Statement of Work. Pork Saftey Trichinella surveillance Support.pdf

11/9/2022

STATEMENT OF WORK

Support for ARS Trichinella (Pork Safety) Testing Program Funded by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The Contractor will provide the following services supporting surveillance of PQA Plus pigs using the artificial direction method, as described in APHIS and ARS project plans.

SCOPE OF WORK

General support of the testing program:

• Serve as the primary interface with participating pork packers regarding sampling and scheduling. Report back to packers on program status.

• Serve as interface with APHIS providing data on weekly results, cumulative testing progress and status of packer participation.

• Serve as interface with the National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council regarding packer participation.

Technical support at ARS laboratory:

• Provide general technical support for Trichinella testing including review of lab set-up and testing capacity.

• Conduct weekly, and as needed, calls with testing team and other program participants.

Participate in in-person meetings, as needed, to discuss sample flows, test results, and supply and equipment needs

• Organize logs of submitted samples, recording plant of origin, state of origin, and lot or premise identification number. Maintain records of submissions by packer and by date in both weekly and cumulative formats.

• Troubleshoot samples which lack appropriate identification including any necessary communication with packers.

• Provide bi-weekly summaries of testing results to APHIS and communicate needed adjustments to workflow with APHIS and participating packers.

• As needed, review and troubleshoot technical issues in testing.

• As needed review of suspect results.

REQUIREMENTS

The contractor should have the experience and expertise to accomplish all the above aspects of the scope of work. Specifically, the contractor should have:

1. Demonstrated mastery of the artificial digestion method for testing pork for Trichinella.

2. Demonstrated mastery of systems to manage records of pork sample shipments and test results.

3. Expertise in the criteria establishing a negligible risk production compartment for pork.

4. Recognized expertise in Trichinella surveillance and epidemiology

5. Demonstrated track record of constructive communication with pork producers and regulatory stakeholders.

In addition, the contractor should have experience:

6. Developing various testing methodologies, conducting surveillance programs, writing guidelines and methodologies for national and international publications, such as the National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council.

7. As a scientist and leader conversant in USDA science and food safety regulation

8. Serving in an expert capacity on food safety guidelines for pork safety.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: (All dates are approximate based on Date of Award)

Base Year: December 10, 2022 – December 9, 2023 Option Year One: December 10, 2023 – December 9, 2024 Option Year Two: December 10, 2024 – December 9, 2025 Option Year Three: December 10, 2025 – December 9, 2026 Option Year Four: December 10, 2026 – December 9, 2027

*Note: Option Year(s) will be based on the needs of the government and “Subject to the Availability of funds.”

-End-

11/9/2022