Sole Source Notice - Gottingen Minipigs

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USU is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.

USU intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Marshall Farms Group (dba Marshall BioResources), located in North Rose, New York for a two (2) year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for Gottingen minipigs.

These animals will be procured in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12-Commercial Items and FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, to include FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items.

Sole source determination is made in accordance with:

FAR Part 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition

(b) Soliciting from a single source

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

For the past seven (7) years Gottingen minipigs (Marshall BioResources, NY, USA) have been utilized in continued research projects at the University. The Gottingen minipig is the smallest minipig available with limited inbreeding and high quality microbiological and genetic background. They are accepted non-rodent models in pharmacology and toxicology. The animals are barrier bred and raised in special state-of-the-art barrier production facilities, and therefore free from any porcine infectious bacteria, viral or parasitic disease. The Gottingen minipig is specifically bred for research purposes.

The Gottingen strain of minipig has full genetic background available and a large body of background data which can be used for quality control. The many similarities between pigs and humans makes this species an excellent model for disease research and the small size and microbiologically defined health status of the Gottingen makes it a unique swine model for toxicology. The small size is essential to enable animal handling and irradiation, reduce experimental variation due to inhomogeneous exposure to ionizing radiation, and minimize cost for new drug development.

Marshall Farms Group is the only known source that can provide the requested equipment.

This is not a request for quotes and a solicitation package will not be issued. Sources interested in responding to this requirement must be able to provide compelling evidence that they can provide the abovementioned requirement as specified. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contractual action based upon responses received is solely within the discretion of the government. Responses must be received via email (sherri.ori@usuhs.edu) by 3:00 p.m. EST on December 24, 2015.