LEASING OF CHIMPANZEES FOR THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH

Release Date:  May 20, 1999

Source Sought For Proposals

Closing Date: June 18, 1999

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

This notice amends a prior announcement published in the April 30, 
1999 issue of the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, under the 
title 'Operation and Maintenance of a Chimpanzee Breeding Colony.' 
 The title is hereby changed to more accurately reflect the nature 
of the requirement. In addition, contrary to previously stated in 
the original announcement, it is not necessary for the offeror to 
operate a chimpanzee breading colony in order to supply the 
required infant chimpanzees.  Offerors with approved and 
accredited chimpanzee holding facilities, as previously detailed, 
are encouraged to respond to this sources sought.  Lastly, for 
this requirement, infant chimpanzees are chimpanzees of less than 
two years of age.  The following is the entire modified text for 
the sources sought.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 
Division of Intramural Research, seeks Capability Statements from 
qualified sources for the purpose of providing on loan to the 
NIAID with approximately 10 hepatitis and respiratory syncytial 
virus free infant chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes of lees than two 
years of age) annually for hepatitis, respiratory virus, and other 
infectious disease research and vaccine development. It is 
expected that the operation and maintenance of a chimpanzee 
holding facility will be necessary for the provision of infant 
chimpanzees.  Any responsible offeror shall possess, or be able to 
acquire, all necessary personnel, housing, facilities, and 
equipment to adequately care for chimpanzees and progeny. The 
animal facilities must be of such design to insure isolation of 
required chimpanzees from other animals known or suspected to be 
infected with any hepatitis virus or other infectious agent or any 
other common primate infection such as tuberculosis. Upon 
termination of studies utilizing chimpanzees, the Government will 
return same to the Contractor. Offerors will be responsible for 
the health and daily care of these chimpanzees for the remainder 
of the chimpanzee's life. Any responsible Offeror should have the 
capability to isolate or appropriately separate most returned 
chimpanzees from the rest of their colony since many animals will 
have been exposed to hepatitis C virus. The Government shall 
establish a one time loan fee schedule for the Government's use of 
the chimpanzees, and a return fee schedule for the endowment that 
will be paid to the Contractor depending on the age and use 
history of the chimpanzee being returned. The Contractor will be 
free to seek additional sources of income or support for the 
chimpanzees once they are returned to their facility by the NIAID.

Responsible Offerors must have an Office for Protection from 
Research Risks Assurance Number and a United States Department of 
Agriculture R Registration. In addition, responsible Offerors must 
have or be able to obtain a Association for Assessment and 
Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International file number. 
The facility in which the animals are housed shall be operated in 
compliance with: a) The Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-544, as 
amended) Rules and Regulations published in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Chapter 
1, Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Parts 1, 2, and 3; b) Public 
Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory 
Animals, updated 1996; c) The Guide for the Care and Use of 
Laboratory Animals, revised 1996; d) Biosafety in Microbiological 
and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC-NIH 1993); e) Occupational Health 
and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC 1997). 
Offerors must be able to document the experience and capabilities 
of professional and technical personnel assigned to this project 
for providing animal care. The professional and technical 
personnel shall have extensive experience in nonhuman primate 
medicine and surgery and infectious disease research. The 
professional staff will also be evaluated with respect to 
specialty board certification by the American College of 
Laboratory Animal Medicine, advanced degrees, and residency 
training in laboratory animal medicine. The technical staff will 
also be evaluated with respect to American Association for 
Laboratory animal Science technician certification. 

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Contract 
Specialist, Ivan Hernandez, at 301-496-3878.  Capability statement 
may be submitted to: Ms. Karin Eddy, Contracting Officer, 
Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, NIAID, Solar Building, 
Room 1C-38, 6003 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD  20892. 


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