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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 in support of the Boise VA Medical Center (BVAMC):
BVAMC has a need for Allentown-specific caging consisting of racks, blowers and cages that support an individual ventilated cage (IVC) system to be purchased for the Research Services.
BRAND NAME OR EQUAL Salient characteristics
The Research Services Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) at the Boise VA Medical Center is in the process of upgrading and expanding its rodent caging system which involves the acquisition of cages and racks. The racks must support the individual ventilated cages (IVC) technology and be compatible with existing Allentown cages. Additionally, the mouse racks must be able to integrate with a home cage monitoring system marketed by Unified Information Devices (UIF), a planned future acquisition.
Cage requirements:
Purchased caging must have the appropriate connectors that fit existing Allentown cages.
Compatible with previously acquired Allentown IVC caging, specifically, the self-sealing air supply (in cage bottom) and exhaust (in cage lid) ports must be identical to ensure a leak-proof IVC system
2 cage sizes required: each type of cage accommodating:
(1) 5 mice @ 25 grams each per cage
(2) 3 hamsters @ 120 grams each per cage
Cage bottoms must be constructed of clear polysulfone, allowing unobstructed views of cage interior
Cage bottoms and lids must be dishwasher and autoclave safe, stackable for space-efficient storage
Supply air must enter the cage from the cage base and the exhaust air should be from the cage lid to facilitate the drying of bedding
Mouse cages must include a full wire bar style feeding lid
Hamster cages lids must have locks to prevent escape of inhabitants
Cage lids must allow external access to the water bottle and have a hinged retainer
Cage lid must seal to the cage bottom utilizing a silicon gasket to prevent air leakage
The cage lid exhaust port must utilize a metal snap ring and not a rubber O ring for durability
Cage lid filter holders must have a hinged retainer to facilitate filter changes

The IVC racks must:
be fabricated using seam welded tubular 304 stainless steel allowing them to be fully autoclavable
must have casters with locking wheels allowing the unit to be moved by one person
be equipped with gaskets for airtight seals
compatible with Allentown IVC systems, having the appropriate connectors to both cages and blower manifolds
have sealed tubular horizontal manifolds for the supply and exhaust air
be completely sealed preventing the escape of animal odors and allergens into the surrounding environment and have the certified installation of HEPA filters

The blower unit must:
be a standalone unit, not rack mounted and have multi-rack connectivity
have fully adjustable air velocity and pressure allowing the cage units to be with under negative or positive pressure with respect to the surrounding environment
built-in, user-friendly controller for blower functions
have an energy use of less than 25 Watts and function at a noise level of less than 43 dBA
provide an air velocity sufficient to remove water vapor, carbon dioxide and ammonia but low enough to prevent discomfort to the animals
NOT use a baffle system to effectively circulate the airflow
Vendor must submit documentation showing that in the event of a blower fan failure, the caged animals will survive in the static rack
The mouse racks must be compatible with the home cage monitoring system marketed by Unified Information Devices (UIF).

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 Nazanin Kreiner at nazanin.kreiner@va.gov no later than July 11, 2023, 4:30PM MDT. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, SAM UEI 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 334516 Size Standard: 1,000 employees is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Nazanin Kreiner at nazanin.kreiner@va.gov.
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.

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