Sole Source_JOFOC_BFUSAPS_Final.pdf

Transfer of Macaques to Born Free USA Sanctuary

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Acquisition Title: Transfer of Macaques from CDC to Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary

Agency: CDC

Acquisition Year (FY): FY2026

2. Description of Action:

Nature: ☒ New Requirement ☐ Follow-on Requirement

☐ Modification to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number Click or tap here to enter text.

Pricing: ☒ Firm-Fixed-Price ☐ Time & Materials ☐ Cost ☐ Other: Click or tap here to enter text.

Funds: ☐ OMA ☐ Other FUnds Click or tap here to enter text.

Name of Proposed Contractor(s): Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary

Street Address: 8737 Collesville Road, Suite 305

City, State, Zip: Silver Spring, MD 20910

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

Basis for Approval (FAR 6.102-1(b)(1)): ☒ Individual Basis ☐ Class Basis

CDC requires permanent placement and lifetime care of roughly 160 Old World monkeys (rhesus macaques and pigtail macaques) in a qualified sanctuary facility. The required services include responsible and humane transfer from CDC care, intake, housing, veterinary oversight, and lifetime care at a Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)-accredited sanctuary. These services will follow standards for humane care and treatment of animals under the Animal Welfare Act federal of 1966 and 1970.

4. Authority and Rationale: Identify the statutory authority, FAR title and FAR citation permitting other than full and open competition. It may be one of the following most commonly used citations by the operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but other exceptions may apply per FAR 6.103.

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select only one and provide an explanation):

☒ FAR 6.103-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)

Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is a GFAS-accredited sanctuary with demonstrated experience in the long-term care, housing, veterinary management, and social integration of macaques. Based on market research, Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is the only GFAS-accredited source that can satisfy CDC’s combined requirements for accreditation, species expertise, capacity, and performance schedule. The facility is in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations part 1), The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and other federal policies and guidance as applicable that provide national standards for the acquisition, transportation, housing, control, maintenance, handling, treatment, care, use and disposal of animals.

This acquisition needs to be completed expeditiously as the CDC currently maintains roughly 160 macaques in indoor housing designed for quarantine and research activities. Their current living situation is not beneficial to the animals and they need to be rehomed as soon as possible. It was discovered during market research that Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary can take custody of these animals on a schedule that aligns with CDC’s required transition timeline. Born Free requires approximately 12 weeks to build additional enclosures necessary to house the CDC macaques. Following this construction, animals can be transported on a phased basis in cohorts of approximately 25 animals per shipment until the transfer is complete. This schedule is materially shorter than the timeframes identified for other sanctuary options during market research and is therefore the only schedule identified that would permit transfer within CDC’s required timeframe as determined by the funding available for their care and housing at CDC.

This expedited timeframe greatly reduces stress on the animals and ensures their health and well-being are the top priority. Continued retention of the animals at CDC would require the agency to maintain them in facilities intended for quarantine and research support rather than long-term sanctuary care, delaying placement in an environment better suited to their long-term husbandry and behavioral management. A fully competed procurement would delay this transfer unnecessarily and would be detrimental to the welfare of the animals.

☐ FAR 6.103-2: Unusual and compelling urgency, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2) N/A

☐ FAR 6.103-5: Authorized or Required by Statute, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5)

N/A

☐ Other (See FAR 6.103 for additional authority):

N/A

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5. Agency Actions to Take or Remove Barriers That Led to Other Than Full and Open Competition (if applicable):

A posting will be uploaded to SAM.gov announcing CDC’s intention to issue a sole source contract for these services. Other than this, the removal of barriers that led to this sole source were not possible. Extensive market research was conducted to find a facility that met the strict care standards as well as a facility that could accept the animals in a timeframe that ensured their safety and well-being were maintained. Only one facility was found that was able to accommodate the expedited timeframe. Due to the accelerated nature of this procurement, a full competitive procurement would be detrimental to the health and safety of the animals and is not guaranteed to offer additional options or any savings that could be offset by potential harm to the animals.

6. Bridge Contracts:

N/A

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is a GFAS-accredited sanctuary with demonstrated experience in the long-term care, housing, veterinary management, and social integration of macaques. Based on market research, Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is the only GFAS-accredited source that can satisfy CDC’s combined requirements for accreditation, species expertise, capacity, and performance schedule. CDC requires a source able to accept all its macaques through a phased intake within CDC’s required timeframe. Market research indicates that other sanctuary options lack either the near-term capacity, the required intake schedule, or both. Born Free’s existing and planned housing configuration is suitable for Old World primates and supports long-term placement in species-appropriate social and physical environments. The sanctuary’s enclosure environment includes outdoor and sheltered spaces designed to support species-appropriate activity, socialization, and long-term husbandry. Born Free can expand and prepare enclosure capacity within the timeframe needed to assume ownership of the macaques. The sanctuary has experience managing macaques in social group settings and providing the husbandry and veterinary oversight required for long-term care. Born Free also has relevant experience transitioning animals from research environments into sanctuary housing, including behavioral assessment, social introduction, and ongoing monitoring.

Its prior experience includes large-volume primate intake and management of a substantial macaque population, which is directly relevant to CDC’s requirement. In addition, Born Free’s leadership and animal care staff have substantial primate experience, and the facility operates as a dedicated sanctuary, not as a facility with animals on public display, such as a zoo or wildlife park. If this requirement arises again in the future, all steps will be taken to allow the appropriate time for competition.

8. Market Research:

Market research included an NIH site visit to identify qualified sanctuary sources capable of accepting a large population of macaques within the required timeframe. CDC consulted with NIH regarding its experience and market knowledge concerning sanctuary placement of nonhuman primates. Market research efforts included outreach to multiple sanctuary providers, consultation with knowledgeable sector participants regarding available sanctuary capacity and relevant species experience, and review of publicly available information concerning sanctuary accreditation, capabilities, and space. Based on these efforts, it was determined that Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary is the only identified GFAS-accredited source that can meet the agency’s requirements for accreditation, species-specific expertise, available capacity, and required performance schedule.

9. Procurement History:

Purchase order or contract number: N/A. This is a new requirement with no procurement history.

Was action competed: ☐ Yes ☐ No If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale, and describe the actions that were supposed to be taken to increase competition and the results thereof:

N/A. This is a new procurement with no available procurement history.

10. Additional information to support the justification:

This acquisition involves unusual and compelling urgency because CDC currently maintains roughly 160 macaques in indoor housing designed for quarantine and research activities. Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary can take custody of these animals on a schedule that aligns with CDC’s required transition timeline. Based on information obtained during market research, Born Free requires approximately 12 weeks to build additional enclosures necessary to house the CDC macaques. Following this construction, animals can be transported on a phased basis in cohorts of approximately 25 animals per shipment until the transfer is complete. This schedule is materially shorter than the timeframes identified for other sanctuary options during market research and is therefore the only schedule identified that would permit transfer within CDC’s required timeframe. Continued retention of the animals at CDC would require the agency to maintain them in facilities intended for quarantine and research support rather than long-term sanctuary care, delaying placement in an environment better suited to their long-term husbandry and behavioral management. Because a competed procurement would add additional time before award and performance could begin, CDC would be required to continue relying on interim housing for a longer period, which would further delay transition to an appropriate long-term setting.

11. Technical/Requirements Certification: By my signature below, I certify that the supporting data included in this JOFOC is accurate and complete.

Program Manager

Name: Darrin Carrol

Position Title: Director for the Division of Core Laboratory Services and Response

Email Address: Zuz4@cdc.gov

Phone: 404-639-1719

Program Manager Supervisory (or one level above Program Manager)

Name: Dr. Reynolds Salerno

Position Title: Director, Office of Laboratory Systems and Response

Email Address: Yyw2@cdc.gov

Phone: 404-498-6516

Signature: REYNOLDS M. SALERNO -S Digitally signed by REYNOLDS M. SALERNO -S Date: 2026.05.08 14:20:28 -04'00'

Date:

12. Fair and Reasonable Price/Cost Determination: As Contracting Officer, by my signature below, I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost to the government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer in collaboration with staff from the Division of Scientific Resources (DSR), Comparative Medicine Branch will review the proposed contract costs and compare the proposed costs to industry standards for the care and maintenance of Rhesus and Pig Tail Maquaque monkeys. Personnel in the Comparative Medicine Branch have extensive expertise with the care and maintenance of these animals and the costs involved. Cost areas will include food and nutrition, shelter, and veterinary care.

Transfer of Macaques to Born Free USA Sanctuary mailto:Zuz4@cdc.gov mailto:Yyw2@cdc.gov

Name: Phone:

Signature:

Digitally signed by JENNIFER

GARTZKE -S

Date: 2026.05.12 13:01:29 -05'00' Date:

13. Contracting Officer’s Approval: I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I approve this justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

14. Legal Review:

N/A

15. OPDIV Competition Advocate Approval (Required for proposed contract over $900,000.00 but not exceeding $20M value calculated including all options): I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

16. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

17. OPDIV HCA Approval (Required for proposed contract over $20M but not exceeding $90M value calculated including all options):

Transfer of Macaques to Born Free USA Sanctuary

Jennifer Gartzke

May 12, 2026

404-498-0020

Jennifer Gartzke 404-498-0020

May 13, 2026

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

18. Department Competition Advocate:

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

19. HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) Approval: Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve other than full and open competition for the above stated procurement, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

State supplies/services being procured:

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State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with 4, e.g., 41 U.S.C. 3304:

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Name: Phone:

Signature: Date: