jofoc_harlan_2.docx

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Project Title: __Feed and Bedding for NIAID/DIR/CMB Animal Facilities______

I. Identification of the agency and contracting activity

II. Description of the project, and supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value) A. Type of action. Check the appropriate box:

☒ New requirement ☐ Follow-on

· Name of the previous contractor(s): ________________________________

· Sequence number(s), if available: __________________________________

· Was the initial and any subsequent awards competed? ☐ Yes ☐ No B. AMBIS Sequence number for this requirement: __ C. Total estimated dollar value of the requirement (including options, if applicable): _______ D. Period of performance, inclusive of options: from __09/01/2015-02/28/2016_______

E. Project Background The CMB is responsible for the care, housing and husbandry or all DIR/NIAID research animals. The CMB currently orders feed and bedding from Harlan Teklad. The CMB generally places orders for feed and bedding on a weekly basis to accommodate existing populations and new animal orders. Care and husbandry protocols for research animals are strictly defined and must be followed.

F. Project Description The CMB has an ongoing requirement for feed and bedding for research aimals within all NIAID vivariums on the Bethesda campus. All research animals require routine feeding and cage changing in accordance with established research protocols and in compliance with AAALAC certifications.

III. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition (SELECT ONE)

Important Note: The statutory authorities listed below will rarely ever be used in NIH. Before selecting one of these authorities, please ensure that you have read and understood the citation and discussed it with the cognizant Contracting Officer.

IV. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

A. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s) Harlan Teklad PO BOX 44220, 2826 Latham Drive Madison, WI 53713

B. Describe why only the requested supply/service will meet the government’s needs In order to maintain the integrity of on-going research projects, it is imperative that a ready supply of approved types of nutrition and bedding materials be available for all species currently housed in any of the NIAID vivariums on the NIH Bethesda campus. Harlan Teklad feed is currently used for animal models involved in long term research projects which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Maintaining the health of animals in research is different than caring for animals as pets or for other purposes. Feed must supply very specific nutritional needs to the animal based on the research and the species for which it is used. Once a specific diet has been provided to a research animal, it must be continued in order to maintain the animal’s health without introducing any variables into the animal and thereby into the experiments. Even very minute variations in ingredients could cause significant difficulties for research animals and could compromise the data being collected for these continuing experiment lines. The animal populations at NIAID are all currently engaged in experiments or protocols. Therefore the current feed of these animal populations must be continued at its current specific nutritional content. The type of bedding and the sanitation conditions of the bedding can also become a variable in the health of the animals and cannot be disrupted in mid-experiment.

C. Describe why only the proposed contractor is capable of providing the requested supply/service Harlan Teklad is the current vendor of feed and bedding to the NIAID vivariums on the Bethesda campus. The exact recipie used to achieve these controlled nutritional formulas is specific to and patented by Harlan Laboratories. No other vendor can manufacture the exact same feed. Harlan’s specific patented formulation of diets have been used for long term research studies which are still ongoing. All scientific variables must be reduced to ensure repeatable and reliable results. Since changing feed and bedding introduces a variable that may adversely affect research results, and since Harlan Teklad feeds are not sold or distributed through any other vendor, Harlan Tekald is the sole source. Feed and bedding could not be ordered from any other vendor without prior testing to ensure exact nutritional formulation and consistency over time were identical to the existing vendor. This would take many months and be very expensive to the Government. Complete scientific review from the Principal Investigator and the facility veterinarian would be required, and testing a new brand of feed would not guarantee the time and money would be well spent as it may fail to pass the nutritional or quality tests. It is therefore in the best interest of the Government to award to Harlan Teklad as a sole source.

V. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The price is determined to be fair and reasonable based on (provide a narrative describing how the determination was made and the rational for the determination): see Award Determination tab

VI. Certification This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support my request (for the requestor) and approval (for the CO) of is accurate and complete.

Requestor Certification

06/15/2015

Contracting Officer Approval