A03- RFI Minianture Swine_final.docx

Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought (SS) Notice

Requiring Activity Name: Defense Health Agency (DHA) located at multiple locations in the United States.

Subject: Procurement, shipment and delivery of all strains/models of Sinclair miniature swine.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201 -- Exchange with industry before receipt of proposals, this Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and at this time shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment on the part of the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents.

This Sources Sought Notice is a Market Research tool used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 112210 – Hog and Pig Farming

DISCLAIMER: This Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought (SS) Notice is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Quotations (RFQ). This RFI is issued solely for market research information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation.

Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made of any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests; responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate announcement.

All information received in response to this RFI will be treated as business confidential information. Submitters should properly mark their responses if the information is confidential. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary, will be handled accordingly.

At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for future solicitation will not be entertained.

RFI/SS Notice Response and due date: 27 February 2026, 1300, Eastern Time

Background: The purpose of this requirement is to provide the necessary animals for medical research to deliver innovative medical solutions that enhance warfighter health, readiness, and survival. DHA has multiple laboratories that have used Sinclair products for medical research in the past and require the same strain/model to continue this research.

Instructions to Responders: Responses from capable and qualified Small Business sources are encouraged to respond to this request.

Review the Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs) listed below. Respondents should address how they best can fulfil the requirements set forth of the MEC’s in their capabilities statement. Capability Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI should adhere to the following formatting and outline instructions:

1. All submissions shall be made electronically and be in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF and shall not exceed 10 pages (Cover page excluded from page count).

2. Cover Page

· Title

· Organization

· Responders technical and administrative points of contact (names, addresses, phone, fax number and email addresses)

· Topic area(s) addressed

· Respondents shall be registered in www.sam.gov under the NAICS code of 112210.

· List all ordering vehicles held by respondents and associated contracting numbers (e.g. OMNIBUS IV, GSA, etc.)

3. Response shall address whether the respondent is offering similar or like supplies/services in the commercial market to the general public.

4. Please note that the response shall provide sufficient technical data to determine how you fully meet the requirements as specified in the MEC’s.

The requested information shall be submitted by the date and time specified above, via email, to Ryan Jorgensen, Contract Specialist, at ryan.r.jorgensen.civ@health.mil and Tonya Kreps, Contracting Officer, at tonya.r.kreps.civ@health.mil . Only electronic responses will be accepted. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents. Currently no solicitation exists; therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs)

These MECs apply to the Sinclair Miniature Swine (minipig)

· The Vendor shall provide all strains/models of Sinclair™ miniature swine, which includes but is not limited to Sinclair Nanopig®, Yucatan™ miniature swine, Micro-Yucatan™ miniature swine, and Hanford miniature Swine, at specified ages, intact genders, weight requirements, or various skin pigmentation to include brown. The weight, age ranges, and skin pigmentation variations should be flexible in the contract to allow for research modifications.

· The Vendor shall be AAALAC International (AAALAC or AAALACi) accredited prior to award and shall maintain accreditation throughout the award. The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is approved as a substitute accreditation for Canadian facilities.

· The Vendor shall provide requested animals from an AAALAC or CCAC accredited facility. Facility sanitation must be maintained to ensure product suitability for laboratory research use. AAALAC or CCAC accreditation ensures this requirement is met. The Vendor shall provide health documents upon request and with each shipment for all requested minipigs. The health documents must include, based on the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS) recommendations, results and dates of sentinel, environmental PCR (ePCR), and/or air exhaust testing for herd/barrier/colony.

· The Vendor shall maintain United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) registration of the facility and comply with USDA transportation standards throughout the award, to include obtaining valid health certificates if crossing state lines.

· All minipig housing must be USDA inspected, Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved, in addition to AAALAC or CCAC accredited. The Vendor must be Public Health Service (PHS) assured.

· The Vendor shall provide confirmation, once it has received a valid Call Order, that delivery shall occur as required by the Required Delivery Date (RDD) specified on each Order.

· The Vendor shall provide research grade high health status originally derived from a Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) herd, minipig swine of desired reproductive status, sex and weight on as “as needed” basis within 15-60 days from order placement.

· The Vendor shall comply with the following requirements as these documents constitute the national standards and regulatory guidance regarding laboratory animal care and use:

· The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) of 1966 (United States Code [U.S.C.], Title 7, Sections 2131-2156) as amended and its implementing regulations (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A – Animal Welfare) requires the licensing of dealers, the identification of animals, maintenance of records, and compliance with standards for humane handling, care, treatment and transportation of animals by dealers and research facilities. Although Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) sources of animals are exempt from licensing under the AWA, they must maintain similar standards of animal care and use.

· The Institute of Laboratory Animal Research, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council’s “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,” 2011 (or subsequent editions) provides guidance on the housing, care and use of laboratory animals.

· Regulations concerning the importation and exportation of animals, their shipment interstate and intrastate, and the requirements for their quarantine and inspection are at 21 U.S.C., 111-113, 114, 115, 117, 120-128, 134a-h, 135, and 151-158 and 42 U.S.C. 264-272.

· The Vendor shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to the acquisition, registration, care, disposition, or transportation of laboratory research animals. Although OCONUS sources of animals are exempt from licensing under the AWA, they must maintain similar standards of animal care and use and comply with all above-mentioned pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.

· Shipping records shall include all USDA required information, including identification number, gender, approximate ages, and quantities of each animal.

· The Vendor must be geographically located within 1,000 miles from origin to delivery location or within a travel time of less than 24 hours.

· Minipigs must be shipped in company-owned climate-controlled vehicles/trailers driven by company employees or certified commercial vendors qualified to transport live animals adhering to AWA regulations.

· During shipment, minipigs must be provided water ad libitum and be checked at least once every four (4) hours.

· The Vendor shall use only indelible non-toxic marker for identification purposes (request only) during transport as no ear tags nor ear notches may be a listed order requirement.

· Feed (request only) shall be sources from an ISO 22000 feed mill. The Vendor must provide a minimum of three (3) days’ worth of feed for all minipigs received in a shipment.

· The Vendor must provide health records and supporting documentation, according to Industry standards, for the following procedures or services (request only) which include but is not limited to:

· Castration (request only),

· Tattoo (request only),

· Diagnostic/Laboratory services and procedures (request only) such as

· Radiographs (request only):

· Must provide x-rays 7-14 days prior to shipping upon request,

· Must provide a clear view of thoracic cavity upon request,

· Must be sent via DoD SAFE within five (5) calendar days of shipping upon request, and

· Must have sufficient definition to evaluate pulmonary health status upon request;

· EEG/EKGs (request only);

· Additional Cultures (request only);

· Serology (request only);

· PCR (request only); or

· Blood Chemistries (request only),

· Surgical Services (request only) such as:

· Device placement (request only); or

· Catheter placement (request only), including vascular catheterization (request only),

· Technical Procedures (request only) such as:

· Sling training (request only):

· Must be acclimated to sling for four (4) hours per day for five (5) days,

· Must be socialized for five (5) days, and

· Must be given treats for five (5) days; or

· Jacket Tether training (request only)

· Must be acclimated to the jacket for four (4) hours per day for seven (7) days,

· Must be socialized for seven (7) days, and

· Must be given treats for seven (7) days.

· Minipigs shall not have significant wounds (more than minor scratches, cuts, or abrasions) on bellies or backs. The standard shall be that if the wound does not appear to be healing normally and will be healed within one to two (1-2) days, it is too significant a wound for acceptance.

· 21. Minipigs shall be negative for standard host-specific protozoa, viral, bacterial and parasitic agents specific for each species, vaccinated, and dewormed as part of a herd health program.

· This shall be monitored by the Vendor at least annually.

· If the Vendor’s colony does test positive, the Vendor shall notify the Contracting Officer and COR in writing within five (5) business days upon confirmation.

· The vaccination and/or anthelmintic regimen schedules may be modified only with approval of the attending veterinarian (AV) of the receiving facility.

· It is the Vendor’s responsibility to initiate and receive approval for any desired schedule changes.

· Vaccination schedule changes are based on local agents of concern in the Vendor’s area.

· Anthelmintic regimen schedule changes are based on local conditions and previous herd history provided by the Vendor.

· Minipigs must be negative for the following:

· Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) (APP)

· Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica)

· Brucella spp.

· Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type C

· Escherichia coli (E. coli)

· Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (E. rhusiopathiae)

· Lawsonia intracellularis (L. intracellularis)

· Leptospira spp.

· Mycoplasma hyosynoviae (M. hyosynoviae)

· Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae or Mhp)

· Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida)

· Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV, PEDv, or PED virus)

· Porcine Parvovirus (PPV)

· Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV or PRRS)

· A. pleuropneumoniae (respiratory disease)

· B. bronchiseptica (respiratory disease)

· C. perfringens type C (enteritis)

· E. coli (enteritis and edema disease)

· E. rhusiopathiae (erysipelas)

· L. intracellularis (ileitis)

· Leptospira bratislava (L. bratislava) (leptospirosis)

· L. canicola (leptospirosis)

· L. grippotyphosa (leptospirosis)

· L. hardjo (leptospirosis)

· L. icterohaemorrhagiae (leptospirosis)

· L. Pomona (leptospirosis)

· M. hyopneumoniae (Mhp) (chronic pneumonia)

· P. multocida (pneumonia and other respiratory diseases)

· Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV, PEDv, or PED virus)

· Porcine Parvovirus (PPV)

· Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV or PRRS)

· Pseudorabies Virus (PRV)

· Salmonella choleraesuis (S. choleraesuis)

· S. typhimurium

· Swine Influenza type A Virus or Influenza type A Virus in Swine (IAV-S)

· Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus (TGEV)

· f. Minipigs shall be dewormed prior to shipment by administering an anthelmintic regimen (Using ivermectin [generic name] under brand names Ivomec®, Noromectin®, Agri-Mectin®, Bimectin®, or comparable) two to four (2-4) weeks prior to shipment.

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