Animal Shipping Boxes

The contract for Animal Shipping Boxes supports mission-critical research operations across the National Institutes of Health by ensuring compliant transport of laboratory animals and related materials. Awarded as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 322211, the contract requires all offerors to be certified small businesses, with performance obligations governed by extensive Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses covering labor standards, equal opportunity, human trafficking prevention, employment eligibility verification, and supply chain security. Deliveries must be made primarily to the NIH Supply Center in Gaithersburg, MD, with an alternate site in Bethesda, MD, and must adhere to stringent packaging, labeling, and marking specifications, including barcoding per MIL-STD-1189 and Federal Standard No. 123, proper use of 13-digit National Stock Numbers, and visible handling indicators for fragile, temperature-sensitive, or hazardous materials. Pallets must be shrink-wrapped on standard 42” x 40” or 36” x 40” dimensions with height restrictions, and all cartons must be individually numbered and labeled with purchase order numbers, expiration dates, lot numbers, and barcodes that scan exclusively to the NSN. Temperature-controlled and hazardous shipments require validated packaging or 100% monitored transport compliant with DOT and IATA regulations. The base quantity of 800 bundles must be delivered within 30 days of award, with option quantities available within 12 months. Payment will be made via Electronic Funds Transfer, and all contractors must comply with clauses mandating minimum wage payments, privacy training for personnel handling personally identifiable information, prohibition on products from Kaspersky Lab, ByteDance, and other designated foreign entities, and restrictions on subcontracting with debarred or suspended firms. Inspection and acceptance occur at the delivery site, with failure to meet any labeling, packaging, or regulatory standard potentially resulting in rejection or delayed payment. The contracting office is located in Bethesda, MD, but no specific Contracting Officer, COR, or COTR information is provided.