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SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT Title: Laboratory Casework System ID: SS-NIAID-25-2250915 Post Date: January 7, 2025 Response Date: January 17, 2025 NAICS: 337127 Introduction This is a Sources Sought Not... SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT Title: Laboratory Casework System ID: SS-NIAID-25-2250915 Post Date: January 7, 2025 Response Date: January 17, 2025 NAICS: 337127 Introduction 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. Background, Purpose, Objectives The Division of Intramural Research (DIR) Office of Operations Management (OOM) is a component of NIAID, one of the largest Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more than 65 years, DIR has been at the forefront of research on immunologic, allergic, and infectious diseases. Their discoveries promote the development of new vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics that improve human health. DIR scientists study all aspects of infectious diseases, including the causative agents, vectors, and pathogenesis in human and animal hosts. Clinical research is integral to the DIR mission, enabling key lab discoveries to be rapidly translated into methods to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. The Rocky Mountain Lab’s OOM Renovation’s Division is requesting a laboratory casework system to augment their existing system. The casework is being ordered for laboratory spaces 3118, 3119, and 3120 to support the incoming tenure-track Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII) at RML. The incoming Principal Investigator will be instrumental in advancing the mission of RML. The casework will consist of new alpha modular casework that matches the specifications and design currently utilized in the Quad building (3120) and alpha modular casework found in Building 28. This casework is flexible, durable, and designed to accommodate the evolving needs of cutting-edge scientific research. The current laboratory spaces are outdated and no longer meet the needs of modern scientific research. Upgrading to the alpha modular casework will: Provide greater flexibility for adapting workspaces to various research needs. The casework system must be compatible with the existing laboratory casework system. The required laboratory casework system must be modular, durable, customizable, and meet NIH Design Requirements Manual (DRM) specifications and biosafety standards. The required laboratory casework is essential to support the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and affiliated agencies. This procurement will equip the labs with high-quality, durable, and modular casework that meets the stringent performance and biosafety requirements necessary for cutting-edge research. This action ensures researchers have access to functional and standardized workspaces critical for advancing scientific discovery and operational efficiency. The need for continuity in laboratory infrastructure is paramount. Currently, a significant portion of the existing laboratory furniture and casework is sourced from Innovative Laboratory Systems. This consistency ensures seamless integration with existing infrastructure, minimizes disruptions, and facilitates ongoing maintenance using in-house expertise and stocked replacement parts. DESCRIPTION OF NEED: SEE ATTACHMENT Project Requirements Successful offerors must have the knowledge, skill, ability, and resources to reliably provide a brand name or equal to laboratory casework system. The casework must integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and meet the following specifications: Cabinet Material: Steel cabinet bodies, drawer bodies, shelves, drawer heads and door assemblies shall be fabricated from cold rolled steel and chemically resistant finishes to withstand the rigors of a research environment and meet SEFA 8 Industry Standards. sefa-standards-and-its-importance-for-lab-furniture MATERIALS A. General Requirements: It is the intent of this specification to provide a high-quality steel cabinet specifically designed for the laboratory environment. B. Steel: 1. Cold Rolled Steel: Cold rolled sheet steel shall be prime grade 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 gauge U.S. Standard; roller leveled, and shall be treated at the mill to be free of scale, ragged edges, deep scratches or other injurious effects. C. Hardware and Trim: 1. The cabinets and drawers must meet SEFA 8 Specifications a. Drawer and door pulls shall CONSTRUCTION A. Steel Cabinet Construction: 1. General: a. The steel furniture shall be of modern design and shall be constructed in accordance with the best practices of the SEFA 8 Industry Standards. b. Each cabinet shall be complete so that units can be relocated at any subsequent time without requiring field application of finished ends or other such parts. 2. Steel Gauges: Gauges of steel used in construction of cases shall be 18 gauge, except as follows: a. Leveling bolt reinforcements 12 gauge. b. Top and intermediate front horizontal rails, apron rails, hinge reinforcements, and reinforcement gussets, 16 gauge. c. Drawer assemblies, door assemblies, bottom, bottom back rail, toe space rail, and adjustable shelves, 20 gauge. B. Base Cabinets: 1. The cabinets construction must meet SEFA 8 standards and shall be formed into not less than an L formation at top, bottom, back and a 3/4" wide front C formation. C. Special Purpose Storage Cabinets: 1. Acid Storage Fume Hood Cabinets: Acid storage fume hood cabinets shall utilize the same gauges of steel and construction features as other base cabinets except they shall be completely lined with a one piece polyethylene corrosion resistant liner according to the SEFA 8 Standards. 2. Solvent Storage Cabinets: Solvent storage cabinets shall be specifically designed for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids. Construction shall be based upon the requirements listed by UFC, OSHA and NFPA No. 30 1993, and cabinets shall be FM approved and labeled. The bottoms, top, sides and doors shall be fabricated of 18 gauge steel and shall be all double panel construction with a 1 1/2" air space between panels. The cabinet shall be labeled: "FLAMMABLE KEEP FIRE AWAY". 3. Vacuum Pump Cabinets: Vacuum pump cabinets shall utilize the SEFA 8 standards for construction. Each cabinet shall be furnished with a 1½" diameter PVC vent pipe in the back for venting or access to the fume hood above. D. Upper Cabinet Construction: 1. Upper cabinets shall meet the SEFA 8 standards. 2. Solid panel doors shall consist of an inner and outer door pan. The door assembly shall be 3/4" thick and contains sound deadening material. 3. Sliding doors shall be suspended from the top in a roll formed steel track fastened to the cabinet top and shall glide on nylon rollers. Track shall be so designed to prevent accidental removal of doors. 4. Swinging doors over 36" high shall be hung on three or more hinges. 5. Plate glass doors shall operate based on SEFA 8 standards. E. Steel Full Height Cabinet Construction: 1. Full height storage cabinets shall have a finished interior same as exterior. 2. Cabinet tops shall be formed into a channel shape at front with flange at rear and sides for electro-welding cabinet top to cabinet back and ends. 3. Solid panel doors shall consist of inner and outer pan formations mechanically assembled after painting and comply with SEFA 8 standards. 4. Swinging doors over 36" high shall be hung on three hinges. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS A. Steel Casework Construction Performance: 1. Base cabinets shall be constructed to support at least a uniformly distributed load 200 pounds per square foot of cabinet top area, including working surface without objectionable distortion of interference with door and drawer operation. B. Steel Paint System Finish and Performance Specification: 1. Steel Paint System Finish: After Cold Rolled Steel and Textured Steel component parts have been completely welded together and before finishing, they shall be given a pre paint treatment to provide to the finish system to the steel and to aid in the prevention of corrosion. The completed finish system in standard colors shall meet the performance test requirements specified under PERFORMANCE TEST RESULTS. 2. Performance Test Results: The surfaces must perform and withstand chemical corrosion based on SEFA standard for chemical spot tests; The surface must withstand a certain level of heat according to SEFA 8 standard for heat resistance; The surface must withstand a certain level of impact according to SEFA 8 standard for impact resistance; The surface 18 gauge steel strip must withstand a certain level of bending according to SEFA 8 standard for the bending test; The surface coating must past the ASTM D2197 68 “Standard Method of Test for Adhesion of Organic Coatings"; The surface paint film hardness shall meet industry the SEFA standard for the hardness test. WORK SURFACES Tops , sinks, and cupsinks surfaces are to meet the SEPA 8 standards. The contractor shall provide: 1. Delivery and installation services to ensure proper placement and integration with existing infrastructure. 2. Maintenance support, including access to spare parts, troubleshooting assistance, and technical support during normal business hours. 3. Detailed product documentation and training materials to assist laboratory staff with casework operation and maintenance. Training materials may be tailored to suit the specific needs of NIH laboratories. The Government anticipates awarding a firm fixed price purchase order, after solicitation for this requirement. Delivery /Installation Location: Hamilton, MT 59840 Capability Statement/Information Sought All capable vendors should respond with a brief capability statement by January 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST. The capability statement must include the ability to provide the required brand name or equal products, as per specifications, and that are compatible with the Innovative Laboratory Casework System. Capability statement must include place of manufacturer as per Executive Order 14005-Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers. “Buy America” or “Buy American,” that require, or provide a preference for, the purchase or acquisition of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States, including iron, steel, and manufactured goods offered in the United States”. If your organization has the potential capacity to support this requirement, please provide the following information: 1) organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, UEI number and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) respondents shall indicate if they are the manufacturer or the distributor of the required laboratory casework system and shall include basic information on product specifications. If an equal product is recommended (not specific to the brand proposed) then sufficient details shall be provided by the respondent describing how the equal product being recommended, meets the minimum specifications of the requirement. Capability statements should also include documentation indicating that offerors business size as determined by the Small Business Administration’s Table of Size Standards located at: (https://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-size-standards) for NAICS 337127. This SBA size standard is currently 1250 employees but is subject to change. Prospective offerors may also note whether they meet any other socio-economic business categories such as 8(a), Hub-Zone, or Service-Disabled Veteran when submitting their capability statement. Submission Instructions Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above-listed items are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by January 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement. All required documents must be submitted via the NIAID electronic Simplified Acquisition Submission System (eSASS) website at https://esass.nih.gov by January 17, 2024 10:00 am. All vendors must register in the eSASS system to submit their documentation. Instructions on how to register /submit documents are included on the website. All responses received by the closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. 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).