SOW_Univ of Illinois FY24_Redacted.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources

I. Background/Overview The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources implements the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) that provides scientific information on the health and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild and provides an infrastructure for response to and investigations of marine mammal unusual mortality events. The objective of this work is to evaluate and determine causes of illness and death in free-ranging and stranded live and dead marine mammals to assist with emergency response to marine mammal stranding events and disease investigations. This effort is important to inform researchers on the health, health trends, and diseases of marine mammal populations, and to provide advice to management regarding circumstances or causes of morbidity and mortality to support of NOAA’s mandates for species’ conservation and recovery under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

II. Scope of Work

The NMFS Office of Protected Resources is procuring services from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zoological Pathology Program including diagnostic testing and histopathology services of marine mammal samples for health and disease investigations of stranded and live captured wild marine mammals including from Unusual Mortality Events (UME).

III. Tasks

Diagnostic support for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP).

a. Whole genome sequencing of samples for assessing the pathogenesis and host susceptibility to pathogens in marine mammals as needed;

b. Pathogen (e.g., morbillivirus, Brucella sp., etc.) diagnostic testing including but not limited to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for UME monitoring and wild disease surveillance; and

c. Histopathology services including but not limited to routine processing including trimming of tissues, embedding of tissues, cutting slides, normal H&E stains, special stains, and immunohistochemical stains as needed.

d. Expert consulting services for case reviews, pathogen testing or diagnostics, input on sampling design or testing for UMEs, etc.

e. The contractor shall provide labor services for laboratory technician time.

*See Table 1 for estimated number of services/tests requested.

Table 1 – Estimated services and testing

Services Number of Tests

Salaries and Benefits (Lab technician) NA Whole genome sequencing 3 Pathogen PCR and culture tests (e.g., morbillivirus, Brucella sp., influenza virus, coronavirus, general bacteria or fungal screen, etc.)

Pathogen sequencing 130 Histopathology case 25 Expert consulting (hours) 15

IV. Period of Performance

Performance Period will be from September 30, 2024 through September 29, 2026.

Base Year: September 30, 2024– September 29, 2025 Option Year 1: September 30, 2025 – September 29, 2026

V. Place of Performance

Performance will occur at the contractor’s facility, Zoological Pathology Program 3300 Golf Rd.

Brookfield, IL 60513

VI. Deliverable Schedule

• Results from diagnostic testing including preliminary and final testing will be distributed through email with preliminary interpretation of findings within 15 business days and final interpretation of findings within 60 business days of submission of samples when feasible. The contractor should work with NMFS to determine a reasonable timeline for submission of final results when large batches of archived samples are submitted for diagnostic testing. The results should go to the submitter and to NMFS.

• Results from histopathology analyses including preliminary and final reports will be distributed through email with preliminary interpretation of findings within 30 business days and final interpretation of findings within 60 business days of submission of samples when feasible. The results should go to the submitter and to NMFS.

• Immediate notification if a zoonotic or new pathogen is suspected and when confirmed in samples.

• When requested, tissues and blocks will be returned to the MMHSRP or an archive facility designated by the project point of contact, unless the entire block of tissue has been exhausted (in such case, the MMHSRP shall be notified). Slides, blocks and in some instances tissues may be routinely archived at the diagnostic facility.

VII. Government-Furnished Resources

The Government will not furnish any resources to the Contractor in support of this contract.

VIII. Security Requirements There are no unique security requirements associated with the contract performance beyond Chain-of-Custody requirements listed below. The contractor must have the ability to complete Chain-of-custody (COC) documents associated with microscopic slides, paraffin blocks, wet tissues or frozen tissues. The vendor must have the ability to store COC samples and COC forms in a controlled, limited access storage area for up to 1-2 years until transferred to an archive facility.

IX. Applicable Standards

The contractor must provide veterinary diagnostic laboratory services. The contractor must offer veterinary diagnostic pathology services by certified experts in veterinary pathology (Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists or equivalent) that are qualified to perform a histologic evaluation of tissues and provide causes or contributors of morbidity or mortality.

X. Special Requirements The contractor will work closely with the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program staff in all of these activities. In addition, the contractor will collaborate with the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events, and the UME investigation teams as warranted. The contractor must comply with COC standards for any legal or enforcement cases and provide data with interpretation and appropriate quality control information. Any genetic sequences obtained must be provided to appropriate genetic banking collections.

a. Confidentiality and Data Privacy This contract may require that services contractors have access to Privacy Information. Services contractors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all subjects and materials and may be required to sign and adhere to a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).

b. Intellectual Property Rights All deliverables are the property of the U.S. Government. All documents, analyses, files (digital or other), reports, notes and photos are to be used only by Contractor personnel assigned to this purchase order. Copies are not to be disseminated to anyone outside of the NMFS or to any other contractor personnel without explicit release from the Government.

c. IT Security Access to DOC systems and IT is not required under the contract:

d. Section 508 Compliance

Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) as amended by P.L. 105-220 under Title IV (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998), all Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained and/or used under this contract shall be in compliance with the “Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards” set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the “Access Board”) in 36 CFR Part 1194. The complete text of Section 508 Standards can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/ or at http://www.section508.gov.