N--Rat PI Mobile Unit

Request for Information / Sources Sought Notice The US Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO 6) for the Durham VAMC in Durham, NC is conducting market research through this RFI / Sources Sought Notice to seek contract sources for purchase of a 12-Cage Rat PI Mobile Unit. New Equipment ONLY; NO remanufactured or "gray market" items. All items must be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Seeking 12-Cage Rat PI Mobile Unit, required items listed below: -The 12-cage Rat PI Mobile Unit is an individually ventilated cage rack system, for rats, designed for flexibility and mobility the primary investigator's study area or low volume housing and quarantine scenarios. The unit offers standard battery back-up (12 hour duration) and operates in positive pressure mode only. The unit is single-sided, with 3 rows and 4 columns of cages on the rack. The body is constructed of TIG welded 304 stainless steel with 4, 5" autoclavable casters (2 w/step brakes)and a removable, stainless steel upper shelf, which may serve as an alternate work surface. The entire unit is autoclavable, with the exception of the air handling unit and the air supply/exhaust hoses. The unit includes 24 cage sets. Each cage setconsists of a polysulfone Udelr rat cage bottom, a polysulfone Udelr rat cage top, a stainless steel electro-polished wire bar lid, a stainless steel cage card holder (3" x 5", horizontal, clip-on, top loading) and a 16 oz reduced-height polysulfone Udelr water bottle set (complete with neoprene stopper and 2.5" open-ended sipper tube) 3 EA. A determination by the Government to compete the proposed procurement based on the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Please, no telephone inquiries; however, interested parties may submit their interest and product literature for consideration to [email protected] Responses received on or before 5:00 PM EST, August 9, 2013 will be considered. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.