Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC)

SOURCES SOUGHT NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE (NLM), OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHIMPANZEE CARE CENTER (CCC) This announcement constitutes a Sources Sought (market survey). This is not a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). This announcement is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or award a contract. In accordance with FAR 52.215-3, the Government will not pay for any information/items submitted in response to this RFI. Any solicitation resulting from this announcement will be published separately PURPOSE The National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of any organizations capable and eligible of operating and maintaining the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC), MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, in Bastrop, Texas The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has supported the program and the University of Texas have an agreement to house and care for Chimpanzees that are residing at the Center. Maintenance of chimpanzees is required; no research is allowed. 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. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Each of Buildings 302, 302A, 301, and Q , the holding space is 180 to 216 animals. This does not include 10 runs in the Chimpanzee Socialization and Rehabilitation Facility that are designated for recovering or convalescent chimpanzees. The current primate population at CCC is expected to be between 45 to 55 aged chimpanzees housed in social groups. Chimpanzees may have been exposed to viruses such as hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV) or both HBVC and HCV, or other pathogens. The animals have disease complications associated with aging, including cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes, hepatitis, arthritis, obesity, and uterine masses. Most have comorbidities. These chimpanzees need to be routinely monitored and medically managed with an emphasis on the animal's quality of life. Any NIH-owned animals taken off the base cannot be returned to the base. The number of chimpanzees is expected to decrease over time as they die due to natural causes or are humanely euthanized in accordance with quality of life guidelines. OWNERSHIP ISSUES The NIH will retain title to the chimpanzees. There is no requirement or expectation for the Contractor to take title to the chimpanzees. However, any chimpanzee that is born at the CCC shall be owned and supported financially by the Contractor. REQUIREMENTS SEE ATTACHED DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK FOR FULL REQUIREMENTS. Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Government's requirements. The capability statement shall be in sufficient detail, but not to exceed 10 pages, so that the Government can determine the experience, capability, and eligibility of your firm. Responses to this announcement should include: (1) name and Address of the Organization, (2) socio-economic status type, (3) point of contact with name, title, phone, fax, and e-mail, (4) DUNS number, (5) contractor capability statement addressing the requirements, (6) list of organizations to whom similar types of services have been previously provided to include contract number, dollar value, and name and phone number of contracting officer. Please Note: All businesses must be registered within the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov). Interested sources are required to send all capability statements to Em'Ria J. Briscoe, Contracting Officer, by email to briscoee@mail.nih.gov no later than Monday, October 30, 2018 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. DISCLAIMER: THIS SOURCE SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.