The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USU is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.

USU intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Ancare Corp., located in Bellmore, NY, for rodent static cages.

This equipment will be procured in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12-Commercial Items and FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

Sole source determination is made in accordance with:

FAR Part 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition

(b) Soliciting from a single source

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

The mission of USU is to provide the highest quality education programs in the health sciences to those selected individuals who demonstrate dedication to a health profession career in the Uniformed Services. As such, it is essential USU provide the necessary training and equipment required for our students to become successful doctors and nurses and to be able to provide the best care possible for our soldiers and to support our research efforts.

Due to the unique mission requirements of Laboratory Animal Medicine, the current rodent micro-isolator cages from this vendor have been used and established by the department and research team. Animal cage change out is twice per week. The capital replacement amount was based on age as well as safety for the staff and animals, maintenance and integration needs. This capital replacement cage replacement plan will serve as the basis for future capital budgeting decision-making. The vendor is established and reputable and has a positive history with the department for reliability and durability of their products. Cages will be used on a daily basis or maintained as a reserve for contingencies. It also was discovered that the inventory was largely at its end-of-life expectancy and has compatibility issues due to proprietary cage design that we select, which provides the best opportunity to protect both the animals and the researcher's research. Failure to replace unusable or obsolete caging may negatively impact animal welfare by reducing visibility of animals; reduced structural integrity that may harm animals; or cause exposure to the macroenvironment and increase the exposure to adventitious disease; or increase exposure of personnel to animal allergens.

The department needs to have a large surplus inventory due to possible emergency closures of the tunnel washer, and the frequency with which cages are washed (twice a week). The main factor that makes this unique is the ease of storability and stack ability. We currently have over $100K of this type of proprietary cage design, and extremely limited space to store them between animal cage change outs.

With limited space, the department is actively seeking to maximize space-saving efforts when storing our equipment. This cage design maximizes our limited space capabilities via a stackable design which is compatible with Ancare cages already in use. Ancare Corp. is the only known source that can provided this uniquely designed equipment.

This is not a request for quotes and a solicitation package will not be issued. Sources interested in responding to this requirement must be able to provide compelling evidence that they can provide the abovementioned requirement as specified. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contractual action based upon responses received is solely within the discretion of the government. Responses must be received via email ([email protected]) by 3:00 p.m. EST on June 27, 2016.

Bid Protests Not Available