Request for Information (RFI): Standards for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Notice Number: NOT-OD-06-011

Update:

Key Dates
Release Date: November 9, 2005

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Office of Scientific Affairs, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/OER.htm)

The National Institutes of Health is exploring the need to update the laboratory animal welfare standards of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) . As a first step, the Office of Scientific Affairs (OSA) is seeking to identify new scientific information that might warrant NIH issuing a contract for a new or updated edition of the Guide .

Background

The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy, https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf) incorporates by reference the latest edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats/). The Guide was initially published in 1963, and revised in 1965, 1968, 1972, 1978, 1985, and 1996. The purpose of the Guide , as indicated in the Preface of the 1996 edition, is to assist institutions in caring for and using animals in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. Further, recommendations of the Guide are based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices that have proved to be consistent with high-quality humane care and use.

All domestic NIH awardee institutions conducting research with live, vertebrate animals must have an approved Animal Welfare Assurance. Institutions are further required by PHS Policy to use the Guide as a basis for developing an institutional animal care and use program for activities involving animals. At least once every six months the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must evaluate the institution's program for care and use of animals and animal facilities using the Guide . In reviewing research projects the IACUC is required to determine that the project is consistent with the Guide unless acceptable justification for a departure is presented. Serious deviation from the provisions of the Guide must be promptly reported to OLAW.

Our intent is to solicit new scientifically valid information, methods or practices, published data or other advances in the humane care and use of laboratory animals, in order to assess the need for updating the standards in the current 1996 Guide .

Information Requested

NIH is interested in new information and knowledge related to the four chapters of the 1996 Guide : institutional policies and responsibilities; animal environment, housing, and management; veterinary medical care; and physical plant. In particular, new scientific information related to the following topics is solicited:

Interested parties, individuals, or organization may submit any of the following:

This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or the Government's use of such information. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or the Government's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. Responses maybe disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. Any proprietary information should be so marked.

Responses should be identified with RFI No. NOT-OD-06-011. The deadline for submittal is February 28, 2006 . Please submit three (3) copies of your response to:

Dr. Margaret Snyder
Director, Office of Scientific Affairs
Office of Extramural Research, OD, NIH
6705 Rockledge I, Suite 4184 , MSC 7983
Bethesda , MD 20892-7983
For FedEx or courier, use: Rockville , MD 20817
Email responses will also be accepted at: ScientificAffairs@od.nih.gov


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