Inspection & Certification of Biological Safety Cabinets, Laboratory Hoods, Pharmacy Clean/Ante Rooms, and Specialized Room Ventilation Systems

Amendment 36C25924Q0670 0001 is to notify all potential offerors of the Questions and Answers and extend the response deadline. Questions and Answers In both the July 2023 solicitation and in the August 2024 solicitation, the SOW does not require that the pharmacy testing be performed by a CETA-certified technician. Volume I (Technical Capability) and para 4.1 require NSF-49 certifications, but CETA certifications have been left out.

Nationally, the VA requires that CETA-certified technicians perform all pharmacy testing. Since this was omitted, it could result in an inexperienced contractor with uncertified techs performing the work in the pharmacy. Is the intention of this contract to utilized CETA-certified technicians? If so, it is recommended that this be added to the SOW with the requirement that the CETA certificates be provided along with each bid submission. Yes, CETA certifications are a requirement of VA.

Offeror will need to provide NSF and CETA certificates. On the equipment list, items #3 and #4 appear to be identical. Is this a clerical error? Yes, clerical error. Items will be edited. Section 2.3 states that the vendor is to provide and changeout all filters for specified equipment as required. Vendor is expected to have filters on hand for changing at each visit as needed.

Starting within 3 months of award, vendor to change filters on Fume Absorber Cabinets in Laboratory area every 6 months due to odors.  Which are the specified equipment ? Is the intention that the vendor change out all fume adsorption filters and all prefilters? Or is the intention that every biological safety cabinet is to have a complete HEPA filter replacement? The latter is a significant amount of work and cost. Please clarify.

Equipment identified by filter count, intent is to change all the filters as required by manufacturer recommendations and end user preferences. The response deadline is hereby extended until August 27, 2024, at 4:00pm MT.