R -- LEASING OF CHIMPANZEES FOR THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH

Notice Date

October 23, 2000

Contracting Office

Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, NIAID, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 1130, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605

ZIP Code

20892-7605

Solicitation Number

NIAID-DIR-00-59

Response Due

December 11, 2000

Point of Contact

Ivan Hernandez, Contracts Specialist (301) 496-3878/Karin Eddy, Contracting Officer (301) 496-3879

Description

The Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has a requirement for the loan to the NIAID of approximately 10 to 12 hepatitis and respiratory syncytial virus free infant chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes of less than two years of age) annually for hepatitis, respiratory virus, and other infectious disease research and vaccine development. It is expected that the operation and maintenance of a chimpanzee holding facility will be necessary for the provision of infant chimpanzees. Any responsible offeror shall possess, or be able to acquire, all necessary personnel, housing, facilities, and equipment to adequately care for chimpanzees and progeny. The animal facilities must be of such design to ensure isolation of required chimpanzees from other animals known or suspected to be infected with any hepatitis virus or other infectious agent or any other common primate infection such as tuberculosis. Upon termination of studies utilizing chimpanzees, the Government will return same to the Contractor. Offerors will be responsible for the health and daily care of these chimpanzees for the remainder of the chimpanzee's life. Any responsible Offeror should have the capability to isolate or appropriately separate most returned chimpanzees from the rest of their colony since many animals will have been exposed to hepatitis C virus. The Government shall establish a one time loan fee schedule for the Government's use of the chimpanzees, and a return fee schedule for the endowment that will be paid to the Contractor depending on the age and use history of the chimpanzee being returned. The Contractor will be free to seek additional sources of income or support for the chimpanzees once they are returned to their facility by the NIAID. Responsible Offerors must have an Office for Protection from Research Risks Assurance Number and a United States Department of Agriculture R Registration. In addition, responsible Offerors must have or be able to obtain a Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International file number. The facility in which the animals are housed shall be operated in compliance with: a) The Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-544, as amended) Rules and Regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Chapter 1, Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Parts 1, 2, and 3; b) Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, updated 1996; c) The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, revised 1996; d) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC-NIH 1993); e) Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC 1997). Offerors must be able to document the experience and capabilities of professional and technical personnel assigned to this project for providing animal care. The professional and technical personnel shall have extensive experience in nonhuman primate medicine and surgery and infectious disease research. The professional staff will also be evaluated with respect to specialty board certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, advanced degrees, and residency training in laboratory animal medicine. The technical staff will also be evaluated with respect to American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Technician certification. It is proposed that any contract issued will be a Firm Fixed Price for a base year, with options for nine additional years. The RFP will be issued on or about November 10, 2000. All requests for the RFP must be in writing directed to Karin E. Eddy, Contracting Officer, Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, 6700-B Rockledge Dr., Room 1129, MSC 7605, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605!!

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001025/RSOL006.HTM (W-297 SN5049D4)