NEW CTX Veterinary Support Services for Zebrafish Vivarium

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination (2015-5237 Rev 30) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations performing work on federal service contracts in the state of Texas, specifically for the "Prevailing Wage Rates" applicable to the "Service Contract Act" and "Executive Order 13658".

• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and, in some cases, health and welfare benefits.
• Benefit Information: Details specific health and welfare benefits, including rates for regular hours and for contracts covered by Executive Order 13706.
• Executive Orders: Includes notes on Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors) and Executive Order 13658 (Establishing a Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors), outlining their applicability and requirements.
• Vacation and Holidays: Specifies paid vacation and holiday entitlements for employees working on covered contracts.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for contractors to request authorization for additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing federal service contracts. It directly impacts the pricing of proposals by defining the required wages and benefits for various job roles. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor rates meet or exceed these minimums to comply with federal regulations.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Veterinary Support Services for a Zebrafish Vivarium located at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) in Temple, Texas. The services are to be performed at Research Building 205. The objective is to provide professional veterinary supervision for the zebrafish vivarium, ensuring compliance with VHA Directive 1200.07 and other federal/institutional policies for animal research programs. The zebrafish are used as a model organism in pharmacogenetics and neuropharmacology.

• Attending Veterinarian Services: Serve as the attending veterinarian and a member of the IACUC.

• Veterinary Pre-reviews: Conduct pre-reviews of Animal Component of Research Animal Use Protocols (ACORPs).

• Program & Facility Reviews: Perform semi-annual program and facility reviews/inspections.

• SOP Assistance: Assist with the review, development, and implementation of IACUC and husbandry SOPs, Policies, and Procedures.

• Reporting Assistance: Assist with the submission of annual reports to USDA, OLAW, AAALAC, and VA Central Office.

• OLAW/AAALAC Assistance: Assist with submissions and updates for OLAW Letter of Assurance and AAALAC accreditation documents.

• Administrative Support: Provide remote availability via phone or email for administrative issues.

• Guidance: Provide advice on AAALAC – International Animal Care and Use Program aspects.

• Veterinary Care Support: Review and advise on monthly zebrafish colony health reports.

• Education/Training: Conduct virtual meetings with VA investigators on IACUC and VA administration topics.

• Qualifications: Must be a Texas-licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with documented experience in zebrafish oversight and care within a laboratory animal science and medicine environment. General small-animal clinical experience is not sufficient.

• Period of Performance: Base Year: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. Four option years are available, extending through June 30, 2031.

• Place of Performance: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX 76504.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price.

• Offer Due Date: June 23, 2026, 12:00 pm CDT.

• Submission: Offers must be submitted via email to Shannon Robinson and Shannon Hodgson. Include a signed SF 1449, completed vendor information, pricing, and two separate volumes: Technical Capability and Price.

• Technical Volume: Must describe understanding of requirements, include resumes, Texas license copies, and proof of experience. Vendor name only on the first page.

• Price Volume: Firm fixed unit pricing for all line items in Section B.3. No handwritten pricing.

• Technical Questions Deadline: June 17, 2025, 12:00 pm CDT.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Capability and Price. Award will be made to the offeror whose quote conforms to the solicitation and offers the best value to the Government, considering price and other factors. A comparative evaluation will be used.

• This acquisition is 100% set aside for Small Business entities.

• Offerors must be verified/registered in SAM and SBA.

• NAICS Code: 541940 (Veterinary Services)

• Size Standard: $10 Million

• Contractor will not have access to VA sensitive information, patient records, or data.

• Invoices must be submitted electronically via Tungsten Network.

• The offeror agrees to hold prices firm for 60 calendar days from the offer due date.