Veterinary Support Services for Zebrafish Vivarium.pdf

This is a source(s) sought notice for information purposes only and it is not a solicitation announcement or an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research.

The Department of Veterans Affairs - Network Contracting Office 17 is seeking information in response to this Sources Sought Notice for market research purposes only. Interested Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Small Business Administration Section 8a, Women-Owned, and other socio-economically disadvantaged and/or any small businesses who believe they possess the experience and qualifications to successfully perform the scope of work described below are encouraged to respond in order for us to make a set-aside determination.

Responses are being sought from all qualified businesses capable of providing the required services outlined below. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the work is 541940 Veterinary Services with a small business size standard of $10 Million. See below for summary of the project scope.

Summary of Project Scope The Department of Veterans Affairs - Network Contracting Office 17 is seeking: Veterinary Support Services for Zebrafish Vivarium at the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare Research Department. The Research department is requesting veterinary support service for a zebrafish vivarium core facility. The service is to be performed at Research Building 205 at CTVHCS in Temple. The veterinary support is required to be provided by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with experience in the oversight of zebrafish in laboratory animal science and medicine.

Please see attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) for additional details.

Interested Parties Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the stated items at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via email to Contract Specialist Shannon Robinson at shannon.robinson3@va.gov and Shannon Hodgson at shannon.hodgson@va.gov, no later than May 8th, 2026, 9 AM CST. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

All responses to this notice should provide the following information:

1. Company name, address, SAM UEI number, point of contact name, phone number and email address

2. Business size and representation(s) of the company (i.e., Service-Disabled

Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business mailto:shannon.robinson3@va.gov mailto:shannon.hodgson@va.gov

(VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)

3. If SDVOSB or VOSB, can business comply with clause 852.219-75 – VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting – Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction in fulfilling the requirement?

4. Is company considered a small business under the NAICS code 541940 identified under this sources sought?

5. Capability statement as it relates to the attached draft Statement of Work and any other information that can aid in determining capability.

6. Does the company have a current federal contract (i.e., GSA, NAC, SAC, NASA

SEWP etc.)? If so, provide the contract type, number, and expiration date.

7. If the company has a current federal contract, are the required services available on the contract?

8. Please provide any concerns/questions in regard to the draft SOW.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.

/END OF NOTICE/

See attached document: DRAFT SOW

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Project: Veterinary Support Services for Zebrafish Vivarium

Scope of Work: The Research Department located at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) at 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive at Temple, Texas is requesting veterinary support service for a zebrafish vivarium core facility. The service is to be performed at Research Building 205 at CTVHCS in Temple. The veterinary support needs to be provided by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with experience in the oversight of zebrafish in laboratory animal science and medicine.

Background: The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model organism in pharmacogenetics and neuropharmacology. Both larval and adult zebrafish are currently used to increase understanding of brain function, dysfunction, and their genetic and pharmacological modulation. The close parallels between mammalian and zebrafish behavioral paradigms make the zebrafish a valuable model to study drug effects and the underlying neuro mechanisms for many of the behavior and brain disorders observed in Veterans. A veterinarian is required to oversee the zebrafish vivarium because all vertebrate species used in VA research programs, including aquatic species such as zebrafish, must receive professional veterinary supervision as part of institutional compliance with VHA Directive 1200.07. Even though zebrafish are small and hardy, they are still vertebrates and fall under the same regulatory framework as mammals. Directive

1200.07 establishes VA-specific requirements for animal research programs, including veterinary authority for program oversight, animal health, humane care, and regulatory compliance. Other federal agencies, such as OLAW and AAALAC also require that an Attending Veterinarian provide program oversight for all vertebrate species used in research.

Veterinary oversight helps ensure that husbandry standards, water quality management, quarantine and sentinel programs, anesthesia and euthanasia methods, and clinical responses to illness/distress meet the performance standards outlined in federal guidance and institutional policies. This oversight is essential for maintaining accreditation readiness, fulfilling IACUC responsibilities, and ensuring that zebrafish housing and procedures adhere to VA and federal animal-care standards. Below are specific tasks required for veterinary support of the CTVHCS Zebrafish Vivarium.

1. Specific tasks/Deliverables:

a. Administrative Support

1) Serve as the attending veterinarian at the CTVHCS and in that context serve as a member of the IACUC.

2) Provide veterinary pre-reviews of Animal Component of Research Animal Use Protocols (ACORPs)/protocols.

3) Every 6 months perform semi-annual program and facility reviews/inspections.

4) Meet with the Institutional Official on a semi-annual basis to review semi-annual program and facility reviews/inspections.

5) Assist with the review, development and implementation of IACUC and husbandry SOPs, Policies and Procedures.

6) Assist the IACUC Coordinator with the submissions of annual reports to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), American Association for the Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) – International and VA Central Office.

7) Assist with the submission and updates for the OLAW Letter of Assurance and AAALAC – International accreditation submission documents.

8) Availability via phone or email to address administrative issues that need attention.

9) Provide advice and guidance on all aspects of an AAALAC – International Animal Care and Use Program.

10)

b. Veterinary Care Support: Review and advise on CTVHCS zebrafish colony health reports.

c. Education/Training: Conduct meetings with VA investigators of the CTVHCS on topics as determined by the IACUC and/or VA administration.

2. Hours of Operation: Normal hours of coverage are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Central, excluding holidays. All services will be performed during normal hours of coverage unless requested or approved by COR or designee.

Holidays include:

New Years’ Day Labor Day

Martin Luther King Day Columbus Day

Presidents’ Day Veterans’ Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Juneteenth Christmas Day

Independence Day

And any other day specifically designated as a national holiday by the President of the United States.

3. Place of Performance Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

1901 Veterans Memorial Drive

Temple, TX 76504

4. Period of Performance Base Year: July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027

Option Year One: July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028

Option Year Two: July 1, 2028, through June 30, 2029

Option Year Three: July 1, 2029, through June 30, 2030

5. Security Requirements – Contractor will not have access to VA sensitive information, patient records, or data.

6. Government-Furnished Equipment – None.

7. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations – All work shall be performed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, who possess experience in zebrafish-related laboratory animal science and medicine.