Supplies and Maintenance for Tecniplast IVC Systems

Title : Notice of Intent to sole source award for “Supplies and Maintenance for Tecniplast Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) Systems” PLEASE NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES UNDER NIHES-IVC-SYS-2019 ON 5/14/19 AND IS BEING REPOSTED DUE TO A DELAY IN AWARD. THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This notice is being published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.201 and 5.204 requiring notice of a proposed contract action. This is NOT a request for competitive proposals. The statutory authority for this sole source action is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The NIEHS intends to negotiate and award a firm fixed price contract to the incumbent contractor, Tecniplast USA, Inc., under the requirement entitled “Supplies and Maintenance for Tecniplast Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) Systems”. BACKGROUND NIEHS currently houses approximately 40,000 rodents in 17,500 cages, utilizing Tecniplast Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) systems for all standard housing. Approximately 95% of the research animal population at NIEHS are housed in Tecniplast IVC systems, which were procured via Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract HHSN273201400011I, awarded to Tecniplast in 2014 with an ordering period of 9/26/14 to 9/25/19. HHSN273201400011I was solicited using full and open competition after exclusion of sources as a small business set-aside. To support the continued use and maintenance of the existing IVC systems, it is necessary to ensure access to the specific replacement parts, consumable items, and equipment utilized by these systems. As the need to expand the animal population arises, it is also necessary to ensure that additional IVC caging and components acquired are compatible with the existing IVC system. Replacement parts, consumable items, and equipment utilized within the Tecniplast IVC systems are not interchangeable or compatible with component parts utilized in other rodent housing systems. Introducing divergent IVC systems for standard housing would create a significant operational and financial hardship, necessitating separate, parallel cage changing and cage processing operations and logistical equipment to support the use of multiple IVC systems. Therefore, a sole source award to Tecnicplast, who is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the current IVC system used at NIEHS, is necessary to ensure the continued care and housing of the Institute’s rodent population. JUSTIFICATION These IVC systems consist of air handling units that connect to racks that house the rodent cages. Each cage connects to an air inlet and air outlet when placed in the rack. Exact fit is critical to maintain a stable environment and avoid cross-contamination. Failure to use replacement parts that meet the specifications for use with this equipment risks breaching the microenvironment, causing loss of valuable research, animals, and data, as well as voiding any existing warranties. There is no other manufacturer of the replacement parts, consumable items, or equipment for this requirement. Tecniplast equipment, replacement parts, and consumables are specifically designed to meet the specifications of the Tecniplast Individual Ventilated rack systems, which was awarded and purchased under contract #HHSN273201400011I. Award to a different contractor would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that would not be recovered through competition. Any contract action as described herein will be made in accordance with the required documentation and approval through a signed Justification and Approval (J&A) document. RESPONSES While this synopsis does not constitute a solicitation, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement. The Government understands that Tecniplast is the only contractor which can provide the requested supplies to NIEHS. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a written capabilities statement. The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement and must be received within 15 days of this posting. Such documentation shall be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NIEHS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. ONLY EMAIL RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED. All questions and correspondence regarding this notice must be made in writing via email to [email protected].