Attachment I- Specifications.docx

Attachment 1

SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

A. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

All animals must meet the following health criteria of Agricultural Animals for Plum Island Animal Disease Center:

1. Prior to shipment to PIADC, all agricultural animals require a veterinary examination with issuance of a health certificate for interstate shipment even if shipped intrastate.

2. Provide valid certification of recent medical history and treatments given to animals with delivery.

3. Contractors shall not deliver animals to the Orient Point receiving areas in the absence of a PIADC employee, and are not permitted to leave animals unattended in a trailer overnight.

4. The Mainland Facility parking lot gates should be closed during transfer operations.

5. The Contractor shall unload animals into the facility animal trailer through a supplied wooden stockade ramp. Animals cannot be removed once they reach the Orient Point facility.

6. The Contractor’s vehicle will position up to the transfer platform with the PIADC transfer vehicle positioning up to the opposite side of the transfer platform.

7. The PIADC Attending Veterinarian and Biological Safety Officer must be notified immediately if ill or deceased animals are observed during the receiving or transfer operations, or if other questions arise concerning the health and safety of these animals

8. Live or dead animals and animal products, fluids, or any part thereof, may not be transferred back to the contractor once brought onto the Orient Point Facility

9. Inclement Weather Delays in Transportation of Research Animals to Plum Island occasionally occur. Contractor will be notified within 2-3 days of expected shipment for rescheduling delivery.

B. SPECIES SPECIFIC HEALTH CRITERIA:

CATTLE BREED- HOLSTEIN

a. Cattle must come from single source/farm and not be co-mingled with other cattle.

b. Cattle will be open heifers or castrated males. (Specified at time of order)

c. Cattle are to be healthy with no overt signs of disease and free of active lameness, respiratory disease, warts or ringworm.

d. Cattle must be polled or dehorned, tolerate being haltered, be of tractable temperament and be free of behavioral vices such as charging and kicking.

e. Cattle must have un-pigmented (PINK) tongues.

f. Cattle must be free of external parasites and have been treated for internal parasites within the last 3 months (preferably using Ivermectin).

g. Hooves shall be trimmed prior to shipment, if necessary.

h. Ears shall be notched for BVD.

i. Cattle must receive appropriate vaccinations (example Bovishield™) with boosters as necessary.

j. Cattle must receive antibiotics prior to shipping to prevent shipping fever.

k. Animals must be ear tagged in accordance with lettering and numerals specified by ARS with each order to be supplied at time of order

1) Rejection of animals- Cattle will be evaluated after 7 days\quarantine for animals not meeting required specifications and signs of illness after appropriate incubation time. In the event of illness or death an Animal Incident Report will be faxed within 5 business days after initial quarantine period ends.

2) Replacement of Cattle including shipment shall be required or credit issued at the agencies choice within 24 hours after notification by the Contracting Officer of illness or death.

C. COMPANY CERTIFICATION:

The Contractor must have either: 1. An Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) 2. Self-Certification. Self Certification shall include the following: A. Minimum of 5 years experience providing laboratory animals to animal or biomedical research facilities, B. Animal breed raised in a laboratory setting specifically for scientific research. C. Certification of an approved site visit by a government agency veterinarian for assurance of an acceptable source documented.

D. CLASS A DEALERS:

Contractors shall hold Class A licenses in order to ensure the contractor is liable for the cattle provided. These contractors only provide animals which they breed and raise. Animals that come from brokers, and on occasion from some class B contractors, tend to require long acclimation periods and medication for respiratory diseases prior to initiation of studies, all of which cost the government in husbandry and in delay of time and as a result are not acceptable. The Contractor shall be regularly engaged in the breeding, raising, and shipping of the animals described in the specifications.

E. SAFETY REQULATIONS

Contractor employee(s) must adhere to facility safety regulations. Animals may not be removed once they arrive at the Orient Point facility. See Attachment II, “Safety and Security Information”.

F. WARRANTY

If animals become sick, show signs of illness or do not meet the required specifications after incubation/evaluation time of 7 days quarantine. The replacement of the animal(s) including shipment shall be required or credit issued at the agencies choice within 24 hours after notification by the Contracting Officer.

G. DOCUMENTATION

Prior to shipment to PIADC, all agricultural animals require a veterinary examination with issuance of a health certificate for interstate shipment even if shipped intrastate. Animals must be ear tagged in accordance with lettering and numerals specified by ARS with each order to be supplied at time of order. The Contractor shall provide a copy of the attending veterinarian health certificate(s) with each delivery of the animal(s).

H. VETERINARIAN CONTACT INFORMATION

Contractor must provide contact information for attending veterinarian for means of evaluating the contractor’s animal care history.

NAME: ________________________________________

COMPANY: ____________________________________

PHONE: _______________________________________

FAX: __________________________________________

EMAIL: ________________________________________

I. DELIVERABLES

323-3323 the morning of delivery due to potential marine weather conditions (attachment 3) which will restrict completion of the deliveries. The Government will not be responsible for costs associated with hazardous weather delays

J. LOCATION OF DELIVERY

All deliveries shall be (F.O.B. Origin) to the USDA, ARS, NAA, PIADC, 40550 Rt. 25, Warehouse facility, Orient Point, NY 11957, after the receipt of delivery order. Delivery shall be between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday thru Thursday, excl. Federal holidays. In case of inclement weather, the Contractor must call the PIADC Weather Notification phone line 631-323-3323 to verify that the facility is open for delivery.

a. Delivery is required within 7-14 days after each order is placed.

b. For inclement weather delays for transportation of Research Animals to Plum Island contractor will be notified within 2-3 days of expected shipment for rescheduling delivery

K. PACKING AND SHIPPING

All transportation of animals should be planned to minimize transit time to reduce stress related illnesses and the risk of zoonoses, protect against environmental extremes, avoid overcrowding, provide food and water when indicated, and protect against physical trauma.

Temperature extremes are to be avoided when animals are transported and special precautions or postponements are required when temperatures are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit and may jeopardize the welfare of the animals. The transportation, care, and use of animals shall be in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et. seq.) and other applicable Federal laws, guidelines, and policies. For guidance refer to “The Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” prepared by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, National Academy of Science. The Contractor shall deliver the shipment in such a manner that will ensure a safe delivery to the destination. Containers and closures shall comply with the Interstate Commerce Regulation, Uniform Freight Classification Rules, or regulation of other carriers as applicable to the mode of transportation.