Animal Feed and Bedding

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a component of the National Institutes of Health under the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking quotations for animal feed and bedding supplies required for ongoing research operations. Specifically, the procurement calls for NIH 31 Mouse/Rat Sterilizable Diet and Corn Cob 1/8" Bedding, both classified under NAICS code 311119 (Other Animal Food Manufacturing) and PSC code 8710 (Forage and Feed). The solicitation is being conducted as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial items, and all responsible sources are eligible to submit quotations, though the government has indicated its intent to award to the incumbent supplier without full and open competition to avoid introducing variables that could affect ongoing research. Quotations must be submitted by email to Kelly Robinson at Kelly.Robinson@nih.gov by February 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST, and must include completed FAR clauses, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and business size certification. The evaluation will prioritize the incumbent supplier rationale, with the government emphasizing continuity in research operations as the primary selection criterion.

This procurement does not carry a small business set-aside designation, though one government file references a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside designation, creating some ambiguity in the official requirements. The incumbent supplier identified is Envigo RMS LLC of Indianapolis, Indiana, though the solicitation permits all responsible sources to submit competing quotations. The contract is valued for 1,820 bags of sterilizable diet and 2,340 bags of bedding to be delivered weekly on an as-needed basis over a one-year period of performance from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, with a processing fee component also included as a line item. Delivery will be made to the loading dock at NIAAA's facility located at 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852. While specific award values are not disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice, the substantial quarterly volumes and one-year contract term indicate a significant procurement for specialized animal research supplies.