C04 Attachment 1 - SOW_Ferrets USDA NADC 2026.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards

Project Influenza A virus pathogenesis and host response in ferrets, and interspecies transmission between ferrets and swine.

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Ferrets are naturally susceptible to infection with human influenza A and B viruses with clinical signs and pathology resembling closely those seen in humans and are widely considered the gold standard model for influenza infection in humans (Belser et al., 2011). The objective is to test the susceptibility of ferrets to infection with animal and human influenza A viruses (IAV) and to develop intervention strategies against swine IAV infecting humans or human viruses infecting swine.

Swine may be infected with human, avian and swine lineage IAV, resulting in potential disease as well as reassortment and generation of novel viruses. This may result in viruses that are a risk for human zoonotic infections or potential pandemics.

Evaluation of the host response and intervention strategies such as vaccines will be tested, species-specific tropisms will be examined, and inter-species transmission of IAV between swine and ferrets (as a model of humans) will be characterized.

Ferret anti-sera is the gold standard to monitor antigenic change in the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).

If low pathogenic avian IAV (LPAI) would be used under this protocol, they will be strains characterized by the source lab as low path by the standard measures described in accordance with 9 CFR §121.3(c). I have no specific avian viruses selected for ferret studies, but we leave LPAIV in the protocol as a contingency if something arises that we need to move quickly to conduct a study because of our partnership with SEPRL and the NIH Centers for Excellence in Influenza Research and Response.

2.0 Background

Ferrets are widely considered the gold standard model for influenza infection and immunity in humans (Belser et al., 2011).

IAV is an important viral pathogen shared among many species, including pigs and people. Understanding transmission of IAV viruses between pigs and humans is necessary to assess the potential risk to animal and public health. To gain this understanding it is vital to conduct animal studies requiring the direct inoculation of ferrets with IAV from multiple host-lineages and perform transmission studies between ferrets and swine, or the reverse, direct inoculation of pigs to study transmission from swine to ferrets. Studies to understand the virulence mechanisms, host restriction factors as well as intervention strategies must be tested in the ferret host as a model for human influenza. Ferret anti-sera are used to determine antigenic drift and influenza vaccine strain updates.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

This project requires the purchase of 54 ferrets from an AAALAC-accredited supplier, high-health farm. For this project we require ferrets to have these properties:

1) Approximately 20-23 weeks of age

2) Ferrets must be influenza virus and antibody negative. Documentation supporting influenza virus-negative and influenza antibody-negative status.

3) Ferrets must be of high health status. A veterinarian-signed certificate of health issued within 30 calendar days prior to shipment and animal identification records sufficient to trace each animal to the source colony.

4) Ferrets must be female; however, mixed sex is acceptable if not all females are available at time of shipping provided all stipulations are met. Please indicate in your quote the makeup of ferret sexes.

5) Male Ferrets must be castrated and de-scented

6) Female Ferrets must be de-scented

7) Ferrets must be sound of foot and body

8) Ferrets must be available for delivery on 2 separate shipments. 1st shipment of 34 and 2nd shipment of 20, five weeks later

9) Ferrets must be transported directly to NADC with no other ferrets in filtered shipping boxes. The contractor must transport animals in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local animal transportation requirements. Animals shall be shipped in a manner that minimizes stress and protects animal health and welfare during transit.

10) Ferrets must arrive alive, free from obvious signs of illness, injury, or distress, and meet all specifications identified in this Statement of Work.

11) The Government reserves the right to inspect animals upon receipt and reject any animal that fails to meet the requirements of this Statement of Work – once an animal arrives, they cannot leave; therefore, if any animals arrives and fails to meet the requirements, we will have to euthanize it; it will not be sent back.

12) Any ferret that arrives deceased, is determined by the Government veterinarian to be unfit for research due to transportation-related injury or illness or fails to meet the requirements of this Statement of Work shall be replaced at no additional cost to the Government. Replacement delivery shall occur within a mutually agreed timeframe.

4.0 Government Furnished

N/A

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Item No. Deliverable Objective Due 1 34 ferrets Receive 1st shipment of 34 ferrets Late November/Early December 2 20 ferrets Receive 2nd shipment of 20 ferrets Five weeks after the 1st shipment received

The date of the First Shipment can flex into December if needed; but the Second Shipment must be 5 weeks after the date of the first shipment.

Delivery Address:

USDA, National Animal Disease Center (NADC) 1920 Dayton Ave.

Ames, IA 50023

Delivery POC:

TBD

6.0 Travel

N/A

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

N/A

8.0 Security Requirements

N/A

9.0 Data Rights

N/A

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards N/A

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