SOW - Animal-Laboratory Support Specialist.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

ARRA H1N1 Influenza Staffing

Animal Technician

Period of Performance: 2 years from start date Location: Bethesda, MD

Description:

This position is for an Animal Technician to support animal studies within NIAID and would entail one individual working “cage to bench-side” for both rodent and guinea pig work with the H1N1 virus. This individual must be able to work in BSL-2/ABSL-2 facilities and will be performing various procedures such as:

· Inoculations

· infections

· Blood withdrawal

· Tissue and organ harvest

· Necropsy

· PCR

· Influenza virus assays and culture

· Colony management

· Routine handling and manipulations

· ASP management in multiple facilities

· Record keeping and health data management

· Work in both laboratory and animal facility settings

This individual would be dedicated to H1N1 Influenza work.

Position Requirements:

· B.S (or equivalent) research technician certified by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science with at least 5 years animal handling experience and laboratory based training in tissue culture, viral infections, and molecular techniques.

· Candidate should have excellent written and communication skills, proficient technical vocabulary and computer program proficiency in commercial off the shelf products such as MS Office.

· Candidate should demonstrate evidence of working independently with minimal oversight while maintaining attention to detail.

· Candidate should have in-depth knowledge of GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) standards in executing animal protocols.

· Candidate should have excellent interpersonal skills to work and coordinate with multiple program staff to accomplish desired goals in the most productive manner.

Corporate Selection Requirements:

1. Due to the critical nature of the project, Contractor shall have accessibility to and deployment of a candidate to the on-site work location by the date defined.

2. Contractor shall have demonstrated experience deploying staff within NIH laboratories within the past 2 years and staff passing NIH security standards.

3. Contractor shall have demonstrated experience recruiting candidates described in the statement of work and/or immediate accessibility to a deployable pool of candidates.

4. Contractor shall have demonstrated experience working with guinea pigs. Specifically describe handling, bleeding, immunizing, and euthanasia experience.

5. Contractor shall have demonstrated tissue culture and virology work experience. Specifically describe cell culture and respiratory virus propagation experience.

6. Contractor shall have demonstrated molecular biology experience. Specifically describe PCR and virus sequencing experience.

7. Contractor shall have demonstrated experience with respiratory virus infection in rodents. Specifically describe influenza and any BSL2 rodent handling experience.

8. Contractor shall have demonstrated rodent or guinea pig viral pathogenesis and/or transmission study experience.

9. Contractor staff shall meet Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2/ABSL-2) training standards and NIAID laboratory protocol requirements.

10. Contractor shall provide six (6) candidates, their credentials for the position, and letters of commitment to the Government for review.

11. Government may request voice/video communication with top three (3) candidates and/or on-site meeting with candidates.

12. For the purposes of this proposal, the not to exceed cost of $5,000 is established for potential Other Direct Costs (ODC) such as travel, Per Diem at the published Government rates and for relocation expenses if needed.

13. Contractor shall perform drug testing, background, and reference checks on candidates selected for duty. Selected candidate is subject to NIH security clearance for badge issuance and entrance authorization. Candidates failing to meet Contractor and or NIH clearance processes will not be authorized to work.

14. Government may request review of additional candidates at any time if proposed candidates are not deemed suitable to complete the desired work.

15. United States citizenship is required for this position.

Management Oversight Requirements:

1. Contractor shall deploy staff to on-sight location within NIH facilities for task execution.

2. A Contractor representative is not required to provide on-site management oversight of staff. Contractor representative is required to be available via telephone and/or audio visual communications within 24 hour notice from the Government.

Deliverable:

· Successful completion of the in vivo characterization of the mutant H1N1 based virus in the guinea pig animal model. This work will include virus titration, diverse molecular techniques, immunology and serology.

This deliverable will require one (1) full time equivalent Animal Care Technician for a period of two years from the project start date noted.