Harlan Teklad Diet - 7017C

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT AND NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Harlan Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN 46250, pursuant to 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This request is for the purchase of Harlan Teklad Diet 7017C (NIH-31). The purchase will provide 2 shipments of 1600 bags per shipment to be delivered in July and August, 2015. The order is required to replenish Rodent Animal Feed Stock in order to feed the rats housed within the Animal Facility at Bldg. 101. The purchase of 2 shipments of 1600 bags will provide diet for approximately 6-8weeks. It is imperative to maintain the same type and source of animal feed to ensure that current research is not impacted negatively. Although the NIH-31 diet is an open formula diet, research conducted at NIH and NIEHS has proven that there are variations of the same type of ingredients between vendors and locations. These variations can and have caused ill effects in on-going research studies which impacted the resulting data making the research data invalid. These results could not be used for comparison to previous studies as well as impacting future study results. Changes in animal feed vendors can also cause non-reproducibility of study results and alter animal responses in ongoing research projects. Changes in vendor would necessitate costly and extensive laboratory testing, the need for investigator approvals and additional documentation for existing research projects. Changes in animal feed could also require a pilot study to ensure that there would be no ill effects with certain research projects. Harlan Laboratories, Inc. is the current provider of the rodent animal maintenance diets used in the Animal Facility at NIEHS and at NIH. To change manufacturers would negatively impact current ongoing studies and research projects. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responses received within 6 days from the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely with the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 6 days of this notice to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, the order will be issued to Harlan Laboratories. NAICS Code/Size is 311119/500 Employees. Award is subject to approval of Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition. This procurement is to be processed using FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures in conjunction with FAR Part 12 Commercial Item Acquisition of Commercial Items. There is no solicitation package available. For any questions regarding this announcement, please contact Dee Lunney via email contact@example.gov.