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STATEMENT OF WORK

Project Title: Care and maintenance of the NIH/NIAID Jamaican fruit bat colony

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Bat-borne infectious diseases including Ebola virus, SARS-coronavirus, Hendra virus and Nipah virus can cause severe disease and high mortality rates upon spill-over into the human population. As bats are the reservoir for these highly pathogenic viruses, we seek to establish a tractable laboratory model to study virus transmission and infection in bats.

Colorado State University (CSU) has the facilities and expertise for housing, care and expansion of bats in captivity for research purposes. There are current collaborations between Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) researchers and CSU faculty using these bat models for various infectious diseases. Expansion of the colony will allow us to strengthen our collaborations and advance the research into reservoir-host modeling in bat-borne infectious diseases. Maintaining the captive colony will provide continuous access to these unique and precious animals for research purposes.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this agreement is to maintain a captive colony of bats (Artebius jamaicensis) for breeding and holding to be used in experimental studies in collaboration with the investigators at the RML. CSU will manage the colony to provide ~150 bats to RML on an annual basis.

SCOPE

Colorado State University (CSU) will be responsible for housing and caring for bats in an appropriate environment. The

Government expects this captive bat colony to be maintained by CSU via breeding, at the size and scope to provide ~150 bats per year to RML when requested. RML will request groups of bats to be shipped from time to time to RML for use in research purposes. CSU will provide bats to RML researchers for their exclusive use on an as-needed basis for research purposes consisting of ~150 per year. This acquisition will include the cost to prep and box the animals for transport, but not the actual cost of shipping.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Colorado State University (CSU) Laboratory Animal Resources

3185 RAMPART RD.

FORT COLLINS, CO 80521

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

From September 16, 2026 to September 15, 2027

TASKS/ REQUIREMENTS

Animal Housing / Per Diem

Bats shall be housed in a cage-free flight room/cages with roosting areas, fed a diet consistent with the American Zoological Associate bat standards. The animals will be provided housing, care, and feeding in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, Association for the Accreditation and Assessment of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) standards, the PHS policy (The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals) and USDA regulations. Any facility that holds animals on or is associated with this contract must maintain an Office of Lab Animal Welfare OLAW assurance, AAALAC accreditation, and registered with the USDA.

Bats do not need to be tagged or banded for identification.

No testing will be required. Natural breeding will be used to expand the colony.

No extraordinary measures shall be taken to secure neonatal survival or increase breeding efficiency.

Laboratory Animal Resources shall provide daily husbandry and veterinary care.

Cost shall be based on a daily colony cost basis.

NIH shall be notified within 3 days of any colony threatening circumstance.

NIAID will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the bat colony, to be adjusted to ~600 animals and

~150 research aged animals to be shipped to RML on up to 3 separate shipments

Transportation

Up to three (3) times per year, at the request of the Rocky Mountain Lab / NIH personnel, bats shall be packaged for shipment to Hamilton, Montana in the quantity requested for use in experimental studies for a separate fee.

Each shipment shall be delivered in properly ventilated, escape proof, disposable, non-returnable crates / boxes.

Each shipping box shall have water and feed or appropriate high water content fruit for the number of animals in each compartment to meet their needs for up to 36 hours. Crates shall be in accordance with regulations, USDA, CDC and IATA guidelines. Standard commercial marking shall be used and shall be in compliance with USDA, and IATA guidelines. Shipping crates shall be marked, labeled or tagged as applicable and shall include (a) contractors name and address; (b) delivery order number, name and address; and (c) total number of cartons in shipment.

This acquisition will include the cost to prep and box the animals for transport. However, the transportation/ shipping costs for bats being shipped to RML will be covered by the NIH and arrangements and payment will be directly with the transporter.

Annual Physical Exam -Colony Assessment

The colony shall be assessed each year for overall health and reproductive success of the colony. Groups formations shall be adjusted to meet the needs of ~150 animals each year for RML research. This annual assessment will be based on the direction and recommendation of the CSU Attending veterinarian (AV). The annual assessment cost will cover the necessary veterinary and technician time to perform physical exams, materials and any needed testing recommended by the AV. The evaluation will focus on the colony’s overall health and assessment over all colony breeding efficiencies.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

All work will be inspected and approved by the CSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Attending Veterinarian and Director of Laboratory Animal Resources. All work will be completed in accordance with industry standards.

INVOICE

Invoice shall consist of 3-line items: Husbandry, house & care (per diem), Transport/shipping preparation and Annual Physical / assessment. Colorado State University will invoice monthly in arrears for these services.