed technical specifications including minimum dimensions of 31"H x 17"D x 32"W, be constructed from ASTM Type 304/304L stainless steel with 1x1x18ga SS tubing that is fully seam welded using TIG welding, feature autoclavable materials capable of withstanding temperatures up to 134 Celsius, and include specific mesh configurations for roof, walls, and floor along with spring latches for low-light operability. Each unit will contain 2 cages per rack with floor space ranging from 3.78-4.0 square feet, and vendors must provide authentic, manufacturer-certified products in original packaging with technical brochures demonstrating compliance. The solicitation will be awarded on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis to the vendor whose quote conforming to the RFQ is determined most advantageous to the government. The question cutoff date was September 3, 2025, with quotes due by September 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time via email to Justice Pryor at jpryor@usgs.gov.

This procurement is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 332618 (Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing), though no specific incumbents or current contractors are identified in the solicitation. While no budget range or award value is specified in the documentation, the procurement involves a relatively small quantity of 9 specialized cage units for research purposes. The cages must be designed to accommodate both bats and small passerines while meeting stringent research facility requirements, with delivery scheduled for November 30, 2025. Performance will occur at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center located in Madison, Wisconsin, where the specialized caging will support ongoing wildlife disease research activities.