The Chicago Zoological Society

The Chicago Zoological Society, operating as Brookfield Zoo, is a non-profit organization registered in SAM.gov that provides specialized scientific research, marine mammal services, and educational programming to federal agencies. Located in Brookfield, Illinois, the organization is a tax-exempt corporate entity with expertise in veterinary hospital services and conservation research. Through federal awards, Brookfield Zoo delivers a range of critical services including marine mammal diagnostic services, marine animal health monitoring, scientific research on animal behavior, and educational capacity-building programs for K-12 educators focused on conservation leadership.

In terms of federal contract work, the Chicago Zoological Society has performed marine mammal diagnostic services for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically supporting the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. Their contract work has included purchasing and transferring specialized equipment like satellite tracking tags for dolphin health assessments, working with prime contractors like ABT Global LLC. The organization has received firm fixed-price purchase orders, most notably a $151,744.25 contract for marine mammal diagnostic services, which does not have any specific set-aside designations.

The Chicago Zoological Society has secured multiple significant federal grants across various agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. These grants have supported diverse research and educational initiatives such as studying collective behavior in bottlenose dolphins, building educator capacity for conservation leadership, establishing a centralized zoo radiology database, developing inclusion programs, and conducting animal welfare research. Notable grant awards include a $145,931 NSF grant to research dolphin communication and behavior, a $491,844 IMLS grant to advance conservation education, and a $133,748 NOAA cooperative agreement for small cetacean intervention and post-release monitoring services. The organization has also engaged in sub-grant partnerships with institutions like the University of Illinois and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.