The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducts research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke.The Animal Health Care Section (AHCS) of the NINDS is tasked with veterinary care, management, and oversight of the research rodents housed in the Building 35/35A SAF and the Building 10/5C127 ACRF vivarium. Together, the Building 35/35A SAF and Building 10/5C127 ACRF currently house approximately 17,000 mouse and rat cages. The animals housed in these cages are used by numerous NIH Institutes and Centers (IC’s) to carry out their research missions.

The existing stainless-steel bottle crates have become bent and misshaped through many years of rigorous use as part of the weekly bottle change-out and sanitization process.  The existing crates need to be repeatedly straightened and welded in order to work properly through the existing bottle processing automation machinery.  Repair to the existing crates has become a regular expenditure and has negatively impacted the process flows through cagewash.  Plastic bottle crates are lighter in weight and have lifting grips that are more ergonomic for animal caretakers and cagewash technicians as compared to the thin-wire grip on the existing stainless-steel crates. Plastic crates also retain their dimensional shape which allows for fewer interruptions and work stoppages in the automation process.

In order to resolve the operational and ergonomic issues outlined above, the Building 35/35A Shared Animal Facility (SAF) requires the acquisition of 400 plastic bottle crates with plastic sliding lids. The crates are for use in transporting and processing animal drinking water bottles and sipper caps between rodent animal holding rooms and the cagewash facilities. The plastic bottle crates replace the existing stainless-steel crates which were originally purchased in 2013-2014. 

The acquisition is to be issued on a brand name or equal basis.