Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Acquisition of Eight Yearling Dairy or Cross-Breed Dairy Calves for Use in Assessment of growth media type on colonization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle

1.0 Scope of Work

Acquisition of eight yearling dairy or cross-breed dairy calves for use in studying the difference in colonization and shedding of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) when bacteria are grown in two different culture medias known to impact factors involved in attachment of cattle intestinal cells.

2.0 Background

In humans, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are capable of producing a mild diarrheal illness to bloody diarrhea, kidney malfunction, and even death, especially in young children and elderly patients. Yet, STEC does not cause disease in cattle. To limit the chance of foodborne disease, methods to limit or eliminate colonization in cattle are needed. The study will evaluate the method needed to grow STEC for future studies.

Overall, the results will inform future studies using intervention approaches on how to grow STEC prior to inoculation to mirror what is detected in the field.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements

• Breed – must be Holstein or Holstein cross breed calves.

• Age – 12 months of age at the time of delivery. Date of Birth shall to be confirmed prior to animal arrival by Animal Resources Unit.

• Male calves shall be castrated and dehorned (healed) prior to arrival.

• Female calves shall not be bred.

• Calves shall be conventionally raised.

• Calves shall come from a Tuberculosis Free herd.

• Calves shall not have active intestinal parasite infection, animals may be treated prior to shipment.

• Calves shall demonstrate no signs of clinical illness.

• Calves shall have sound legs and good eyes.

• Calves shall be sourced from the same farm.

• Calves shall be sourced from a farm within 100 miles of Ames to limit transport time of the animals on the trailer.

• Calves shall be transported directly to NADC with no other animals in the trailer.

• 8 calves shall be available with comparable size across the group of the same breed

• Calves shall have No Ring Worm on any animal – this must be confirmed by

Technical Point of Contact prior to animal arrival

• Calves shall have No pink eye on any animal - this must be confirmed by Technical

Point of Contact prior to animal arrival

• A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required for all animals.

• Communication with any possible vendor from the time of solicitation to the arrival of animals must be had between Animal Resources Unit in Ames and the possible vendor. This communication may include group or individual animal health status, pre-purchase blood work results, housing and feeding information that could be subject to change within this time frame.

• Technical Point of Contact and the funding unit may exclude calves prior to arrival that do not meet the SOW requirements.

• To obtain 8 animals that meet the SOW specifications; the vendor may need to obtain a group larger than 8 to allow for alternate animals to replace any that become sick or do not meet the health requirements.

• Animals shall be deliverable onsite in one delivery at USDA no later than in June 28, 2024.

• Option for USDA to pick up animals from vendor may be included in quote.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

4.0 Place of Delivery: USDA, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010

5.0 Technical Point of Contact: Denise Chapman: 515-337-7227

denise.chapman@usda.gov