Ear Tagging and Litter Identification Services

The contract requires the application of permanent, durable, and legible ear tags or notches to each piglet for accurate litter identification, enabling complete traceability and seamless linkage to health records as mandated by the research study protocols. This service is critical to maintaining data integrity throughout the study, ensuring that every piglet’s health history, treatments, and observations are correctly associated with its litter and individual identity. The work must adhere to strict standards of clarity and permanence to support ongoing research requirements and regulatory compliance. This subcontract is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 541990, open exclusively to small business concerns as defined by the SBA. It is issued by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, specifically the Ames Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, with performance required in Ames, Iowa, ZIP 50010. The solicitation was posted on July 27, 2026, and responses must be submitted by August 4, 2026, at 4:59 a.m. local time. The nature of the work emphasizes precision and consistency in animal identification systems to support scientifically rigorous and traceable research outcomes.