Inactive
Notice ID:68HERC21Q0031
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Tecniplast USA, Inc. (Techniplast), under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, for one (1) Firm-Fixed Pric...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Tecniplast USA, Inc. (Techniplast), under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, for one (1) Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order to provide twenty-two (22) Z-Park tanks (ZBP16CP) for the EPA¿s Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE). The Z-Park tanks will be used to set the adult zebrafish up to breed and produce embryos for research conducted by CCTE laboratory located at the EPA¿s Research Triangle Park, NC campus. The EPA CCTE-RTP zebrafish research colony consists of about 5000 adult zebrafish at any given time. These adult zebrafish are bred or spawned every two to three weeks to produce fertilized embryos which are used for our research projects. The zebrafish from several different home tanks on a zebrafish housing rack must be set up to breed together on this schedule or they can develop dominant males and females which bully and attack the non-dominant zebrafish in their tank. Additionally, females which do not routinely breed or spawn can become egg bound and suffer and die. The Z-Park tanks are patented housing rack breeding tanks designed to fit the existing zebrafish housing racks. These Z-Park tanks are the only on the housing rack, with waterflow and temperature-control, breeding tanks on the market. They are only sold by Tecniplast. They will be used to set the adult zebrafish up to breed and produce embryos for our research without the stress on the fish from being moved in and out of the tanks daily, being in colder than ideal water overnight, and being exposed to high ammonia in the water. Thus, they are ideally suited to our research needs because: ¿ The Z-Park is a patented breeding tank that uses controlled shallow water through an inclined platform to induce breeding or spawning for up to 160 adult zebrafish where embryos can be collect and easily removed without fish gaining access to the embryos and eating them. ¿ The Z-Park is designed to fit on the Tecniplast housing rack shelving we already have in the zebrafish facility. ¿ The Z-Park can be adapted to other manufactures systems with slight modifications. ¿ The Z-Park design removes the organic material which leads to high ammonia in the water within minutes of entering the system and does not require filter pads and canister filters. ¿ The Z-Park uses a siphoning system that is a self-cleaning design which extends the tank¿s life and increases water quality at tank level. ¿ The Z-Park has an Environmental Enrichment Gravel Image on the bottom of the tank which reduces stress for the zebrafish. ¿ The Z-Park has a breeder insert for collection of embryos that can be easily added or removed. ¿ The Z-Park has a divider that can be used to separate fish as desired, and the divider insert is easily inserted and removed. ¿ The Z-Park is suitable for use on Tecniplast housing rack shelves which can house 3.5-liter and 8.0-liter tanks (which we have) separately or altogether according to the need of the user without requiring any change at rack level. ¿ The Z-Park has valves which allow for the adjustment of water flow at tank level through a distribution tube that mimics the natural water flow for the fish similar to a creek or river. The valve allows flow adjustment and on/off flow of the water. ¿ The Z-Park tanks are manufactured from transparent polycarbonate material that reduces algae growth and increases visibility. The tank provides fish with a uniform light environment. ¿ The water does not have any contact with the Z-Park lid before entering inside the tank, thus cutting down on contamination. ¿ Z-Park tanks are able to accommodate breeding with water flowing through tanks which allows ammonia to be removed, temperature to be regulated, and Dissolved Oxygen be maintained (unlike breeding in stationary or static tanks like we usually do). ¿ The ability to add the Z-park¿s included spawning or breeding platform for group breeding without having to remove fish from the system to breed. This requirement will utilize FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 339999, All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing, with a small business size of 500 employees. Tecniplast is the only manufacturer who markets and distributes zebrafish housing systems and other aquatic equipment worldwide which can fully satisfy the research needs for the EPA-RTP zebrafish research. No other contractor manufactures Z-Park tanks. This will result in a firm-fixed price purchase order with a delivery date of three (3) months after issuance of the purchase order. We anticipate issuing a solicitation on or about January 4, 2021. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Notwithstanding, any firm that believes it is capable of meeting the EPA¿s requirement may submit a capability statement which must address the outlined requirements above. Such documentation must be submitted to the Contracting Officer by 11:59pm Eastern Time on January 4, 2021. A determination not to compete the proposed FFP contract based upon the responses received to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All questions should be directed to Kasual Sharp at sharp.kasual@epa.gov. Responses to this notice must be submitted electronically via email. Telephone responses will not be honored.
