Management, Operation, Professional, Technical and Support Services for NIAID Animal Care Facilities

Introduction This is a Professional Support Services Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources, including small and small disadvantaged businesses, to perform a potential non R&D requirement. Background The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was established to conduct and support research to better understand the causes of allergic, immunologic, and infectious diseases, and to develop better means of presenting, diagnosing, and treating illness. In support of this mission, NIAID executes a Strategic Plan for Biodefense Research and Research Agenda for Emerging Infectious Disease. Much of this research depends on the study of laboratory animals. Proper management of the NIAID program of animal care and use is essential for the welfare of the animals, validity of research data, and the health and safety of the animal care staff. The NIAID currently maintains animal facilities in seven (7) buildings on the Bethesda and Twinbrook campuses in Maryland (MD), five (5) buildings on the Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) Campus in Hamilton, Montana (MT), and one (1) building on the Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) operated NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) campus in Poolesville, MD. The NIAD is also responsible for the operation of an NIH shared animal facility used by NIAID along with several other NIH Institutes (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Human Genome Research Institute; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; and National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders). The Scientific Directors of these Institutes have delegated through Intra-Agency Agreements (IAAs), the responsibility and authority for care of animals that are housed in the NIH shared animal facility to the Scientific Director of the NIAID. The NIAID also maintains animals in the NIH central animal facility. All of the NIAID care and use of animals is conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines in order to maintain accreditation by the Association for Assessment and accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACI). The NIAID experimental animals must be maintained under carefully controlled conditions to minimize research variables and allow the accurate interpretation of laboratory result. Consequently, it is essential that animal colonies be consistently and properly maintained to avoid any situation or condition such as undue stress, disease, animal misidentification, animal escape, etc., the might adversely affect experiments. The proper care of these animals is integral to the research performed at NIH. The current contract # HHSN272201800014C, is with Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Charles River Laboratories, Inc. was selected through a competitive negotiatiedon acquisition. The period of performance is through September 13, 2023. Currently the contractor is providing Care for animals at NIH's research facilities in ABSL1-ABSL4 environments and support the falicity and the reseasarch being performed therein. This Sources Sought Notice (SS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the NIAID. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this Technical and Professional Support Services for NIAID Animal Care Facilities Sources Sought Notice is to discern whether or not there are other contractors, including small or small disadvantaged businesses, capable of and interested in performing the work described herein. The NIAID does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NIAID may issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) if it deemed necessary and appropriate. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NIAID shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NIAID's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications of any subsequent requirement. The objective of this acquisition is to extend the Period of performance of the current contract by 6 months from September 13, 2023 to March 13, 2023 and increase the quantity of FTEs to be delivered to the Government beginning September 14, 2023 to support NIAID need. Project requirements The NIAID intends to modify the existing contract with Charles River Laboratories to provide an increase to the required Level of Effort by approximately 235,000 direct labor hours for the period September 14, 2023 through March 13, 2024. The Contractor will provide Care for animals at NIH's research facilities in ABSL1-ABSL4 environments and support the falicity and the research being performed therein. Anticipated period of performance The increase in FTEs is anticipated to be applied to the 6-month extension for the period September 14, 2023 through March 13, 2024, of the current contract. Other important considerations Work under this contract will be performed in multiple NIAID facilities and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines in order to maintain accreditation by the Association for Assessment and accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACI). Capability statement / information sought Capability statements submitted as a result of this announcement should demonstrate the offeror's qualification, expertise and experience, specifically providing evidence as to the capability to immediately perform this requirement. Capability statements should clearly convey information regarding the respondent's capabilities, including: (1) staff expertise, including their availability, experience and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of a similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability to deliver comprehensive services of this scope and magnitude; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Interested Contractors must submit a capability statement (five page limitation, excluding resumes) describing their company's experience and ability to immediately perform this effort, which includes the following: (1) a summary list of similar work previously performed; (2) the professional qualifications and specific experience of staff who may be assigned to the requirement; (3) resumes for proposed key personnel, including the Principal Investigator/co-PI, which reflect education, and previous work relevant to the proposed requirement; (4) a general description of the facilities and other resources needed to perform the work; and (5) demonstrated ability to carry out the work. Each response should include the following Business Information: a. UEI number b. Company Name c. Company Address d. Company Points of Contact (both technical and administrative), including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers and Email addresses e. Current GSA Schedule appropriate to this Sources Sought f. Do you have a Government-approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. g. Type of Company (i.e., large business, non-profit, educational institute, small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.), as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must be registered in the SAM, located at http://www.sam.gov/ Responses must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM (Local Time), March 27, 2023. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. These statements should be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Kim Brookens, Contract Specialist, at kim.brookens@nih.gov and Rosemary Gomes, Contracting Officer, at rosemary.gomes@nih.gov. These statements should be submitted in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF); however, capability statements in Microsoft Word will also be accepted. The e-mail subject line must specify HHS-NIH-NIAID-75N93023R00009. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Common Cut-off Date: Electronically submitted, tailored capability statements are due not later than 3:00 PM (E.S.T.), on March 27, 2023. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE. Disclaimer and Important Notes This 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. Any organization responding to this 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. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. The Government will not entertain questions regarding this Market Research; however, general questions may be emailed to the following addresses: Contract Specialist: Kim Brookens Email address: Kim.Brookens@nih.gov Contracting Officer: Rosemary Gomes Email Address: Rosemary.Gomes@nih.gov Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.