REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITIVEDIVESTITURE OF AIR FORCE OWNED CHIMPANZEES AND FACILITIES

 

NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 17, May 23, 1997

 

P.T. 34



Keywords:

  RESEARCH RESOURCES 

  Animal Breed. & Facil., Scientific 

  Animal Research Policy 

 

Department of the Air Force

 

NOTE:  Under Section 2843, National Defense Authorization Act of FY

1997, the U.S. Congress authorized the Secretary of the Air Force to

Seek assistance from the National Institutes of Health in the

transfer of ownership of chimpanzees located at the Holloman AFB,

Alamogordo, NM.

 

A. INTRODUCTION

 

The United States Air Force intends to divest its interests in the

primate research complex (PRC) located at Holloman AFB, NM, and the

Air Force owned chimpanzees located at or managed from the PRC.  The

Air Force seeks non-binding letters of interest on the opportunity

described below.  Letters of interest or facsimiles in response to

this announcement should be submitted by June 10, 1997.

 

B. OBJECTIVE

 

This request seeks to obtain preliminary information from

individuals/organizations who may be seriously interested in

participating in competitive negotiations to acquire the Air Force

resources described below.  Following receipt of responses to this

request, the Air Force will issue a solicitation requesting

competitive proposals from interested individuals/organizations.  The

request for proposals (RFP) will contain definitive requirements

governing the participation of individuals/organizations, including

standards of care and use of the chimpanzees and the PRC.

 

C. DESCRIPTION OF OPPORTUNITY

 

Pursuant to Section 2842 of the National Defense Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 1997, Public Law 104-201, the Secretary of the Air

Force may dispose of all right, title, and interest of the United

States in and to the PRC at Holloman Air Force Base.  The disposal

may include the chimpanzees owned by the Air Force that are housed at

or managed from the PRC.  The Air Force intends to achieve this

divestment by disposing of its interests in some or all of the

resources of the PRC and all of the Air Force owned chimpanzees as

described below:

 

1.  The Air Force intends to transfer title in all Air Force owned

chimpanzees (approximately 145 chimpanzees) that are managed from or

housed at the PRC, subject to current lease agreement, to one or more

recipients.

 

2.  The Air Force intends for the transfer of ownership of the

chimpanzees to be irrevocable.

 

3.  The Air Force intends to offer its interest in the PRC.  However,

individuals/organizations are encouraged to propose to use their own

facilities.

 

4. The Air Force does not intend to transfer title of the underlying

real property on which the PRC is located.

 

D.  CONDITIONS OF DIVESTMENT

 

Pursuant to Section 2842 of the National Defense Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 1997, Public Law 104-201--

 

1.  Each recipient of any chimpanzee(s) must-

 

a.  utilize such chimpanzees only for scientific research or medical

research purposes; or

 

b.  retire and provide adequate care for such chimpanzees.

 

2.  Each recipient of chimpanzees or PRC facilities shall take such

chimpanzees or PRC facilities subject to any existing leases or other

encumbrances at the time of the divestment.

 

3.  The divestment of interest of the United States in the PRC shall

be at no cost to the Air Force and the Air Force will not pay for the

divestment of the Air Force-owned chimpanzees.

 

E.  ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

 

1.  Recipients of chimpanzees will be subject to certain regulatory

requirements, particularly those imposed under the Animal Welfare

Act.

 

2.  Some of the chimpanzees have undergone previous experimental

research.

 

3.  The preferred goal of this opportunity is to transfer ownership

of all the chimpanzees to one or more recipients.  The Air Force

prefers that the chimpanzee social groups be maintained, but, will

consider transferring ownership of fewer than all, in a social group,

to a recipient.

 

F.  INFORMATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

 

1.  Expected Request for Proposal (RFP) Release Date: on or about

June 24, 1997.

 

2.  Cost:  The government will consider waiving compensation in

transferring ownership of the chimpanzees to suitable recipients.

 

3.  Transfer of Excess PRC Property: The Air Force will consider

providing related government owned property to the recipients of the

chimpanzees.

 

4.  The Air Force reserves the right to exercise unilateral

discretion in evaluating credentials and capabilities of interested

individuals/organizations and in deciding whether to invite any

individual/organization to participate further in the process.

 

G. LETTERS OF INTEREST

 

Interested individuals/organizations should submit letters of

interest no later than June 10, 1997, containing the following

preliminary information:

 

1.  Your name, address, phone number, facsimile number, and E-mail

address.

 

2.  Indicate on what basis you will participate, e.g., individual, a

corporation, a partnership or teaming arrangement, a non-profit

organization, a governmental agency, a university, a zoo, etc.

 

3.  Indicate any partnership or teaming arrangement with another

individual/organization.  If so, provide the name and address of the

individual(s)/organization(s).

 

4.  Indicate the number of chimpanzees that you might be interested

in and the intended use of the animals.

 

5.  Indicate whether you intend to relocate any chimpanzees received

in this action to a location outside the United States.

 

6.  Indicate whether you are a United States citizen (including

corporations, etc.).  If you are not a United States citizen,

indicate your nationality.

 

7.  Indicate if you desire a site visit to the PRC.

 

H.  NOTICE REGARDING RELOCATION OF CHIMPANZEES OUTSIDE U.S.

 

Individuals/organizations intending to relocate chimpanzees outside

the United States are asked to immediately notify the Chimpanzee

Divestment Officer below upon deciding to respond to this

announcement.  Such individuals/organizations should be aware that

restrictions may apply that could preclude their participation in

this divestment process and competition.

 

I.  PUBLIC MEETING

 

The Air Force plans to conduct a public meeting on a date to be

determined.  The purpose of this meeting will be to share basic

information regarding the divestment of the chimpanzees and the PRC

facilities being offered.  This meeting is not a forum for discussion

of policy regarding the utilization of chimpanzees for research or

for retirement.  Those issues are not relevant to the divestiture

decision since Congress has directed that the recipients of any

chimpanzees must utilize them for either medical and scientific

research or for retirement.  Those desiring to attend the meeting

should contact the Air Force Public Affairs Office for the details of

the meeting.  The Air Force Public Affairs Office can be contacted

at:

 

SAF/PAM

1690 AF Pentagon

Washington, DC  20330-1690

 

The Air Force Public Affairs Office can be contacted by facsimile at

(703) 614-7486.  Those who do not expect to attend, but wish to

receive the materials distributed at the public meeting may request a

copy from SAF/PAM.  Attendance at the public meeting by interested

individuals/organizations is encouraged but is not required to

participate in the divestment.

 

J.  POINTS OF CONTACT

 

1.  Letters of Interest related to the proposed divestment should be

directed to:

 

Human Systems Center

R&D Contracting Division, ATTN: Chimpanzee Divestment Officer

Building 626, 8005 9th Street

Brooks Air Force Base, TX  78235-5353

 

Letters of Interest related to the proposed divestment may also be

sent by facsimile to the Chimpanzee Divestment Officer at (210) 536-

4253

 

2.  Request for information about the Public Meeting should be

directed to:

 

SAF/PAM

1690 AF Pentagon

Washington, DC  20330-1690

 

Request for information about the Public Meeting may also be sent by

facsimile (703) 614-7486.

 

.


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