U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

88 -- MICROBIOLOGICALLY AND VIROLOGICALLY CHARACTERIZED RESEARCH ANIMALS SOL PR-NC-97-10311 POC Phyllis Roberts, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-0184; Diane Pierce, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-0184 WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about this solicitation., http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via E-mail., pierce.diane@epamail.epa.gov. NOTICE OF INTENT SYNOPSIS. For the past 24 years, the EPA has purchased approximately 90% of the research animals utilized by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory under a consolidated indefinite quantity contract from Charles River Laboratories. The animals are required for the conduct of a long range series of short and long term research studies on health effects of a wide range of pollutants under varying conditions. This effort will be procured on a sole source basis from Charles River Laboratories. The circumstance permitting Other than Full and Open Competition Justification is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy Agency Requirements." Approximately 80% of these studies are of a continuing or comparative nature and will require additional animals of the same strains, species, sex, age and microbiologic and virologic history as well as genetic background. Various published studies by a variety of research organizations, including EPA, Veterans Administration, and the Department of Defense have demonstrated that nominally identical animals from different sources of supply will react different under identical protocols. These reactions result from subtle variables in genetic virologic and bacteriologic backgrounds. The Agency has concluded that where inter-comparability of data is required from one study to another, it is necessary to use a common source of supply to eliminate extraneous variables. For these reasons, the Agency has decided to solicit Charles River Laboratories on a non-competitive basis for the majority of its laboratory animal requirements. Approximately eight types of animals of various sexes, ages, weight, etc. will be purchased including Long Evans Hooded (outbred) Rat, CD (outbred) Albino Rat, CDF (inbred) Albino Rat, Wistar (outbred) Albino Rat, CD-1 (outbred) Albino Mouse, B6C3F1 (hybrid) Mouse, DBA/2N (inbred) Mouse, C57BL/6 (inbred) Mouse, Balb/C (inbred) Mouse, Hartley Strain Guinea Pig, CDF (inbred) Albino Rat. The primary basis for limiting competition is the Agency's conclusion that there is substantial evidence that animals that are not identical genetically, virologically, and bacteriologically to animals previously used in our research introduce unquantifiable variables into the research protocol and that such variables cast unavoidable doubt on the significance of variations on research results. That element of doubt is of such concern to EPA that it would require a definitive and conclusive demonstration of the error of the conclusion before opening this solicitation for competition. It is anticipated that the contract will be a firm fixed price-indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery type. Contract period of performance will be 12 months for the base period plus four 12-month option periods. Anyone wishing to request reconsideration of the Justification for Non-Competitive Procurement must provide such a demonstration to the Agency within 30 days of this notice. This information will be evaluated according to its conclusiveness. See numbered Notes 22 and 26. (0163)

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