USDA ARS Animal Care BPA

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service is conducting a Request for Information to establish a multiple-award, nationwide Blanket Purchase Agreement for Animal Care Support Services across over 100 ARS facilities. The procurement seeks comprehensive animal care services including routine animal care, technical support, equipment maintenance, data tracking, and research assistance for diverse species such as mice, rats, rabbits, cattle, chickens, bison, elk, and equine. Contractors must provide qualified personnel with 7-10 years of animal care experience who can pass background checks and comply with strict security protocols, with services ranging from basic animal feeding and cage cleaning to health monitoring, documentation, veterinary procedures, and administrative support. The contract requires three primary labor categories: Animal Care Technician, Cagewash Technician, and Animal Facility Specialist, each with three hierarchical skill levels. The RFI response deadline is October 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM PT, and interested businesses must submit responses through an online form to participate in this market research phase.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and will operate under NAICS code 541940 for Veterinary Services. The anticipated annual contract value is up to $9.9 million, with a total potential value of $49.9 million over five years consisting of one base year and four option periods. The government plans to award a minimum of two contracts to provide services across five regional areas covering facilities in 21 states and Puerto Rico. Work will be performed on-site at ARS facilities through firm-fixed-price arrangements, with contractors required to provide project management, transition support, continuity of operations planning, and ad-hoc support services. The document does not identify any current incumbents or existing contractors for these services.