R -- PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES -- POTENTIAL SOURCES SOUGHT

Notice Date

January 30, 2001

Contracting Office

Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, NIAID, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 1130, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605

ZIP Code

20892-7605

Point of Contact

Barbara Welsh, Contract Specialist (301)496-3878/Karin E. Eddy, Contracting Officer (301)496-3878

Description

The Vaccine Research Center (VRC), National Institutes of Health is developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola and potentially, other viral diseases. Immune responses are tested in small animal models to allow for optimization of the vaccines for future human clinical trials. These studies are conducted in guinea pigs. The VRC requires BSL-2 housing and associated services for 240 guinea pigs for ongoing research, expected to continue for a minimum of 2 years. Requirements include: Providing personnel who have expertise in the housing, maintenance, veterinary care and experimental manipulation of guinea pigs. The following credentials: a. AAALAC International file number b. OPRR Animal Welfare Assurance number c. USDA R Registration (Class "R" Research). 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. NIH Manual 3040-3 Intramural Contracts Involving Animals. e. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC-NIH 1993). f. Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC 1997). Biosafety Level 2: ABSL-2 practices, containment equipment, and facilities are required for housing and performing study techniques on guinea pigs injected with these experimental vaccines. Housing, food, and veterinary care, and performance of procedures which shall include but not be limited to: inoculation of the animals with various biological agents, monitoring of animals for signs of disease, evaluation of new therapies such as antiviral agents and immunotherapies for their effectiveness against viral infection, and collection of specimens as described by protocols furnished by the investigator. Detailed records of all veterinary care and experimental procedures will be maintained. Contractor must be located within a 1 hr drive to the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD in order to allow investigators to have on-site access to the animals, and to facilitate transfer of materials, samples, and animals as needed. If interested, please submit a capability statement, in sufficient detail as to allow for proper evaluation of resources and related experience, including references for past performance. Capability statements should be sent to Barbara Welsh, Contract Specialist, NIAID, Acquisition Management and Operations Branch, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 1130, MSC 7605, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605. Closing date for this Sources Sought Synopsis is 45 days from the issue date of this notice.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010201/RSOL020.HTM (W-030 SN50C2D2)