NOI_Charles_River_Rodents_Rabbits_Final.doc

The Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) intends to negotiate the below requirement on a sole source basis (in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 (see also FAR Part 13.501(a)), on behalf of the Naval Medical Research Unit – San Antonio (NAMRU-SA). The proposed source is Charles River Laboratories, Inc., 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA 01887-7329. The requirement is for an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract that provides for the delivery of up to 11,250 rodents and up to 500 White New Zealand Rabbits for a five (5) year ordering period. The animals shall be of varying strains, ages and weights as specified below:

43-49 days

50-56 days

57-63 days

64 days-plus

36-42 days

43-49 days

50-56 days

The rodents provided must be of the same genetic makeup as the rodents used in the earlier research to provide genetic consistency and as to not invalidate earlier study results.

NAMRU-SA is currently conducting research in support of multiple protocols using various strains of rodents. Due to the continued research efforts under these protocols, the continued use of the same strains of rodents used in current studies is required. This consistency is paramount toward ensuring the scientific data generated is reliable, which is critical when testing different vendor devices under that same research environment. Use of another vendor would result in inconsistent results and could negatively impact the integrity of the entire study.

The Navy conducts research that focuses on the protection, resuscitation, and stabilization of combat casualties at echelon 1 and 2 points of care in the combat theater. It is critical for NAMRU-SA future scientific research efforts to have healthy, disease free animals from one vendor ensuring that the scientific data generated is consistent. When testing and evaluating new technologies (devices), it is critical that the research environment is consistent which includes the animal source and health. Charles River has been the vendor since early on in this research effort.

Vendor shall ship no more than 40 mice per crate; no more than two (2) rabbits per crate; and no more than eight (8), 43-49 day old rats per crate. There shall be less than eight (8) rats per crate if older than 49 days. More than eight (8) rats can be shipped per crate if younger than 43 days. Rats of different ages shall not be shipped within the same crate. All animal shipments shall adhere to the USDA regulations for covered species and per requirements by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and International Air Transport Associated (IATA) Live Animal Regulation (LAR) specifications for all animal shipments to include air, rail and truck shipments.

Health certificates shall be provided for all species specified by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and OLAW regulations. Mice and rats shall have a minimum of facility health monitoring report sent with each shipment.

Vendor shall adhere to all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), OLAW and Association for Assessment and Accreditation for Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) regulations and requirements.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes and no solicitation document exists for the requirement; however, if a vendor challenges the basis for this requirement, please submit a capability statement that includes sufficient detail and with convincing evidence that clearly demonstrates the capability to meet the government’s minimum requirements specified above. Capability statements shall not exceed 5 (8.5 inch x 11 inch) pages using a font size no smaller than 10-point. All capability statements received by the due date of this notice will be considered by the Government. A request for documentation or additional information, or submissions that only ask questions will not be considered as an affirmative response. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed with a sole source procurement.

Capability statements are due by 1500 Eastern Time, 29 Jul 2019. Capability statements shall be submitted by email ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following address: andrew.a.hampton3.civ@mail.mil. No phone calls will be accepted.