National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract to the State of Idaho Department of Agriculture Animal Health Laboratory. This notice pertains to a 12-month Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract that will primarily support the agency's response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks in birds, cattle, and swine. The Idaho laboratory is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which serves as a coordinated network of animal disease diagnostic laboratories providing disease surveillance and emergency response capabilities. APHIS posted this notice on September 22, 2025, with a due date of October 7, 2025. The contract falls under veterinary services and professional veterinary/animal care support categories.

The primary purpose of this sole-source award is to ensure rapid diagnostic testing capabilities during animal health emergencies, particularly for highly pathogenic avian influenza responses. According to the attached justification document, APHIS maintains a broader NAHLN program with an estimated annual value of $120,000,000 across multiple laboratories, though individual contracts are capped at $25,000,000. This current notice is not a request for competitive proposals, as only laboratories with approved NAHLN membership can perform the specialized assays required for these critical testing services. Organizations interested in joining the NAHLN network may submit requests to participate by contacting the NAHLN Program Office in Ames, Iowa, either by mail or email at nahln@aphis.usda.gov. The network's capability extends beyond routine surveillance to include response capacity for potential bioterrorist events and emerging health threats, making membership limited to pre-vetted and approved state and university laboratories.