PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR PROPOSAL 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 U. S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plan Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS). In Kansas City, MO, is conducting a market survey to determine the availability of a qualified commercial and nonprofit businesses capable of providing for the following product: ITEM DESCRIPTION: Plastic Round bottom tube with push in cap. 8 ml draw 13 x 100 mm Tubes are coated/dipped in a polyalkalyene gylchol solution Packed: 1000 tubes/1100 caps per box BACKGROUND 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. There are several off the shelf tubes and caps of acceptable quality on the market. SPECIFICATIONS 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. The following method is required to coat the inside of the tubes: The tubes may be totally immersed in the solution so that the solution wets the inside of each tube for 5 seconds. The tubes must be drained of any excess lubricant then re-packed into the polyethylene bag liner. The North American Industrial Classification System Code(s) and business size standard(s) describing the products and/or services to be acquired under this notice is listed below: NAICS – 339112 Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing Small Business Size Standard - 1,000 Empl All responding business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. The USDA buying activity in Minneapolis, MN is committed to participation of small businesses (SB) small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses. Interested sources are encouraged to complete and return Attachment 1 to the contracting office. Please email all questions regarding subject item(s) prior to Sources Sought closing date to
[email protected] . This is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals, but instead a market research method to determine interested sources. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. 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. Please provide SAM ID Number, and point of contact information. The Government will not award a contract based on the information received, nor reimburse participants for information or samples they provide. Information or materials provided is strictly voluntary. Please Email (ONLY) Attachment 1 to Carol Dingess at
[email protected] . Please be sure to include notice # SRCNVSL104039 on subject line. Telephonic inquiries will not be honored. Closing date for submissions of Statements of Capability is May 6th at 4:00pm MT. Anyone interested in doing business with the USDA must also first be listed in the government’s System for Award Management 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 this notice. Interested persons may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through http://sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-8220 ***REGISTRATION IS FREE*** The Government intends to provide all information regarding this notice via this web site . The Federal Government is not responsible for notifications to offerors regarding notices, solicitations or amendments. It is the Vendor’s responsibility to check this web site www.SAM.gov periodically for updates. Telephone and email requests will not be accepted