Draft_Sanctuary_Evaluation_Factors_31717.doc

TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

The major evaluation factors for this solicitation include technical factors, past performance factors and cost/price factors. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, cost/price is also important to the overall contract award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. In any case, the Government reserves the right to make an award to that offeror whose proposal provides the best overall value to the Government.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

The below are mandatory criteria that establishes conditions that must be met at the time of receipt of proposals by the Contracting Officer. The Offeror shall include all information which documents and/or supports the qualification criteria in one clearly marked section of the technical proposal. If an entity cannot demonstrate its ability to satisfy the requirements below no further consideration shall be given to the entity’s proposal.

The chimpanzee is a unique animal model, requiring significant attention to its psychological and social environments. As animals retired from research the sanctuary animals have additional critical physiological needs that also require significant attention. Specifically, the sanctuary includes a significant population of geriatric animals and animals that carry a variety of zoonotic agents that can be transmitted to humans and other non-infected animals (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B and C).

This combination of factors creates an environment that requires careful handling as well as qualified resources, facilities and abilities to successfully and safely operate the sanctuary and ensure quality of life for the chimpanzees. Therefore, entities shall demonstrate the following:

· The ability to comply with the following federal laws, regulations and policies:

· The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection Act

· The Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-544, as amended) Rules and Regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Chapter 1, Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Parts 1, 2, and 3 (AWRs);

· Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy);

· Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 2011; Guide);

· Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (5th Edition, CDC-NIH, 2009; BMBL);

· Occupational Health and Safety and Use of Nonhuman Primates (NRC 2003);

· Chimpanzees in Research, Strategies for their Ethical Care, Management, and Use (NRC 1997);

· AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition;

· The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates, (NRC 1998);

· 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogen Standard; and

· 42 CFR part 9, Standards of Care for Chimpanzees Held in the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary System; Final Rule.

· The ability to meet the requisite matching contributions (25%), as stipulated in the Chimp Act

· The ability to provide suitable facilities to house and care for 230 to 250 chimpanzees in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW) and in compliance with the all applicable federal laws, regulations and policies

· The ability to provide consistency and uniformity in delivery of animal care services required for maintenance of animal well-being and health

· The ability to identify and mitigate risks of infectious hazards for the chimpanzees and humans working with chimpanzees.

· Experience in managing a facility of over 100 large nonhuman primates (NHPs), including proper management of NHPs that carry infectious agents, such as hepatitis B and C.

· Animal welfare assurances from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

· No outstanding USDA-reported deficiencies

· The ability to obtain and maintain an Animal Welfare Assurance from NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).

· Accreditation by the internationally recognized animal program accrediting body, AAALAC International.

· The ability to safely transport chimpanzees without causing undue stress to the animals.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS

Evaluation Factor 1 (Chimpanzee Care): Competence in the operation and maintenance of a large chimpanzee facility conforming to all Federal laws, Federal policies, National Resource Council (NRC) and Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) recommendations.

Weight: 30

· Demonstrated adequacy of proposed procedures for veterinary care and animal husbandry of more than a hundred chimpanzees; dealing with biohazards; preventing the sanctuary chimpanzees from breeding; management of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and compliance with procedures for undertaking noninvasive research protocols as defined in the SOW.

· Demonstrated ability to comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to the acquisition, registration, care disposition, and transportation of nonhuman primates.

· Demonstrated adequacy of the proposed administration infrastructure that will support the veterinary and technical services.

· Demonstrated adequacy of the minimal staff plan.

· Demonstrated experience in and technical approach for fulfilling the following requirements:

· Ability to provide adequate routine animal care, housing, nutrition, hygiene.

· Ability to provide adequate sanitation and cleaning of the equipment and facilities.

· Ability to provide adequate environmental monitoring of facilities, including vermin control and security.

· Ability to provide adequate animal health surveillance, observations, identification, written and computerized record keeping.

· Ability to provide adequate animal handling (including animals infected with human pathogens), restrain, technical laboratory animal procedures, and euthanasia.

· Ability to provide adequate veterinary medical assistance, treatments/medications, induction of anesthesia and surgical assistance.

· Ability to effectively ensure prevention of conception.

· Ability to provide adequate clinical laboratory technical support.

· Ability to provide adequate interstate shipping of nonhuman primates, including plans for transfer of chimpanzees to the sanctuary.

· Ability to provide adequate animal transportation within the sanctuary.

· Ability to provide adequate environmental enrichment for chimpanzees.

· Adequacy of proposed Behavioral Management Plan for the chimpanzees as well as a plan for assessing Chimpanzee Quality of Life.

· Ability to provide adequate maintenance of equipment and supplies or other logistical support.

· Ability to provide adequate clerical and data entry support.

· Ability to provide required reports.

Evaluation Factor 2: Expertise and experience of proposed professional and support personnel. Offeror shall provide resumes and evidence of commitment for all proposed personnel.

Weight: 20

· Personnel shall possess extensive experience in nonhuman primate (NHP) medicine and management. The professional staff (e.g., Director/Deputy Director, Attending and Clinical Veterinarians, and Behaviorists) will be evaluated, as appropriate, with respect to advanced degrees, state veterinary licenses, residency training in laboratory animal medicine, experience in managing a NHP facility that maintains over 100 animals, particularly chimpanzees and/or other large NHP species, and experience with a contract of this nature.

· The technical staff (e.g., Program Administrator, Information Technologist, Fund Raising Personnel, Veterinary Technicians, Colony Manager, Enrichment Technicians, and Animal Caretakers) will be evaluated with respect to work experience related to chimpanzees and ability to handle biohazardous materials, including animals infected with human pathogens.

Evaluation Factor 3: Organizational/Management Structure Weight: 20

· Demonstrated experience of the organization in managing a NHP facility of over 100 animals, preferably chimpanzees or other large NHPs, and experience in managing a contract of this nature.

· Demonstrated ability and evidence of commitment of the organization to provide effective management oversight, support, training, staffing, quality control, assistance, security, and resources needed to meet the requirements and perform the services described in the SOW.

· Demonstrated adequacy of the Offeror’s proposed staffing plan and proposed Occupational Health and Safety training program and Occupational Health and Safety Plan.

· Demonstration of fiscal responsibility, long-term stability, and ability to provide matching funds.

Evaluation Factor 4: Facilities

Weight: 20

· Demonstrated ability to provide proper, well-designed property and facilities to safely and securely maintain chimpanzees formerly used in research, including animals with infectious pathogens. Facilities should meet Animal biosafety level-2 (ABSL2) requirements.

· Demonstrated ability to provide adequate quarantine facilities to isolate animals, as necessary.

· Demonstrated ability to provide proper facilities for sanitation and removal of hazardous and biohazardous materials in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws.

· Demonstrated ability to provide adequate necropsy facilities meeting ABSL2 requirements.

· Demonstrated ability to provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment for all relevant personnel.

· Demonstrated adequacy of proposed Emergency Action Plan.

Evaluation Factor 5: Reports and Records

Weight: 10

· Demonstrated ability to maintain computerized animal records at the site.

· Demonstrated ability to maintain detailed health records.

· Adequacy of plans to contact the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Contracting Officer (CO) as NIH representatives to report incidents, accidents, injuries or deaths of chimpanzees.

· Adequacy of plans to contact the NIH COR and CO regarding public, media, or congressional inquiries.

· Adequacy of plans to obtain prior NIH approval for all publications, abstracts, and presentations resulting from data generated from Federally-supported animals.

· Demonstrated ability to timely complete and submit monthly census reports, including changes in the sanctuary population.

· Adequacy of plans for submission of quarterly reports, including the activities to be covered.