Purchase of Marmoset Caging Racks (brand-name or equal)

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is 75N95023Q00547-RFQ and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures; and FAR Part 12'Acquisition of Commercial Items and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2023-04, with effective date 06/02/2023. (iv) The associated NAICS code is 332999 - All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing and the small business size standard is 750 employees. This requirement is set-aside to small business concerns. (v) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting, and making medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of 27 Institutes and Centers at the NIH, and its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease for all people. The NINDS Division of Intramural Research (DIR) is the internal research program of the NINDS and is among the largest neuroscience research centers in the world. It is home to more than 500 scientists who conduct leading-edge basic, translational, and clinical research in neuroscience, neurology, and neurosurgery research at NINDS laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland. The NINDS DIR Animal Health and Care Section (AHCS) supports investigators who use animals in their research to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. Animal caging must be fabricated and maintained in a manner consistent with regulatory guidance. Racks and cages must be easily sanitizable and robust enough to withstand the rigors of mechanical washers. Cages must be adequately ventilated, allow for the observation of the animals, prevent animal escape and allow for the animals to engage in species-typical behaviors. The design of this group of caging will address our investigators current research requirements and will seamlessly accommodate unique, specialized cage level testing apparatus. This acquisition aims to procure eight (8) six (6) sq. ft. one-over-one marmoset caging racks with stainless steel excrement pans compatible with the building 49 Central Animal Facility (CAF)-owned marmoset caging equipment (model PG06V12A1E-0184), located in the Building 49 CAF, where NINDS marmosets are housed. Linking and interoperating with compatible cages allows maximum flexibility to properly socialize the marmosets (a highly social animal species) living in NINDS breeding and research colonies. The ability to build strong and enduring social bonds significantly increases the colony's fecundity, reproductive success, offspring survival, longevity, and importantly contributes to good science by improving animal welfare. (vi) The Purchase Description (PD) with the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics is included as an attachment to this Solicitation. The purpose of this acquisition is to procure Allentown Marmoset Caging Racks with excreta pans (model PG06V12A1E-0184) (brand-name or equal), for the NINDS DIR AHCS. (vii) The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition and Delivery is required within one hundred and fifty (150) days after receipt of order (ARO). Delivery shall be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and shall be delivered between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except on Federal Holidays) to one of the NIH/NINDS facilities provided in the Purchase Description. (viii) The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of provision) The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020) FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) FAR 52.225-4, Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate (Oct 2022) FAR 52.225-25 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging in Certain Activities or Transactions Relating to Iran'Representation and Certifications (Jun 2020) HHSAR 352.239-73 Electronic Information and Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015) The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of clause) The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text. Offerors MUST complete the provisions at FAR 52.204-24, FAR 52.204-26, and FAR 52.225-4, Alternate II and submit completed copies as separate documents with their proposal. FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) FAR 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (Oct 2020) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jun 2023) FAR 52.225-4, Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate (Oct 2022) Invoice and Payment Provisions with IPP (Mar 2023) (ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (Nov 2021), applies to this acquisition and is included in full text as an attachment. (x) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022), with its offer. If the offeror has completed FAR provision 52.212-3 at www.sam.gov , then the offeror does not need to provide a completed copy with its offer. (xi) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) applies to this acquisition. (xii) The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. Please be advised that the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is an Institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a Federal agency. Your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement may include provisions that are customarily found in the commercial sector, but which are not appropriate for a contract with a Federal agency. Specifically, NINDS considers any provision in your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement to be inappropriate and unenforceable that: Contravenes a right granted NINDS under U.S. copyright law (e.g., fair use, right to archive, copying for interlibrary loan), Violated the Federal Acquisition Regulation or other Federal law (e.g., Antideficiency Act, Principles of Federal Appropriations Law), Departs from reasonable consumer expectations and was not disclosed by the Licensor prior to agreement, or Violates fundamental public policy. NIH shall assume that you are in agreement with the statements herein if you submit a quotation/proposal and accept NIH's order/contract. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) The following Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract: [To be specified at time of award] The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance. The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as an agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. Any signed agreement shall be incorporated by reference in the contract. The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation in writing, any time during the contract's period of performance. (xiii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (xiv) Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s), product description, and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance, special features required for effective program performance, trade-in considerations, probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item, warranty considerations, maintenance availability, and environmental and energy efficiency considerations. Respondents proposing on an equal product of the brand-name product specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. Interested parties may perform a site visit in order to assure sizing specifications, and operations of the CAF-owned Allentown PG06V12A1E-0184 marmoset caging racks prior to submitting its quote. Site visits are not mandatory. The Government assumes no responsibility for any conclusions or interpretations made by the interested parties based on the drawings made available by the Government in Purchase Description, as they should be used for reference purposes only. Site visit requests must be received by 9 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 25, 2023, and reference Solicitation Number 75N95023Q00547-RFQ. Site visit requests shall be submitted electronically to Renato Gomes at renato.gomes@nih.gov. containing the company name, phone number, and email of all personnel requesting access to the government facility for the site visit. The Contracting Officer may restrict the number of personnel accessing the facility by each interested party. The Contracting Officer shall notify the interested parties of access to the Government facility by end of business day on August 29, 2023. Personnel not authorized to perform site visit by the Contracting Officer may not have access to the Government facility. Site visits shall be scheduled accordantly based on the requests, and an amendment to this solicitation shall be posted to inform the date, if any. Site visits are anticipated to be held at Building 49 Central Animal Facility, located at 49 Convent Drive Bethesda, MD 20892. All questions must be received by 9 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 25, 2023, and reference Solicitation Number 75N95023Q00547-RFQ. Questions may be submitted electronically to Renato Gomes at renato.gomes@nih.gov. All quotations must be received by 9 a.m., Eastern Time, on September 5, 2023, and reference Solicitation Number 75N95023Q00547-RFQ. Responses must be submitted electronically to Renato Gomes at renato.gomes@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. Attachments: Purchase Description (PD) FAR 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) FAR 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (Oct 2020) FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation'Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (Nov 2021) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jun 2023) FAR 52.225-4, Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate (Oct 2022) Invoice and Payment Provisions with IPP (Mar 2023)