National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC)

This is a presolicitation/notice of intent to sole source for services prepared in accordance with FAR Part 15. It is the intent of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) to procure professional services on a sole source basis from MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, TX. to operate and maintain the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC), and to provide for the lifetime care of chimpanzees that have been used, or were bred or purchased for use, in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, or other agencies of the Federal Government. This is in accordance with the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act passed by Congress in 2000. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541940-Veterinary Services. Background: For over 40 years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has supported a facility at the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC), MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, in Bastrop, TX to care for NIH-owned chimpanzees. The program previously supported biomedical research on chimpanzees but ceased biomedical/invasive research in 2012. Since NIH's announcement on November 18, 2015 eliminating biomedical research on NIH-owned and-supported chimpanzees, the CCC has continued to provide care for the chimpanzees residing at their facility until those animals that could be transferred to the Federal Sanctuary were retired. Chimpanzees that were deemed unable to relocate to the Federal Sanctuary due to a high probability that - relocation would severely and irreversibly accelerate deterioration of the chimpanzee's physical and behavioral health (Announcement_of_Agency_Decision-Relocation_of_At-Risk_Chimpanzees) remain at the CCC. The NIH requires a Contractor to operate and maintain the facility at the CCC and care for the NIH-owned chimpanzees. Maintenance of chimpanzees is required; no research is allowed. Purpose/Objectives: The objective of this acquisition is to award a contract to support a facility at the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC), MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, in Bastrop, TX to care for NIH-owned chimpanzees. The primary purpose of the CCC is to provide for the care of chimpanzees that have been used, or were bred or purchased for use, in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other agencies of the Federal Government. Contractor Requirements, Tasks and Deliverables: The Contractor shall furnish all the necessary labor, materials, supplies, equipment, resources and services necessary to perform the work set forth in the statement of work (SOW) and to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, protocols and procedures. Contractor requirements, tasks and deliverables are specified in the attached SOW. Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be a Base Period of twelve (12) months from date of award with four option years. Place of Performance: The work to be performed under the resultant contract shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. Sole Source Justification: MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas is a public academic institution that is uniquely qualified to provide the services, property, facilities and resources required to accommodate 45 to 55 aged animals with disease complications and comorbidities associated with aging, including cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes, hepatitis, arthritis, obesity, and uterine masses. There are high risks associated with the care of these animals as most of the chimpanzees have been exposed to viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or both. The chimpanzees are located at a facility owned and operated by MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas. Medical management of this population of chimpanzees with co-morbidities requires specialized knowledge of chimpanzee physiology and behavior. In addition, the biohazard concerns related to the infection status of the chimpanzees requires knowledge and expertise in safe handling of bloodborne pathogens. Drawing upon more than four decades of animal care and management experience in dedicated service to support the care and welfare of the chimpanzee facility at the CCC, MD Anderson Cancer Center staff possess the site-specific knowledge and expertise required to humanely and safely care for this unique chimpanzee colony unmatched by any other organization. The ability to locate experienced and knowledgeable veterinary staff to care for chimpanzees is increasingly difficult due to the declining population of domestic chimpanzees, which have been classified as an endangered species. Few individuals are pursuing expertise in chimpanzees due to the decrease in the demand for such expertise. The long-term relationship between the aged chimpanzees and the CCC veterinarians and care staff provides continuity for the chronic and complex medical management of these chimpanzees. To change personnel during this delicate time of treatment would result in increased risk to the chimpanzees as well as a long transition period to adjust chimpanzees to a new staff. The chimpanzees have become attached to their caretakers and changes in care staff will cause increased stress in the chimpanzees resulting in negative impact on their health. Medical management of the individual chimpanzees requires extensive familiarity with the patient to understand the often subtle but significant changes in disease state as well as adjustments to health care as animals tend to mask pain and adverse health conditions. Subtle changes in behavior are often a prelude to advancing medical conditions and these are noticed by animal caretakers who have worked with a chimpanzee for several months and know their behaviors. The long transition period would add increased cost to the contract as the government would need to cover a transition period of at least 12 months to allow new staff to be cleared to enter MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas facilities and become familiar with the chimpanzees and their medical treatment including quality of life endpoints for each individual chimpanzee. For the reasons stated above MD Anderson Cancer Center is uniquely qualified to provide the services, property, facilities and resources required to satisfy the SOW in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies. Any efforts to identify the required services, property, facilities and resources through other sources would pose additional undo costs to the government. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of the government to solicit, negotiate and award the contract to MD Anderson Cancer Center on a sole source basis because of their unique ability to satisfy the SOW in a compliant, efficient and timely manner. This action is being conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253( c )(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), nor is a RFP available; however, all responsive sources may submit a proposal in a timely manner which will be considered by NIH. Firms interested in responding to this notice must be able to provide the required services, property, facilities and funding specified in the SOW and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and policies. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses shall be in writing and shall be electronically transmitted to emria.briscoe@nih.gov and april.merriwether@nih.gov by 2:00 PM EST on Monday, January 06, 2020. Responses shall include pricing information and shall reference Presolictation/Intent to Sole Source Notice No. 75N97020R00004.