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SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95022Q00036 TITLE: Animal Feed and Bedding Supplies CLASSIFICATION CODE: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies NAICS CODE: 311119 – Other Animal Food Manufacturing RESPONSE DA... SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95022Q00036 TITLE: Animal Feed and Bedding Supplies CLASSIFICATION CODE: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies NAICS CODE: 311119 – Other Animal Food Manufacturing RESPONSE DATE: December 27, 2021 PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: Jeremy Tran, Contract Specialist NINDS Contracts Management Branch, NIDA Jeremy.tran@nih.gov DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE/PROPOSALS. On behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the Office of Acquisitions Contracts Management Branch Red, NINDS Section of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), intends to solicit on a sole-source basis by a request for quotation to Animal Specialties and Provisions South, LLC to acquire brand-name only animal diet formulations and bedding supplies on or around January 03, 2022 with an award issued on or around February 06, 2022. The purpose of this acquisition is to procure animal feed and bedding supplies tailored to research protocol specifications for the rodent colonies housed in the NIH Building 35/35A Shared Animal Facility (SAF) and the NINDS rodent colonies housed in the Building 10 ACRF. Timely delivery and product quality management, particularly pest and mold control, are imperative. To ensure animal welfare and compliance with research protocols, brand-name-only feed and bedding supplies are mandatory. While other organizations may be able to provide some of the required brand-name supplies, Animal Specialties and Provisions South is the only authorized local distributor of all required feed and bedding products. Therefore, Animal Specialties and Provisions South is the only available source for the required brand-name supplies. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 311119 with a Size Standard of 500. This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses, but rather is a sole-source acquisition to Animal Specialties and Provisions South. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. This acquisition uses FAR Part 13.5 procedures. BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF REQUIREMENT The NINDS Animal Health Care Section (AHCS) is tasked with veterinary care, management, and oversight responsibilities for rodent colonies in the NIH Building 35/35A Shared Animal Facility (SAF), and the NINDS rodent colonies housed in the Building 10 ACRF. The rodent colonies are used by nine (9) NIH Institutes and Centers (IC’s) to carry out their research missions. The NINDS AHCS rodents have been fed specific brand name diet formulations for over 25 years and these brand name diet formulations are incorporated into research protocols. Additionally, the bedding material used for the animals have been in use for over 15 years and are incorporated into existing research protocols and animal welfare documentation. Animal feed, bedding, and enrichment supplies come into direct contact with research animals inside of their primary enclosures (cages). The animal feed is ingested to meet the dietary requirements of the research animals. Animal bedding and enrichment supplies are in constant contact with the research animals and these materials are often ingested. In order to ensure that the nutritional requirements of these valuable research animals are met, experimental variables are minimized, and proper animal health and welfare is continuously maintained, animal feed and bedding specifications must be periodically reviewed by the AHCS veterinary team and by the Building 35/35A SAF Institute Animal Program Directors (APD’s) to determine if changes are warranted and to select the brand name products that will best meet the nutritional, research, and animal welfare requirements of the animals going forward. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The AHCS of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is tasked with veterinary care, management, and oversight responsibilities for rodent colonies in NIH Building 35. The rodent colonies are used by nine (9) IC’s to carry out their research missions. The animals require brand-name specific diet formulations and bedding supplies to ensure animal welfare in compliance with The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th Edition). Further, brand-name specific diet formulations and bedding supplies are essential for reducing experimental variables and the continuation of science. Variation in the composition of the diet formulations can affect the animals’ physiology and, in turn, the results of scientific experiments. Building 35/35A SAF rodent colonies are heavily used in behavioral research, where the parameters being measured are more heavily influenced by individual variability than in most other types of experiments. Thus, maintaining consistent diet formulations and bedding is essential to the continuity and validity of ongoing lines of research. Use of any feed or bedding brands other than those specifically required in this brand-name only justification would jeopardize animal welfare as well as continuity of science. Only the brand-name products specified are acceptable. In accordance with FAR part 10, extensive market research was conducted. A review of the GSA Advantage, Dynamic Small Business Search, and previous Government acquisitions returned no results that meet all requirements. Further market research suggested that other businesses may be able to provide some of the required brand-name supplies. However, during market research the Government determined that Animal Specialties and Provisions South is the only source that can provide all required supplies. Two manufacturers stated their sole local distributor for all of their required products is Animal Specialties and Provisions South. This is the only source that is authorized by the manufacturers and that has direct access to the supplies. Furthermore, they are the only source that has the local warehouses, truck services, and related infrastructure in place to provide these items to the NIH on a reoccurring and emergency basis. Purchase of the feed and bedding supplies from any other source would risk delay and could prevent the Government from obtaining the required items. Therefore, Animal Specialties and Provisions South is the only source available that can provide the required brand-name supplies without significant risk to animal welfare and continuity of scientific protocols. The intended source is: Animal Specialties and Provisions South, LLC 600 Commerce Drive Quakertown, PA 18951-3731 Salient characteristics: The contractor shall provide the NINDS AHCS the following brand name only animal feed and bedding supplies: Item No. Supply Manufacturer Unit 1 LabDiet 5018 NIH-07 Open Formula Feed Purina 50 lb. bag 2 LabDiet 5LL2 Prolab RMH 1800 Purina 33 lb. bag 3 LabDiet 5R31 (Autoclavable Version of 5LL2) Purina 25 lb. bag 4 LabDiet 5053 (Irradiated) PicoLab Rodent Diet 20 Purina 30 lb. bag 5 LabDiet 5015 Mouse Diet (Breeder Chow) Purina 50 lb. bag 6 LabDiet 5058 (Irradiated) PicoLab Mouse Diet 20 Purina 30 lb. bag 7 DietGel 76A 96-2 oz. cups per case Clear H2O Case 8 HydroGel 55-8 oz pouches per case Clear H2O Case 9 Beta Chip Hardwood Laboratory Bedding Northeastern Products Corp. 2.5 cu. ft. bag 10 Bed-o’Cobs 1/8” The Andersons Inc. 1.25 cu. ft. bag 11 Bed-o’Cobs 1/8” The Andersons Inc. 30 cu. ft. bulk bag 12 Bed-o’Cobs 1/8” The Andersons Inc. 40 cu. ft. bulk bag 13 Bed-o’-Cobs 1/4” The Andersons Inc. 1.25 cu. ft. bag 14 Nestlets 3,600 -2” squares per case Ancare Case 15 Enviro-Dri Shepherd Specialty Papers 25 lb. Carton The Contractor shall provide all necessary customer support, reports, replacements, any travel and transportation, and other related services required. Delivery: Prior to the first day of each month, the Government will provide the contractor with a list of the animal feed and bedding supplies to be delivered for that month. The list shall be issued via email or other written document and shall include specified delivery dates for that month. The contractor will be expected to adhere to the monthly delivery schedule that may include deliveries up to two or three times a week. Unless otherwise jointly agreed by the Government and the contractor, the first delivery of each month shall be required on the 5th day following issuance of the monthly requirements and delivery schedule. The contractor shall be responsible for transportation and the unloading of all supplies at the delivery location specified at the time the order is placed. All bulk deliveries shall be palletized on commercially available, standard-sized, four-way pallets. Pallets shall be made of a durable plastic material that is clean and routinely sanitized by the contractor. The total height of each loaded pallet shall not exceed 55”. Each pallet shall be shrink-wrapped to assure product integrity, safety and ease in proper handling. Smaller quantities may be delivered in boxes, on hand trucks, or on flat bed carts. The contractor shall be expected to deliver emergency supplies within a 24-hour period for animal feed and/or bedding that is compromised or is otherwise unusable due to force majeure or unforeseen, uncontrollable circumstances. The contractor shall be expected to provide a return trip to correct an incorrect product delivery within 24 hours of receiving notification from the Government that an incorrect order was delivered. All scheduled deliveries shall be made to the specified delivery point between the hours of 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM Monday through Friday (excluding Federal Holidays). Delivery trucks arriving after 2:00 pm may be refused. The contractor shall be responsible for rescheduling a new delivery date with the Government and shall be responsible for any fuel or other surcharges associated with a refused delivery. Due to the reduction in research activity that resulted from COVID 19, the number of rodent cages housed at the Building 35/35A SAF has been significantly reduced from approximately 16,000 rodent cages to a current level of approximately 14,000 rodent cages. The Building 35/35A SAF has an approximate cage capacity of up to 24,000 rodent cages. The number of rodent cages is expected to increase significantly during the period of performance of this new acquisition as research returns to pre-COVID 19 levels and as new scientists are recruited. Rodent cage census is never static and can vary due to changing research requirements, recruiting activity, and unforeseen circumstances (COVID 19). Estimated Period of Performance: The estimated ordering period for the IDIQ is: 02/08/2022 - 02/07/2027, including all options. The period of performance for each supply order will be specified in the delivery order. Place of Performance: The place of performance shall be at the NIH Main Campus, a Government facility, at 9000 Rockville Pike, 35 Convent Drive, Bldg. 35, Bethesda, MD 20892. Contract Type: A single-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract, with a maximum contract value of $3,500,000 for all five years, with fixed price delivery orders is planned for this acquisition, consistent with commercial practices. CLOSING STATEMENT THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ON A SOLE-SOURCE BASIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must provide evidence that they can provide equipment that meets all of the requirements in this announcement. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95022Q00036. Responses must be submitted electronically to Jeremy Tran, Contract Specialist, Contracts Management Branch – Red, NINDS Section, NIDA, at jeremy.tran@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.