R -- HOUSING AND MAINTENANCE OF GUINEA PIGS

Notice Date

March 20, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

20892-7605

Solicitation Number

RFQ1006

Response Due

April 5, 2001

Point of Contact

Steve Gunn, Purchasing Agent (301) 496-2607/John Best, Contracting Officer (301) 496-2607

Description

This procurement is being issued as a Request For Quotes (RFQ). Submit offers on RFQ1006. This acquisition will be processed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center intends to procure housing and associated services for Guinea Pigs. The purpose is to house and service guinea pigs in accordance with Bio-safety Level II practices. This is a small business set-aside, under North American Industry Classification System Code Number 541710. The facility the animals are housed in shall be pathogen free. The Vaccine Research Center is developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola and other potentially viral diseases. Immune responses are tested in small animal models to allow optimization of the vaccines for future human clinical trials. The Government requires that the contractor shall have the expertise in the housing, maintenance, veterinary care and experimental manipulation of guinea pigs. The contractor shall possess the following credentials; a AAALAC International File number, OPRR Animal Welfare Assurance number and a USDA R Registration (Class R Research). The facility in which the animals are housed shall be operated in compliance with the following regulations. a. The Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-544, as amended) Rules and Regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Titled 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Chapter 1, Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Parts1, 2 and 3. b. Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, update 1996. c. The Guide for The Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, revised 1996. d. NIH Manual 3040-3 Intramural Contracts Involving Animals. e. Bio-safety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC-NIH 1993). f. Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC 1997. The contractor shall provide housing, food, veterinary care and perform procedures that include but not limited to: a. Inoculation of the animals with various biological agents. b. Monitoring of animals for signs of diseases. c. Evaluation of new therapies such as antiviral agents and immunotherapies for their effectiveness viral infection. d. Collection of specimens as described by protocols furnished by Vaccine Research Center. e. Maintain detailed records of all veterinary care and experimental procedures made available to the Government on a monthly basis. All animals housed under this contract will be provided by the Vaccine Research Center. All animal study proposals for this procedure that are to be performed on Government owned animals shall be prepared by The Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, DHHS and submitted to the contractor. Request for RFQ1006 shall be submitted no later 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, April 4, 2001, to Steve Gunn. Anticipated award date of May 5, 2001. The Government intends to make a Best Value Buy to contractor whose offer is most advantageous to the government. The following criteria shall apply: (a) Price; (b) quality of facility determined by the VRC Veterinary Staff; (c) experience and qualifications of the personnel. Copies of the aforementioned clauses are available upon request by telephone to Mr. Steve Gunn at (301) 496-2607. For delivery through the Postal Service, the address is NIH/NIAID/AMOB, 6700B Rockledge Drive/MSC7605, Room 1130, Bethesda , Maryland 20892-7605. Electronic submission will not be accepted. Request for information concerning this requirement are to be addressed to Mr. Steve Gunn (301) 496-2607. Collect calls will not be accepted.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010322/RSOL014.HTM (W-079 SN50G7H2)