Statement of Work.docx

United States Department of Agriculture

Research, Education, and Economics Agricultural Research Service

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

SUPPORT SERVICES

FOR

Research Animal Services

AT THE

BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA), AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (ARS)

RESEARCH ANIMAL SERVICES

10300 Baltimore Avenue, Building 209, BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 July 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 BACKGROUND

1.1.1 The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) chief scientific In-house research agency. The primary mission is to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans, from field to table. The Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (The Center) is the largest center, based on the number of research laboratories, within ARS. The Center houses about 800 federal employees, and three independent centers: the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), the Beltsville Human Nutrition Center (BHNRC), and the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA). BARC consists of 6,500 acres that houses facilities for laboratories, support services and animals used in research. Research at The Center is diverse and includes animal production and protection; crop production and protection; nutrition, food safety and quality; and natural resources preservation.

Operating Services are required for the Research Animal Services (RAS), Multispecies Unit (MSU) to support BARC’s research. The Contractor shall provide service 7 days per week including weekends to provide general animal caretaking (i.e. breed, feed, water, move, clean, maintain habitat conditions, monitor, perform research procedures, maintain animal records) and facility management and upkeep. The contractor personnel must have prior experience and expertise in this field. BARC intends to issue a firm-fixed price contract. Period of performance will be one (1) year initial period with four (4) one year option years.

1.2 SUMMARY OF EXPECTATIONS

1.2.1 The service provider shall meet all requirements and responsibilities defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS). The overall impression and appearance of the service provider's staff, facilities, and equipment shall convey a professional image. The service provider shall ensure quality work performance In Accordance With (IAW) all federal, state, and local laws as well as all applicable UDSA standards and guidelines. The service provider shall perform the requirements of this PWS in an environmentally acceptable manner consistent with all federal, state, and local laws.

The service provider is expected to use and stay abreast of ever increasing sophistication of instrumentation to aid researchers who work in state-of-the-art laboratories and animal facilities. Policies, guidelines, and management practices must be responsive to research needs and allow the performed research to be consistent with research protocols. The service provider is encouraged to streamline administrative procedures and products to increase the quality of information and improve the efficiency of its utility and communication. Cooperation and flexibility are expected from the service provider to adapt to changes and unexpected needs that commonly occur in the research environment. This cannot be emphasized enough in describing the importance with which the BARC regards the requirements contained in this PWS and the responsiveness of the service provider.

1.2.2 Contractor shall provide professional and customer-oriented service consistent with quality service that is responsive, flexible, innovative, and cost effective. The operators providing the service must be trained in the operation of a research animal facility and able to communicate effectively with government officials, peers, subordinates, and visitors in an effective manner consistent with the BARC mission. Expectations include:

· Provision of animal caretaking services (i.e., breed, feed, water, move, clean, maintain habitat conditions, monitor, perform research procedures, maintain animal records) to the Research Animal Services seven days per week.

· Possession of specialized knowledge and experience in the handling and care of livestock used in agricultural and/or biomedical research.

· Understanding of animal disease, associated risks and the use protective measures for humans and animals. This includes the donning of scrubs or uniforms and/or personnel protective equipment (PPE) performing services.

· Adherence to BARC’s security and biosecurity procedures located on the BARC staff only website

· Familiarity with active animal use research protocols (such as animals, locations, and any specialized requirements) in the animal facilities which are located electronically in animal management software or hard copy notebook in the unit supervisor’s office.

· Informing veterinarians and Principal Investigators (PIs) of signs of clinical illness, distress, observable research effects, or any other problems.

· Ability to communicate using scientific and medical vocabulary.

· Contractor ensures service providers have adjudicated background investigations per the Agency’s policies.

· Coordinate and implement animal care and health management programs with the Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO; government employee) and researchers to provide general animal care in a manner that produces healthy and productive animals, meets research project needs, and is IAW publications listed in Appendix A.

· Support animal research on such projects as genetic improvement, animal health, reproduction and development, food safety, waste management, and human nutrition.

· Maintain confidentiality of all animal research projects.

· Provide information and assistance to researchers and veterinarians to achieve and maintain compliance with established policies and procedures in Appendix A for ARS and BARC.

· Attend basic American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) training and prefer to possess AALAS certification to supervise work with research and production animals.

· Provide routine animal care (husbandry, nutrition, enrichment, hygiene and record keeping); animal handling, restraint, standard laboratory animal procedures, technical support, veterinary support, and program support of animal health surveillance, as required by the contract directives.

· Responsible to place facility and equipment work requests.

· Conducts the washing, sanitation and cleaning of penning or caging as well as equipment.

· Responsible for general maintenance of animal facilities and all related equipment. General maintenance is defined as cleaning, sanitation and regular upkeep of the facilities, animal crates, feed bins and any other animal handling equipment.

· Maintain breeding programs, quarantine areas and specialized animal holding areas.

1.3 SCOPE OF WORK

1.3.1 The Contractor shall provide operating services to the MSU facilities. Animal research services require the use of swine in a research and agricultural setting. The BARC animal research mission involves working with swine as required by research protocols. The animal population may vary from day to day and no animals at present. The MSU swine facilities currently consists of 203D and 203. The BARC requires services to provide general caretaking (i.e. breed, feed, water, move, clean maintain habitat conditions, monitor, perform research procedures, maintain animal records, etc.) of animals and a facility (cleaning, stocking, etc.) used for agricultural and biomedical research.

The contractor will perform work on site regularly at the MSU, 8 hours per day during BARC core hours M-F (see section 1.5.2), with reduced tasks (i.e., feed, water, clean habitat, perform research procedures, maintain animal records, etc.) on the weekend. Delegation of tasks provided under the service contract is the responsibility of the Contractor. If no animals in the swine facilities (203 complex) due to renovation or depopulation, contractors shall perform animal husbandry activities (see section 2.2 2 General list of Animal Caretaking duties) for poultry and/or sheep and goats within Research Animal Services.

If there is a requirement change, the BARC will notify contracting for guidance and provide a 30-day written notice for a requirement of change in the level of work if approved by Contracting Officer.1.3.2 Building 203 east wing currently consists of seven large floor pens for grow-finish and breeding and gestation phases, and nursery pens a maximum capacity of approximately 100 swine. Building 203 east wing capacity and number pens will vary based on upcoming renovation. There is also a microbiome or barrier room with 36 raised pens for weaned pigs. In addition, the metabolic room is equipped with eight cages to perform metabolic studies. Building 203D has 20 pre-farrowing crates. Buildings 203 and 203D are equipped with automated water and feeding systems, and a manure disposal station. Both buildings can accommodate approximately 200 animals.

1.3.3 Specific services required are outlined in Section 2.

1.4 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

1.5 OPERATING CONDITIONS

Independence Day

Other days or partial days designated by Federal stature, Executive Order, Presidential Proclamation or the Beltsville Center Director.

1.5.4 The BARC cannot shut down operations pertaining to animal care or research protocols that are too important to be skipped or delayed. It is mandatory that these operations continue weekends, holidays, during severe weather events, disasters, terrorism level changes, and budgetary shutdowns. Any BARC closure announcement shall not pertain to the service provider unless confirmed by the service provider’s on-site designated representative.

1.6 QUALITY

1.7 PHYSICAL SECURITY

1.8 SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL

1.8.1 COMPLIANCE

SECTION 2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

2.1 SERVICE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

2.1.1 The service provider shall provide the BARC with the following support services for animal research: animal caretaking and facility management. The service provider shall provide the overall management and administrative support. The service provider shall develop and provide guidelines, policies, and managerial expertise to provide animal care and health management programs efficient and responsive to the BARC mission. Unless otherwise indicated, the service provider shall provide support services for animal research specifically described in the following list for the BARC. The service provider staff shall follow strict entry/exit procedures to prevent cross contamination while performing these support services. Directives governing the performance of required services are identified in Appendix A, Publications.

2.2 PROVIDE ANIMAL CARETAKING

2.2.1 Summary of animal caretaking:

· Perform daily animal health checks (365 days per year) and reports any abnormal conditions of the animals to the veterinary and research staff.

· Observe pens for overcrowding, flooding, and fighting, and separates animals appropriately.

· Receive, inspect, transfer, identify, and properly houses incoming animal shipments.

· Provide food and water to animals IAW research protocols and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs).

· Avoid feeding deviations that could potentially result in invalid research results as well as significant losses in research time and taxpayer dollars.

· Ensure the integrity of equipment used while performing husbandry duties to properly maintain animal caging and support equipment.

· Care for animals that are enrolled in microbiome studies that require special care and handling to avoid contaminating animals and humans.

· Assist others in maintaining the facility in a safe condition.

· Assist in feed mixing.

· Help establish schedules and diets per size, age, life cycle, experimental protocol or medical condition.

· Help with preventative protocols, heat checks, pregnancy checks, farrowing and artificial insemination of sows.

· Assist with tail docking, piglet care and vaccination of herd according to BARC SOP’s.

· Restrain, handle, and assist in the euthanasia of animals in a humane manner IAW the current IACUC requirements and federal guidelines listed in Appendix A.

· Manage genetically modified animals IAW publications listed in Appendix A to prevent inadvertent breeding or escape.

· Properly identify, classify, manage, treat, store, and dispose of bio-hazardous waste along with animal waste IAW research protocols and publications listed in Appendix A.

2.2.2 General list of Animal Caretaking duties:

· Daily Tasks

· Animal care:

· Daily animal checks

· Cage or pen cleaning and sanitation, provision of feed and water (including special diets and medicated water)

· Correcting over-crowded cages (weaning, separation of piglets)

· Euthanasia

· Perform minor medical treatments, as directed by veterinary staff (i.e., applying ointments)

· Document daily mandatory duties performed by entering completion status on the daily checklist maintained at the MSU.

· Maintain appropriate logs, forms, and animal identification information. Keeps required logs recording information such as:

· General condition of animals

· Room environment (e.g., penning condition, temperature, humidity)

· Date of birth, condition at birth, and parentage

· Animal inventory and census sheets

· Mortality data

· Animal weights as needed basis

· Feed consumed and refused

· Purchases of feed, bedding materials

· Tasks as needed

· Collecting census data

· Cage washing and sanitation

· Stocking PPE stations

· Sanitizing floors and other surfaces as detailed in SOPs

· Emptying trash

· Receiving animals and placing in pens

· Transferring animals between facilities as directed by VS

· Packing animal carcasses and waste and transport to incinerator

· Moving shipments of bedding, feed, etc. from loading dock to animal facilities

· Conducting quality assurance (QA) sampling and testing for water, environment, cage sanitizing equipment

· Monitoring inventory, preparing lists for product ordering

· Checking live and kill traps daily, placing rodent and insect traps, providing feedback on overall effectiveness of pest control program.

· Activate emergency shower and eye wash stations weekly to verify proper operation and document the observations according to the RAS SOP’s .

· Observe portable fire extinguishers monthly for the following and document the observations according to the RAS SOP’s,

· The extinguisher is physically present and mounted or stored.

· The extinguisher is fully charged (that is, the arrow, if a gauge is attached, is in the green zone).

· The tamper seal is unbroken.

· The extinguisher appears undamaged.

· The extinguisher is accessible, and the inspection tag is less than a year-old. Routine examination of incoming animals and consultation with veterinarian

· Reporting of animal welfare or non-compliance issues to veterinarian

2.3 PROVIDE FACILITY MANAGEMENT

· Maintain equipment, animal housing areas/pens and support areas, and habitat conditions IAW publications listed in Appendix A with respect to sanitation, temperatures, ventilation, and environmental enrichment to minimize health problems and meet animal care guidelines and research requirements.

· Promptly respond within three business days to deficiencies noted in Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Inspection Reports.

· Prepare according to manufacturer’s instructions and use disinfecting chemicals for sanitation and decontamination procedures to maintain the housing facilities (rooms, hallways, equipment) in a clean and sanitary condition at all times or by frequency as outlined in the SOP: Swine Management Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for the MSU.

· Maintains clean and organized work areas.

· Promptly reports abnormal conditions or out of range environmental parameters in animal rooms and other emergencies to Facility Services (FS), COR, and/or Veterinary Services (VS), according to the SOP’s. Normal environmental parameter ranges will be provided in facility specific SOP’s.

· Observe stringent and established sanitary, safety, and quarantine procedures and health guidelines as set forth by VS and the IACUC and located on the BARC staff only site.

· Maintain logs recording test results and maintenance records to ensure that equipment is functioning properly:

· autoclaves

· automatic watering system

· Feed mixer

· Record emergency eyewash station, emergency shower, and fire extinguisher functionality in facility safety logs according to the facility SOP’s and available for review by Safety, Occupational Health Unit (SOHU).

· Conducts tasks such as cleaning, sanitizing, and/or disinfect the facility, caging, racks, and carts, and manure dump stations.

· Drafts or updates Standard Operating Procedures in consultation with VS and the IACUC.

· Coordinates imports and exports of animals, including shipping arrangements.

· Trouble-shoots equipment and facility problems and/or calls responsible service people after consultation with the COR.

· Communicates as needed with investigators, veterinarian, COR and administration.

· Assists in regulatory reporting (adverse event and/or annual reports to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACi) and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and facility inspections.

SECTION 3 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS

SECTION 4 SERVICE PROVIDER FURNISHED ITEMS

Note #1 The Contractor shall follow the procedures below for each Contract employee:

a. Submit individual employee suitability packages to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) within 15 days after contract award and await the results of the adjudication. The documents required for submission are a current personal Resume and Person Model II Sheet. The last two documents shall be provided by the Government at time of award. The suitability process can take one to six months if all forms are legible and complete. However, preliminary suitability is usually determined within a week of the paperwork submission. The Contractor will be notified whenever there is a preliminary unfavorable adjudication decision so that the Contractor can determine how to proceed with the employee.

b. All federal agencies are required to implement Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and must follow the minimum background investigation requirements of National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI) or other suitability or national security investigation prior to issuing a government identification credential. After the Contract employee receives favorable suitability adjudication, the employee will receive additional instructions to start the process to receive a US Department of Agriculture LincPass identification card.

c. If the suitability investigation finds a Contract employee unsuitable to work on federal property, the Contractor shall be advised immediately and such employee cannot work or be assigned to work under the contract, and the Contractor shall in turn immediately remove the affected employee from the contract. Under no circumstances shall a Contract employee who has received a notice of unfavorable (unsuitable) adjudication work under this services contract. This requirement also applies to Contract employees whose unfavorable adjudication is pending appeal. Disqualifying information includes but is not limited to the following:

NOTE: The Contractor is advised to only submit security packages on suitable prospective employees whose integrity, credit, and character meet the suitability requirements of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS may consider an applicant unsuitable if the applicant fails to truthfully represent their credit history; make no attempt to pay debts; and whose character is questionable because of serious arrests, illegal drug use, or abuse of alcohol.

SECTION 5 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Service provider performance adheres to quality work

Not more than 1 violation or deficiency in work quality per month

Implement animal care and health management programs to provide general animal care that produces healthy and productive animals, meets research needs, and is IAW regulations provided in the Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR), the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching 4th Edition, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

-Zero tolerance for errors that damage or destroy research -No mistreatment of animals -100% proper animal handling according to the facility SOP’s, federal, and state regulations.

-Not more than 2 valid documented customer complaints per month pertaining to general animal care and compliance with research protocols and mandatory guidelines

Maintain animal housing and support areas and habitat conditions to minimize health problems and meet animal care guidelines and research requirements.

Not to exceed 10 noted deficiencies in semi- annual IACUC Inspection Reports that pertain specifically to sanitation, temperature controls, air exchange parameters, and environmental enrichment for animals

Occupational health and safety: Annual physical assessment

Annual clearance by occupational specialist for all personal

APPENDIX A: PUBLICATIONS AND AUTHORITIES

THIS TABLE INCLUDES ALL DIRECTIVES / REGULATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW OR STATUTE, PERTAIN DIRECTLY TO SAFETY OF RESOURCES OR PESONNEL, AND DETAIL MANDATORY PROCESSES. The service provider shall create, maintain, and dispose of Government required records required by provisions of mandatory publications listed in this table

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center 10300 Baltimore Avenue Building 209, BARC East Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350 USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer image1.png image2.png image3.gif