National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract to the State of Idaho Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Laboratory. The agency intends to execute a 12-month Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract specifically to support response efforts for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in birds, cattle, and swine. This contract award is part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which consists of specialized animal disease diagnostic laboratories. The notice was posted on September 24, 2025, with responses due by October 9, 2025. APHIS emphasizes that this notice is not a request for competitive proposals or quotations.

The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance the nation's capability for ongoing disease surveillance, rapid response to disease events, and communication of diagnostic outcomes to decision makers during animal disease outbreaks. The NAHLN program operates under a broader justification that covers a 10-year period with an estimated annual value of $120 million, though no individual contract will exceed $25 million. Only laboratories that have achieved NAHLN membership approval are eligible to participate in these contracts, and they must meet stringent criteria including annual reviews, participation in surveillance testing, and demonstrated staff proficiency. Organizations interested in joining the NAHLN network may submit requests by mail to the USDA APHIS office in Ames, Iowa, or via email to nahln@aphis.usda.gov. The network serves as a critical component of the nation's biosecurity infrastructure, providing diagnostic capabilities for both routine surveillance and emergency response situations, including potential bioterrorist events.