National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSCS, 6120 Executive Blvd, Eps/room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

99 -- STAINLESS STEEL INDIVIDUALLY VENTILATED MOUSE/RAT CAGING SYSTEMS SOL NCI-RFQ-70139 DUE 082997 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, (301) 402-4509 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Commercial Items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; i.e., a separate solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, RFQ-NCI-70139 is set-aside for small businesses. The Standard Industrial Classification Code is 3496 and the business size standard less than 500 employees. This solicitation and the incorporated provisions/clauses are those in effect thru Federal Acquisition Circular 90-46. This purchase will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.6 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. Organizations submitting quotations must furnish a completed and signed provision at FAR 52.212.3, Offeror Representations and Certifications for Commercial Items, with their Quotation. They must provide descriptive literature which demonstrates that the items are in full compliance with specifications and experience noted below. Furnish the Natinal Inst. of Health, National Cancer Institutes, Office of Laboratory Animal Science, Bethesda, Maryland, the following: 50 EACH -- Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated Mouse Caging Systems, The 50 stainless steel separately ventilated rodent caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered positive pressure air, and shall exhaust each individual cage. The unit shall have one supply and one exhaust blower module. Air from the cages shall be exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. The exhaust shall have a 5 inch round hose connectin for the existing HVAC ceiling drops. The systems shall be complete with compatible cages, tops, filters, and water bottles, and PPC-card holders permanently attached to the side of the cages. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between animal cages, provided HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for exhausting through the exhaust blower module allowing the caging systems to provide individual ventilation and exhaust for the cages. Air velocities within the cages shall be a mean of less than 50 linear feet per minute and provide a minimum mean of 30 intracage air exchanges per hour. Each stainless steel caging system shall be able to house at least 96 expanded small mouse cages with dimensions of at least 78 square inches of floor space and greater than 5 1/2 inches of height per cage (at least the mouse cage housing capacity of Thoren Model#5-96-8-12-1-4TM or equal. Each of these units shall also be able to provide individually ventilated air to mouse cages and shall capture effluent air from mouse cages. The 50 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 7000 each #5APPC Thoren or equal cage autoclavable polycarbonate with flapper grommets. The grommets shall be located 2 1/2 inches from cage floor mouse cages, at least 5000 each Thoren Model #5A or equal autoclavable stainless steel wire bar cage cover, at least 7000 each polycarbonate filter, Thoren #5 or equal, covers at least 1400 autoclavable polycarbonate ink water bottles, 50 each Edstrom or equal stainless steel reverse "S", auto watering w/96-a-154 valves, and quick disconnect installed on ladder rack end, 1000 each Thoren 5BMS or equal autoclavable cage cover stainless steel, 12 each wash baskets for ink water bottles, 6 each water bottle cap removers stainless steel. The bottles shall include stainless steel caps each with a device appropriate for the delivery of water to mice in a fashion which will meet AAALAC requirements (sipper tube or equvalent), at least 7000 each PPC identification card holders, permanently attached to side of cages. Shall include a source HEPA filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the units. Each caging system shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. The caging systems shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require no more than one outlet per unit. Except for the removable pre-filters, HEPA filters, associated gauges, and removable electrical connecting box, the caging systems shall be easily dismantled external and internal surfaces may be washed or become autoclavable. The systems shall allow for easy change from a negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. 2-EACH- Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated Mouse Caging Systems Shall be in accordance with the following specifications: These 2 stainless steel individually ventilated mouse caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered supply and exhaust by using a HEPA-filter blower module so that the air from the cages is exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. The exhaust shall have a 5" round hose connection. The systems shall be complete with, stainless steel card holders, compatible cages, tops, filters, as decribed below. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between the individual animal cages, provide HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for removing the exhaust air so that the caging systems provide individual air and exhaust for ventilated cages. Air velocities within the cages shall be a mean of less than 50 linear feet per minute and provide a minimum mean of 30 intracage air exchanges per hour. Each stainless steel caging systems shall be able to house at least 64 #3 Thoren mouse cages or equal with at least 55 square inches of floor area per compartment or 64 Thoren #2 mouse weaning cages or equal with floor area of at least 110 square inches and 5 inches of height per cage. The unit shall have at least the mouse cage housing capacity of Thoren Model #3-64-8-8-1-4-5TM or equal. Each of these units shall be able to provide individually ventilated air to mouse cages and shall capture effluent air from mouse cages. The switch from duplex type housing to the weaning mouse cage shall require no more effort than a switch of cages. The 2 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 150 total compatible autoclavable polycarbonate Thoren #2 APPC weaning cages or equal, having 2 each flapper grommets at least 150 total autoclavable stainless steel wire bar cage covers Model #2A or equal, at least 150 each polycarbonate filter covers, 2 each Edstrom stainless steel reverse "S", auto watering with 128 each of A-154 or equal valves, with quick disconnect or equal, installed on ladder rack ends. The 2 systems shall be supplied with 128 total Thoren #3 duplex cages with two each flapper grommets or equal including stainless steel wire bar covers and filter lids. Shall include a source of HEPA-filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the 2 caging system. Each caging system shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. Each of the 2 individual systems shall be able to move through 7 foot doors by 42 inches wide. The caging systems shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require at least one outlet per unit. The plugs shall be the twist lock type. Except for the removable pre-filters, HEPA filters, associated gauges, and electrical box the caging systems shall easily dismantle,external and internal surfaces may be washed or autoclavable. The systems shall allow for easy change from negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. 4 EACH- Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated Rat Caging Systems:Shall be in accordance with the following specifications: These 4 stainless steel individually ventilated rat cagnig systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered positive pressure or negative with one supply & one exhaust blower module. Air from the cages shall be exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. The exhaust shall have a 5 inch round hose connection for the HVAC ceiling drops. The systems shall be complete with compatible cages, tops, filters, and PPC card holders as described below. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between animal cages, provide HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for exhausting. The caging systems shall provide individual supply and exhaust toeach cage. Air velocities within the cages shall be a mean of less than 50 linear feet per minute and provide a minimum mean of 30 intracage air exchanges per hour. Each stainless steel caging system shall be able to house at least 30 rat cages with dimensins of at least 210 square inches of floor space and greater than 8 1/2 inches of height per cage. The rat cage systems housing capacity of Thoren Mod. #6-30-6-5-1-4Tm or equal. When fully set up with rat cages, each unit shall be able to house at least 150 rats of less than 400 grams weight under current AAALAC space requirements. The 4 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 180 Thoren #6 APPC or equal compatible autoclavable polycarbonate rate cages with flapper grommet, 180 each autoclavable stainless steel Thoren #6 or equivalent covers, at least 4 each Edstrom or equal stainless steel reverse "S", auto watering, with 30-A-154 valves and with quick disconnect installed on the ladder rack ends, 180 -- 3 inch x 5 inch horizontal PPC identification cards holders, permanently attached to side of cages. Shall include a source of HEPA filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the 4 caging systems. Each caging systems shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. The caging systems shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require no more than one outlet per unit. The plugs shall be twist lock type. Except for the removable pre-filters, HEPA filters, associated gauges, and removable electrical connecting box, the caging systems shall be able to be washed or sterilized. The systems shall easily dismantle external and internal surfaces may be sterilized. the systems shall allow for easy change from negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. To assure the continued availability of supplies for these housing systems, the manufacturer must have marketed individually ventilated rodent caging systems for at least 2 years prior to submission of the bid and sold at least 5 units per year during each of those 2 years. The caging systems should come complete with at least a 1 year warranty. The vendor will set-up and demonstrate proper use of the caging system at the NIH 6 weeks after the delivery of the systems. the Government wll evaluate based on F.O.B. Destination (Bethesda, Maryland) and the requirements at FAR 52.214.21 "Descriptive Literature" apply. Proposals/Information provided must demonstrate the unit's ability to meet the specification and that the supplier has at least two years of experience as stated above. Offers will be evaluated for acceptability in accordance with the stated specification and experience. Single award to the lowest priced, responsive, responsible offeror whose proposal demonstrates compliance with the specifications and experience is contemplated. Offerors are advised the the following FAR provisions apply to this RFQ: FAR 52.212-1, "Instructin to Offerors -- Commercial Items", 52.2124, "Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items', and 52.212-5 "Contract Terms and Conditions Required t Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items", Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions. The following FAR clauses cited in Clause 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition: 52.222-3 "Convict Labor", 52.233-3 "Protest After Award', 52.222-26 "Equal Opportunity", 52.222-35 "Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans"; 52.222-36 "Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers", 52.222.37 "Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Vietnam Era"; 52.225-3 "Buy American Act -- Supplies; 52.225-18 "European Community Sanctions for end Products, " Proposals are due August 29, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. local prevailing time. Facsimile submissions are not authorized. Proposals should be submitted as follows: (1) one original and two copies of a complted SF 1449, signed by an individual authorized to bind the organization; (2) a Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services containing pricing for the system being offered, published price lists (if applicable) and a delivery schedule; (3) completed Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3; (4) descriptive literature and demonstrated experience for evaluation purposes; (5) acknowledgment of amendments, if any. Submit to: Cynthia Brown at address listed. Offers that fail to furnish the required information or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. (0217)

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