Request for Information/Sources Sought NIDA-SSSA-RFI-2152017 Rodent Enrichment Tubes with Non-Toxic, Natural Materials Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Station Support Simplified Acquisitions, 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, MD 20892, UNITED STATES. Introduction: This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small and large business sources, (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses, service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. Background: The Animal Health Care Section (AHCS) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke (NINDS) Division of Intramural Research uses paper tubes for research rat and mice. These tubes are placed in the mouse and rat cages, where the animals hide, sleep, play, chew and often digest particles of these tubes. These tubes assist in maintaining the health, welfare and environment for these animals that are used in numerous study protocols for numerous Institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Government wishes to identify potential sources for these tubes. Requirements: The Government is seeking sources capable of providing non-toxic, natural paper tubes for rodent enrichment as follows: 1. Tubes must be 1.6525 inches wide by 4.250 inches long for mice and 3.260 inches wide by 5.00 inches long for rates. The tube walls must be no less than 0.030 inches thick for all tubes. 2. Tubes must be made of 100% recycled kraft paper that contains no ink or dyes. The paper must be odorless and non-toxic to humans and rodents. 3. Tubes must certified to be in compliance with the Toxic Substances Control Act inventory requirements 4. The adhesive used to manufacture the tubes must be made from all natural and non-toxic ingredients, or the tubes may contain no adhesive whatsoever. 5. Tubes must be sturdy enough to withstand a reasonable amount of use from rodents for sleeping, playing and chewing. Request for Information Response Instructions: The Government requests that Contractors who believe they are capable of providing paper rodent enrichment tubes which meet the above detailed qualifications submit their capabilities in reference to this notice. Capabilities statements must list all materials used in the manufacture of the paper tubes available, including the composition of any adhesive used. Capabilities statements must also include the toxicity data on the finished product or products. Capabilities statements shall provide details as to what the available tubes are typically used for and an estimate of the number of days the tubes are expected to withstand the wear of mice and rats sleeping in, playing with, and chewing the tubes. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) documentation of ability to provide the required equipment, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Contractors must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. Interested organizations are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. All capability statements sent in response to this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Lauren Phelps, Contract Specialist, via email at
[email protected] before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Note: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. The solicitation release date is pending.