Technical & Logistical Support for NIH Lab Animal Research (LARC III)

See attachment Amendment 2 to RFP.

See attached Amendment 1 to RFP.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting contractual support to provide a wide range of technical and support services required for the proper care and use of laboratory animals for NIH animal programs.  The NIH is one of the world's largest biomedical research organizations and is the focal point for US Government health research initiatives.  It is comprised of 30 different categorical Institutes and Centers (ICs) which conduct research in a variety of scientific disciplines inclujding molecular biology, immunology and infectious disease, hematology and tissue transplantation, genetics, physiology, neurology, virology, bacteriology, pharmacology/toxicology, metabolism, biochemistry, cardiology, ophtalmology, dermatology, and dentistry.

Twenty-two ICs have labotatory animal programs providing research support for NIH intramural scientists.  NIH Laboratory animal programs involve the use of approximately 575,000 square feet of space located primarily in twenty-six buildings on the Bethesda campus and thirteen buildings at the NIH Animal Center in Poolesville, MD.  Remote facilities include four leased facilities in Rockville and Gaithersburg and two Government owned facilities in Baltimore, MD.  All NIH animal programs and facilities comply with applicable laboratory animal regulations, guidelines and standards, and are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

The purpose of this acquisition is to provide a wide range of technical and support services required for the proper care, use and humane treatment of laboratory animals to any NIH IC animal program.  Functions include:  veterinary medicine, animal care and husbandry, veterinary and research technical support, data management, cage and environment sanitation, routine maintenance of animal care equipment, animal transportation, logistical and clerical support.  Support will be provided to projects involving a full range of biomedical research and scientific disciplines.  Continuous high quality animal care shall be provided as set forth in the applicable animal welfare regulations, standards and guidelines.  Animals must be maintained under carefully controlled conditions to minimize research variables and allow the accurate interpretation of laboratory results.  Consequently, it is essential that animal colonies be properly maintained to avoid any situation or condition that might unnecessarily adversely affect animal health and ongoing research.  The Contractor shall maintain strict adherence to all applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The procurement action will be partially set-aside for small business and SDVOSB at the task order level.  Multiple, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity task order type contracts are anticipated.  The contracts are expected to be awarded for one sixty (60) month base period.  Individual task orders containing options are expected.  Tasks of low to moderate technical complexity with an IGCE of $250,000 or less will be set aside for small businesses.  Tasks of low to moderate technical complexity with an IGCE of$100,000 or less will be set aside for SDVOSB competition.  The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541940, Size Standard $7.0M, Veterinary Services.

Proposals may be addressed to the following address:  National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions-OLAO, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 529-X, Attention:  Kathleen M. Kathman, Esq., Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7663.  NOTE:  When hand delivering or using FedEx, UPS and other courier services, you MUST use the following City, State, and Zip Code:  Rockville, MD  20852.

Facsimiles of the proposal(s) will NOT be accepted.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting contractual support to provide a wide range of technical and support services required for the proper care and use of laboratory animals for NIH animal programs.  The NIH is one of the world's largest biomedical research organizations and is the focal point for US Government health research initiatives.  It is comprised of 30 different categorical Institutes and Centers (ICs) which conduct research in a variety of scientific disciplines inclujding molecular biology, immunology and infectious disease, hematology and tissue transplantation, genetics, physiology, neurology, virology, bacteriology, pharmacology/toxicology, metabolism, biochemistry, cardiology, ophtalmology, dermatology, and dentistry.

Twenty-two ICs have labotatory animal programs providing research support for NIH intramural scientists.  NIH Laboratory animal programs involve the use of approximately 575,000 square feet of space located primarily in twenty-six buildings on the Bethesda campus and thirteen buildings at the NIH Animal Center in Poolesville, MD.  Remote facilities include four leased facilities in Rockville and Gaithersburg and two Government owned facilities in Baltimore, MD.  All NIH animal programs and facilities comply with applicable laboratory animal regulations, guidelines and standards, and are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

The purpose of this acquisition is to provide a wide range of technical and support services required for the proper care, use and humane treatment of laboratory animals to any NIH IC animal program.  Functions include:  veterinary medicine, animal care and husbandry, veterinary and research technical support, data management, cage and environment sanitation, routine maintenance of animal care equipment, animal transportation, logistical and clerical support.  Support will be provided to projects involving a full range of biomedical research and scientific disciplines.  Continuous high quality animal care shall be provided as set forth in the applicable animal welfare regulations, standards and guidelines.  Animals must be maintained under carefully controlled conditions to minimize research variables and allow the accurate interpretation of laboratory results.  Consequently, it is essential that animal colonies be properly maintained to avoid any situation or condition that might unnecessarily adversely affect animal health and ongoing research.  The Contractor shall maintain strict adherence to all applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The procurement action will be partially set-aside for small business and SDVOSB at the task order level.  Multiple, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity task order type contracts are anticipated.  The contracts are expected to be awarded for one sixty (60) month base period.  Individual task orders containing options are expected.  Tasks of low to moderate technical complexity with an IGCE of $250,000 or less will be set aside for small businesses.  Tasks of low to moderate technical complexity with an IGCE of$100,000 or less will be set aside for SDVOSB competition.  The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541940, Size Standard $7.0M, Veterinary Services.

Proposals may be addressed to the following address:  National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions-OLAO, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 529-X, Attention:  Kathleen M. Kathman, Esq., Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7663.  NOTE:  When hand delivering or using FedEx, UPS and other courier services, you MUST use the following City, State, and Zip Code:  Rockville, MD  20852.

Facsimiles of the proposal(s) will NOT be accepted.

The solicitation will be issued on or about fifteen (15) calendar days after publication with closing date thirty (30) calendar days after issue date.  Requests for the above solicitation may be requested via telephone (301-435-8447) or email (kathmank@od.nih.gov).  Alternatively, the solicitation will be made available on FedBizOpps.