THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following supplies in support of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS), Seattle Division:
VAPSHCS has a need for the annual certification, maintenance and periodic HEPA filter changes for up to 60 Biological Safety Cabinets housed at the VAPSHCS Seattle division research laboratories in buildings 1, 8, 13, 34, and 101. See appendix A: RD Biosafety Cabinets for current information on each BSC.
Background.
A significant number of research investigators at the VAPSHCH require Biosafety Level 2 safety precautions to study human disease using tissue culture models and primary cell lines derived from patient biopsies. It is imperative that these cell lines are kept free of microbial contamination that will confound research results. In addition to providing a sterile environment to work with cell lines, biosafety cabinets (BSC) are a critical engineering control for research staff when working with viral vectors or processing human samples. Biosafety cabinet s laminar flow directs air outside of the cabinet through a HEPA filter to prevent outside contamination and filters the air exhausted from the cabinet. The research facility at VAPSHCS maintains 58 biosafety cabinets from various manufacturers for its research investigators. These cabinet s HEPA filters must be checked for leaks and airflow rates and potentially modified annually to insure they are providing adequate protection for research staff. All BSC must be certified before use.
Scope.
VAPSHCS Research and Development section requires a multiyear contract to cover annual certification, maintenance and periodic HEPA filter changes for up to 60 Biological Safety Cabinets housed at the VAPSHCS Seattle division research laboratories in buildings 1, 8, 13, 34, and 101. See Appendix A: RD Biosafety Cabinets on pages 4 7 for current information on each BSC.
Specific Tasks.
Full testing and certification of class II biosafety cabinets listed in appendix A, to include:
testing battery,
in place leak test HEPA filters,
test airflow smoke patterns,
site installation assessment test,
exhaust canopy test.
conduct airflow velocity test,
Repair (remedial) services: This will include other services necessary to maintain the equipment in first-class operating condition to include, but not limited to cleaning, lubricating, adjusting as part of a scheduled maintenance service and replacing parts when required. The SOW covers repairs performed during annual maintenance and covers general repairs of filter replacements up to $5000 in cost.
Dr. Timothy Strovas RD Biosafety Officer will schedule visits with contractor to perform the maintenance work within one calendar month of request to schedule visit, and not more than one year will pass between visits to each BSC for certification.
Service must be completed between 8:00 a.m. and 4: 30 p.m. In the event the technician is not able to complete the repairs during the initial visit to the site, the Government user will be notified of the reason for not completing the work. Upon completion of repairs, the technician shall brief the Government user of the repairs accomplished and demonstrate that the repairs have been completed and obtain a signature from the Government user on the company s repair or service order prior to departing the VAMC.
Contractor shall affix a label indicating the name of the Contractor, the date of the service, the date the next annual service is due, and a local contact telephone number and SID to be called for repair services. The Contractor shall remove any pre-existing labels other than the Government s bar code equipment label.
A service report shall be provided to the VA RD Biosafety Officer.
Service reports and invoices shall list each piece of equipment separately with service identification number (SID) number, service provided, and monthly cost. Invoices are to be submitted within 14 days of the date of service.
Contractor must be available for emergency repairs of BSC within a 24 hour/next day period.
Performance Monitoring
The performance of the contract will be monitored by Timothy Strovas the RD Biosafety Officer. Dr. Strovas will report performance to COR after services have been performed. The COR will examine all maintenance reports and approve all invoices.
Security Requirements
Contractor will require access to the facility on bi-annually to perform certifications. The contractor may also be onsite to perform repairs, during regular business hours only. Contractor technicians will always be escorted while they are in the facility by Timothy Strovas or RD Operations Staff. Any service performed on the premises is done under R&D security and safety guidelines which include training and continuous escort of the person. The contractor will not require access to VA LAN or VA computers.
Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).
No government furnished equipment is required.
Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations.
Identification of Possible Follow-on Work.
No follow-on work identified
Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI).
No conflict of interest exists.
Identification of Non-Disclosure Requirements.
No non-disclosure requirements identified. The contractor will not have access to any VA sensitive information or proprietary information, so no non-disclosure agreements are needed.
Packaging, Packing and Shipping Instructions.
No special packaging, packing, or shipping instructions required.
Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.
The Research and Development Biosafety Officer Timothy Strovas will inspect each BSC to ensure that is has been labelled properly.
Risk Control
Contactor personnel will have supervised and escorted access to the facility, including laboratories. Contractor personnel will be required to wear standard personal protective equipment. Contractor personnel will be given information on biological hazards and or other hazards prior to entry into laboratories. Contractor will always be escorted when working in the RD restricted lab areas.
Place of Performance.
The work will take place at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle division, 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 Research and Development Buildings, 1, 8, 13, 34, 101
Approximate Period of Performance.
Base Year: June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
Option Year 1: June 1, 2022 May 31, 2023
Option Year 2: June 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024
Option year 3: June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025
Option Year 4: June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026
13. Delivery Schedule.
This contract will be effective approximately June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, with four (4) one (1) year options. The contractor shall perform no services after February 28 (29), 2027. See the table below for due Certification Due Dates. Each BSC must be certified before the Due Date. New biosafety cabinets will be certified after they arrive at the VAPSHCS on an as needed basis.
Certification scheduling will:
be done by Tim Strovas and TSS staff
take place two weeks advance of service date
will be planned to accommodate the RD Safety, Lab Workers and Lab Ops staff members
Appendix A - List of equipment to be tested and certified
Manufacturer
Model #
Serial #
Cabinet ID number
Certification due date
1
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58751ABS/EE25627
095660
September 2021
2
Nuaire
NU-540-400
188782103018
419606
September 2021
3
Nuaire
NU-540-400
188784103018
419607
September 2021
4
NUAIRE
NU-425-400
107606070606
401459
September 2021
5
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153103100812
403766
September 2021
6
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183165112817
419925
September 2021
7
Nuaire
ÃÂ
183151112817
419924
September 2021
8
Nuaire
NU-602-401
17803020801/EE52244
121807
September 2021
9
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183156112817
419942
September 2021
10
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183166112817
419926
September 2021
11
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58748ABS/EE25059
094515
September 2021
12
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58750ABS/EE25624
094516
September 2021
13
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58752ABS/EE25625
094517
September 2021
14
Forma
1200
16779-102/EE45215
109430
September 2021
15
Forma
1200
16779-106/EE45214
108644
September 2021
16
Baker
SG-603
65979/EE49573
122916
December 2021
17
NUAIRE
NU-425-400
135662020910
402603
December 2021
18
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153100100812
403771
December 2021
19
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153101100812
403772
December 2021
20
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153102100812
403773
December 2021
21
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58749ABS/EE25622
093729
December 2021
22
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58754ABS/EE25621
094519
December 2021
23
Nuaire
NU-540-400
175336072716
409201
December 2021
24
Nuaire
NU-407-400
52874AM/EE28057
086802
December 2021
25
Baker
B40A-112
BA46224V/EE24544
086577
December 2021
26
Nuaire
NU-407-400
51549XS
092006
December 2021
27
Nuaire
NU-407-400
52873AM/EE36683
086801
December 2021
28
Nuaire
NU-407-400
52872AM/EE28055
086800
December 2021
29
Nuaire
NU-407-400
51548XS
092007
December 2021
30
Baker
SG403A
92295/EE 172414
TBD
December 2021
31
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153105100812
403767
March 2022
32
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153099100812
403768
March 2022
33
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153106100812
403769
March 2022
34
NUAIRE
NU-475-400
153104100812
403770
March 2022
35
Nuaire
NU-425-400
135467012910/EE89790
401006
March 2022
36
NUAIRE
NU-425-400
135655020810/EE90283
402897
March 2022
37
NUAIRE
NU-425-400
107826071106
401587
March 2022
38
Baker
B40-112
SP28431V
091998
March 2022
39
Baker
SG-603
66068
117176
March 2022
40
Baker
SG-403
65740
117174
March 2022
41
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183158112817
420147
March 2022
42
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183157112817
420148
March 2022
43
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183154112817
420149
March 2022
44
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183152112817
420150
March 2022
45
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183153112817
420151
March 2022
46
Nuaire
NU-543-400
183155112817
420152
June 2022
47
Baker
BCC300AMS
126362
420282
June 2022
48
Nuaire
NU-543-600
183167112817
419923
June 2022
49
Nuaire
NU-543-600
183168112817
419943
June 2022
50
Baker
NCB-B4
SP44670V/EE24545
086575
June 2022
51
Nuaire
NU-425-400
58755ABS
094520
June 2022
52
Nuaire
NU-425-400
107657071006
NW192916
June 2022
53
Nuaire
NU-425-400
135466012910
401007
June 2022
54
Nuaire
NU-425-400
107828071106
402093
June 2022
55
Nuaire
NU-425-400
107827071106
402094
June 2022
56
Baker
B60-112
SP13798V/EE16050
086574
June 2022
57
Baker
SG-403
65751
117175
June 2022
58
Forma
1284
22804-2142
128861
June 2022
59
Anticipated acquisition of additional biosafety cabinet
60
Anticipated acquisition of additional biosafety cabinet
No gray market or remanufactured items will be acceptable. Vendor shall be an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), authorized dealer, authorized distributor, or authorized reseller for the proposed equipment/system, verified by an authorization letter or other documents from the OEM.
Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated supplies at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Jennifer Robles at
[email protected] no later than May 13, 2021, 5PM PST. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, DUNS number and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; whether services are presently offered on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract. NAICS Code 811219, Size Standard: $22.0 Million is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Jennifer Robles at
[email protected].
Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought 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. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought 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. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.
Bid Protests Not Available