PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR PROPOSALS, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, is conducting a Market Survey for the Veterinary Services Program located in Kansas City, MO. Item Description: 8 ml 13 x 100 mm coated plastic blood collection tubes with caps Packed: 1000 tubes/1000 caps per box (tubes and caps are in separate bags per case) in accordance with specifications. Background The US National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) is the nation's repository of vaccines and other critical veterinary supplies and equipment. It exists to augment state and local resources in the fight against dangerous animal diseases that could potentially devastate American agriculture, seriously affect the economy, and threaten the public’s health. The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), Riverdale, MD, utilizes bleeding tubes for the collection of blood samples from cattle and swine. The blood sample is then sent via common carrier various laboratories for testing. Specifications There are several off the shelf tubes and caps of acceptable quality on the market. This notice is intended for the off-the-shelf products. The bleeding tubes shall be 13 x 100 millimeters, made from polypropylene copolymer plastic (reground material shall not exceed 10%), transparent (industry standard), chemically stable, withstand extremes in pressure without warping or otherwise changing shape or losing integrity, not shatter under pressure and have a rounded bottom. Each tube has a plastic plug-type push-in cap which extends 5/16" (inch) above the top of the tube when inserted. The plug-type cap shall provide a leak-proof seal when inserted into the tube. This seal must prevent leakage of blood samples in transit to laboratories via package delivery services and the U.S. Postal Service. The tube furnished shall be centrifugeable at high speeds and withstand a minimum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit without distortion, clouding or loss of shape and thickness. There shall be no burrs or irregularities which could cause the tubes to tip or wobble and result in a spillage of the blood sample. The tube must ensure rapid clotting of blood from various species of animals and prevent the adherence of the clot to the walls of the tube. This requirement is necessary to allow the efficient separation of the clot from the serum. Coating Procedures It is required for the bleeding tubes be coated on the inside only. The outside of the tube may be coated at the contractor's discretion. The coating must be a polyalkylene glycol base stock lubricant, with a water solution ratio of 1:18. The Polyalkylene glycol lubricant is required and is the only lubricant that can be used. Currently Approved Coating Product Polyalkaline glycol lubricant is utilized to ensure that the livestock blood clots in the plastic tubes. The only lubricant currently approved and acceptable for use on this contract is as follows MANUFACTURER Union Carbide Special Chemicals P.O. Box 8720 South Charleston, WV 24303-0720 Part Number 50HB 660 Interested sources with a comparable product are encouraged to complete and return Attachment 1 to the contracting officer via email only. Telephonic inquiries will not be honored. Please email all questions regarding subject item(s) prior to Sources Sought closing date to
[email protected]. Small Business concerns are encouraged to participate. This is not a request for competitive proposals, but instead a market research method to determine interested sources. No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. The Government will not award a contract based on the information received. Any submission of information or materials will be provided on a strictly voluntary basis and are non reimbursable. Please include any Supporting product literature. **** specs must contain sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the notice requirement. Please Email Attachment 1 to Carol Dingess at
[email protected] . Please be sure to include notice # NVSL1113178COATED on subject line. Closing date for submissions of Statement’s of Capability is January 19, 2024 at 4:00PM (MT). Anyone wishing to do business with the USDA must be listed in the government’s System for Award Management Registrar now known as SAM . You may register on line with http://sam.gov A prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from a solicitation. Vendors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through http://sam.gov or by calling the Contractors Registration hotline @ 1-866-606-8220 ****SAM REGISTRATION IS FREE**** The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 339112 Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing. The Small Business Size Category is 1,000 Employees. The USDA buying activity is committed to participation of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business (including 8(a) participants), and women-owned small business concerns in the performance of work under solicitations and resultant contracts. The Government intends to provide all information regarding this notice via this web site . The Federal Government is not responsible for notifications to interested parties regarding notices, solicitations or amendments. It is the responsibility of interested parties to check this web site http://sam.gov periodically for updates. Telephone and email requests will not be accepted