6640--Notice of Intent to Sole Source Girton Tunnel Washer

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Hines VA Medical Center intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Girton Manufacturing Co Inc to provide the Girton Model CT1536X Tunnel Washer with GD736X Tunnel Dryer, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. This equipment will be utilized in the course of ongoing research projects at the Hines VA Medical Center Veterinary Medical Unit. The Hines VA Medical Center currently owns a custom Girton Tunnel Washer and requires replacement equipment for the existing Girton model that has exceeded its life expectancy. The replacement Tunnel Washer must fit in the existing footprint to avoid major renovations to the existing space and plumbing, which would incur additional costs and delay replacement of an essential piece of equipment necessary to meet Federal regulations and to maintain AAALAC accreditation. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The following are the salient characteristics for the tunnel washer: The unit must be a take-apart constructed style. Each section must be sized to allow for passing through door openings, fit on the service elevator, etc. and to facilitate receipt at VA Hines. This includes the horizontal cut that halves the entire unit. This is Mandatory to fit the existing building. Overall dimensions of the washer may not exceed the Girton Model CT1536X. - The washer will be set on the existing floor. The entry height may not exceed 38 above the finished floor to allow for loading and unloading by animal care staff. - The overall width and length of the tunnel washer may not exceed proposed because of the location of the current utilities (hot water, steam, cold water, compressed air and electrical service) is provided and cannot be relocated. Utilities provided are: - Electrical: 208V/3Ph/80A/60Hz - Electrical: 115V/1Ph/20A/60Hz - Hot Water: 1 1/2 NPT - Steam: 2-1/2 NPT @ 45 psi - Condensate: 1 NPT - Exhaust: to meet current facility - Compressed air: 1 NPT @ 80 psi - Cold Water: ¾ NPT The washer must rely on gravity drain only, with the drain area being the lowest point of the sump. Pump driven drain systems are not acceptable. Washers must be controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to afford customized wash cycles for a variety of different cage types. The PLC, as with all other cage and rack washers used in the SOM must be manufactured by Allen-Bradley. PLC components must be available through third parties (not only the cage wash manufacturer). Only Allen-Bradley (A-B) PLCs are acceptable as replacement components are readily available for the purpose of resolving component failures immediately to maintain operations of a critical piece of equipment. Self-cleaning screens, that protect spray jets from contamination must be easily removed without the use of tools. They must also be visible for inspection. The washer header that is integral to the recirculating wash/rinse water and fitted with spray jets must be designed with vertical members of the header fitted with a sufficient number of spray jets to provide overlapping coverage of washable items. The spray elements must be provided on both top and bottom of the compartments, applying high pressure water to the equipment being sanitized. Effectively, all surfaces must be treated with high pressure water during all phases of the wash/rinse sections. Under-belt mounted spray jets designed to spray upwards are required. The spray jet nozzles must be located below the belt of the unit so as not to interfere with the movement of caging systems into and out of the washer. Sufficient coverage from these jets (spray angle and pattern) is required so that all surfaces on the bottom of the caging systems are treated with high pressure water. The PLC must be designed and configured for the following features: - Recirculated wash, rinse and non-recirculated final rinse stages of a programmed cycle must not start running conveyor until the programmed temperature is achieved. If the temperature falls below the programmed temperature, the pump must continue to run but the timing of the cycle stopped until the temperature setpoint is achieved. - Based on existing and fully functional parameters for the wide range of caging systems processed by the washer, a minimum of 32 unique programmed wash cycles must be allowable to meet the VAMC needs. - From a PLC programming perspective, the minimum options for sections must include: Pre-wash section Wash section Rinse section Fresh Final Rinse section Dryer Section The building or programming of the customized cycle shall be by The VA staff familiar with the existing programs used to wash cages. To prevent animal care staff from accessing administrative sections of the PLC programming (e.g., resetting user passwords, programming cycles, and running diagnostics) at a minimum there must be separate logins that define the user s role (e.g., operator, administrator, etc.). Emergency Stop switches must also be provided on the load and unload side of the washer to allow the operators to stop the wash cycle at any point. (Mandated by accrediting body.) Opening of any wash tunnel access doors also stops operation. All mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic parts used to assemble the washer must not be proprietary and available from third parties as well as the manufacturer (as needed at times). A parts list, providing the manufacturer and part/model number must be provided when the equipment is installed. A user/maintenance manual, in both electronic format (PDF) and hard copy must be provided. Pricing (includes equipment, freight, installation and final hook-up, start-up, test, training, and disassembly and disposal of old unit as one fixed price) This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotes; however, any responsible source who can provide an equivalent product with the features described above, and who is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), authorized dealer, authorized distributor, or authorized reseller of all the items listed above, may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 3:00 PM, EDT. Interest/capability statements which specifically detail how your product meets the requirement may be sent to Shannon Hukriede at contact@example.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.