National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Contracts, OCM, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7540, Room 6E01, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7540

A -- DEVDELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A LONG-TERM F344 RAT COLONY SOL NIH-AG-96-12 DUE 051296 POC Contact: Jonathan Ferguson, Contract Specialist, 301/496-4487, Sherley M. Mizzell, Contract Officer, 301/496-4487. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is soliciting proposals for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and distributing a standing colony of aged F344 rats for the use by investigators in studies of aging. A nine year award is anticipated. Among other qualifications, the offeror shall: 1) Maintain facilities for development and maintenance of the F344 rat strains required in this project, 2) demonstrate experience in breeding, rearing, maintaining, and distributing of animal colonies, and 3) demonstrate awareness of problems and complications likely to be observed in the conduct of this project. This animal colony shall be divided into two approximately equal, separate segments. Each animal segment shall be maintained behind totally independent barriers, specific pathogen and parasite-free for the nine year period. The nine year period shall be divided into three phases. Phase I will primarily be the developmental phase, Phase II is the colony's operational phase and Phase III is the close-out period for the colony. The solicitation will be available approximately 15 calendar days from the date of this publication and proposals will be due 45 calendar days thereafter. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the NIA. Requests for the solicitation must be made in writing and reference the RFP number stated above. Only one copy of the RFP will be sent to any requesting organization. (0079)

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