88 -- Maintenance and Research Support of a Specific Pathogen Free Indian-Origin Rhesus Macaque Breeding Program

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC), has a requirement for year round breeding and daily maintenance of a specific pathogen free (SPF) breeding colony of Indian-origin rhesus macaques. The current founder breeding population is 465 rhesus macaques. The contractor shall provide all necessary facilities, personnel, and equipment to adequately house, feed, breed, and maintain in good health the SPF breeding colony. The contractor must also provide the necessary facilities and management to segregate and derive off-spring from serological positive founder breeders. The contractor shall be required to provide the Government with the maximum number of juvenile rhesus macaques possible. A minimum of one hundred fifty (150) per year for the duration of this contract is required. In addition, the contractor must provide a variety of support services including: clinical laboratory and diagnostic pathology support facilities and services, quarantine services, animal identification, records keeping/analysis, and shipment of animals. The contractor’s Animal Care and Use Program must meet the following credentials: have an Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare Assurance number; USDA R Registered; and, Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International file number. The Contractor’s standards for animal care, biosafety, and occupational health and safety must conform to the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical laboratories (CDC-NIH 1999) and Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC 1997). NIAID intends to award a one-year cost-reimbursement type contract beginning on June 14, 2007 with the option for four additional contract years. The NAICS code is 112990. The solicitation will be posted to www.fedbizopps.gov for download on or about April 15, 2007. No hard copies will be distributed.