SOURCES SOUGHT
J -- Preventative Maintenance and Parts for the Roe Animal Cage Bedding Handling System
- Notice Date
- 7/25/2023 12:31:20 PM
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 811210
—
- Contracting Office
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIDA Bethesda MD 20892 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- 75N95023R00069
- Response Due
- 7/31/2023 6:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 08/15/2023
- Point of Contact
- Sneha Singh
- E-Mail Address
-
sneha.singh@nih.gov
(sneha.singh@nih.gov)
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Solicitation Number: 75N95023R00069 Title:� Preventative Maintenance and Parts for the Roe Animal Cage Bedding Handling System Classification Code:� J066 NAICS Code:� 811219 - Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance Size Standard: $22.0 M Description:� 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. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.� It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.� Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.� No award will be made as a result of this notice.� The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.� This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Small businesses are encouraged to respond. This is also a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition.� It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.� Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.� No award will be made as a result of this notice.� The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.� This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. ����������� Background:� The NINDS is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The NINDS AHCS is tasked with the veterinary care, management of the Building 35/35A SAF. The Building 35 SAF currently houses approximately 17,000 mouse and rat cages used by nine NIH institutes and centers in support of approved animal study protocols (ASPs) and their research missions. To retain NIH/NINDS�s Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) accreditation, services performed on behalf of AHCS must be in accordance with all applicable recommended principals outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; 8th Edition. The Roe Vacuum Bedding Removal System (VBRS) consists of two (2) soiled cage bedding dump stations both of which are located in the basement-level cagewash area, a bedding disposal discharge module which is located outside of the building and adjacent to the ground-level loading dock area, a system of 2� stainless steel vacuum conveyor lines which connect the dump stations with the bedding disposal discharge module, and a PLC controlled Ethernet interface. The Roe Vacuum Bedding Dispensing System (VBDS) consists of a bulk bedding hopper, located in a storage area adjacent to the ground-level loading dock, one automated vacuum bedding dispenser units with a cage inverter, located on the clean side of the basement-level cagewash area, a system of 2� stainless steel vacuum conveyor lines for transporting clean woodchip bedding between the bulk bedding hopper, and the bedding dispenser units, and a PLC controlled Ethernet interface. There are also two (2) cage tunnel washers located in the vivarium cagewash area. One of these cage tunnel washers are equipped with a Roe Bedding Dump Station, and a Roe Bedding Dispenser/Cage Inverter. Purpose and Objectives: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Animal Health Care Section (AHCS) requires maintenance and repair services for its Roe Vacuum Bedding Removal System (VBRS) and Roe Vacuum Bedding Dispensing System (VBDS) located in the Building 35/35A Shared Animal Facility (SAF). Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to satisfy the specific requirements described in this SOW. The Contractor will provide preventive maintenance, emergency repair service, and parts for the Roe Automated Rodent Bedding Handling System. This system is composed of the five (5) pieces of bedding handling equipment, including all 2� stainless steel vacuum conveyor lines, PLC controllers, software, Ethernet cabling, and communication devices. The Contractor must be a factory trained service provider with at least a one (1) years� experience providing a service contract for Roe Automated Rodent Cage Bedding Handling Systems in a laboratory animal facility environment. The Roe bedding handling system components have been under warranty or a service agreement since installation. The Contractor may, therefore, assume that each piece of equipment has been properly serviced and maintained and will not require significant repairs, adjustment, or replacement parts prior to the start of the contract. Specific Requirements: The Contractor shall provide the following supplies and services to the Government: (1) Two annual preventive maintenance visits; (2) emergency repair service, as needed; (3) replacement and critical spare parts, as needed, and; (4) any necessary software revisions or upgrades. Preventive Maintenance (PM): The Contractor shall perform two (2) PM service visits per machine, per year. The first PM service will occur within 30 days of contract award. The second PM service will occur between the 6th and 7th month after contract award. If the Government exercises one or more option periods, the first PM service will occur within 30 days of the commencement date of the option period. The second PM service will occur between the 6th and 7th month from the date the Government exercised the option period. The Contractor shall not perform PM services in conjunction with any emergency repair service calls. The Contractor shall schedule the PM service visits, and the order in which it services the bedding handling system components, through advance coordination with the Contracting Officer�s Representative (COR) or their designee. Emergency Repairs: The Contractor must have a system in place to receive telephone calls from the COR or their designee during the hours listed in the SOW section entitled �Operating Environment.� When the Contractor is closed for business during normal Government operating hours, it must have a system in place for leaving a message and receiving a call back from a qualified service technician, who shall assist with resolving emergency service issues. This call back must take place within one (1) hour of placing a call for service. Troubleshooting and resolution of the reported problem will begin once the Government and the Contractor�s qualified service technician have established telephone contact. If the technician determines that it cannot resolve the reported equipment issue or malfunction by troubleshooting over the telephone, they shall immediately escalate the issue to ensure that a qualified service technician visits the Government site to perform additional troubleshooting, adjustment, calibration, repairs, or replacement of parts for the affected equipment. The technician shall arrive at the Government site within twenty-four (24) hours of escalation. If the Contractor cannot effectively resolve the issue(s) on the first business day the qualified service technician arrives at the Government site, the Government expects that the technician will return on the next business day or subsequent consecutive business days until the machine(s) are operational and the Contractor has tested and verified the repairs. The Contractor may only perform emergency repairs during the Government�s �normal hours of operation,� as later defined in this Statement of Work. The Government will not reimburse the Contractor for any work performed outside of these hours or for any overtime. Critical Spare Parts: The Government broadly defines a critical spare part as either a part that will make a machine inoperable or unsafe if it is damaged or missing, or a part that it can reasonably expect to wear-out or fail within the six (6) month PM service interval. At its discretion, the Government may purchase and store such parts at its facility, but this does not affect the Contractor�s responsibility to have on hand any part it determines are required for repairs within 24 hours of that determination. However, the Government is solely responsible for stocking and replacing all air filters. Tools: The Contractor must ensure that its qualified service technicians have at their immediate disposal the tools necessary to repair, adjust, and calibrate the equipment. The Government expects that the Contractor will not experience delays in repairing this equipment due to a technician not having immediate access to the proper tools, calibration, or diagnostic instruments. Service Documentation: For completed emergency service calls, the Contractor shall immediately submit to the COR or their designee documentation (either electronically or in hard copy form) that describes the work it performed, the part(s) it replaced, and the operating status of each machine it serviced. For completed PM service visits, the Contractor shall, within 24 hours of the visit, submit to the COR or their designee all relevant service documentation (either electronically or in hard copy form). The Contractor must submit all service reports in a format that is both legible and, if submitted electronically, acceptable to the Government (i.e., Excel, Acrobat, or other format agreed upon after contract award). Minimum Performance Expectation: The Government expects that each of the five (5) pieces of the Roe bedding handling system will be functional and operational a minimum of 80% of the time during both regular and holiday work weeks. The Government actively processes cages and bottles through the bedding handling system between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday during a regular work week and on the non-holiday workdays of a holiday week. Operating Environment: Normal Hours of Operation: Contractor employees shall perform all work between the hours of 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). As previously stated, the Government will not reimburse the Contractor for any work it performs outside of these hours or for any overtime. Federal Holidays: Contractor employees shall not perform any work at the Government�s facility during Federal holidays or other non-workdays without prior written approval from the Contracting Officer. LEVEL OF EFFORT: The Contractor shall use qualified service technicians to perform all work required under this contract as stipulated in the Key Personnel section. The required level of effort may vary depending on the extent and frequency of repairs in a given year, however, the Government anticipates that it will require 550 hours of emergency repair service annually/per period of performance. The Contractor shall provide preventive maintenance service visits on a FFP basis. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The anticipated period of performance shall include one 12-month base period and two 6-month option periods as follows: Base Period: September 28, 2023 through September 27, 2024 Option Period One: September 28, 2024 through March 27, 2025 Option Period Two: March 28, 2025 through September 27, 2025 OPTION: The terms under which any option(s) may be exercised will be included in the contract terms and conditions. Travel No travel cost will be reimbursed. All cost associated with travel time should be included within the provided service agreement quote. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE National Institutes of Health Building 35 Bethesda, MD 20892 Capability Statement /Information Sought Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately.� Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents� technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2� x 11� paper size, with 1� top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein.� A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit.� The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The following information shall be included on the first page: 1. Name of Company 2. GSA Contract No. 3. DUNS No./CAGE Code 4. Street Address, City, State, Zip code 5. Name of Person Authorized to Provide Quote 6. Telephone Number and Email Address of Person Authorized to Provide Quote All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer.� Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Sneha Singh, Contract Specialist at e-mail address Sneha.Singh@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before Monday, July 31, 2023, 9:00 AM, Eastern Time. �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 presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in www.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).�
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/ee04508f20634edfb90b8d89263cb61e/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, MD, USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN06763494-F 20230727/230725230056 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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