Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC)

The contract for the Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC) is a sole-source modification issued under 41 USC 3304(a)(2) due to unusual and compelling urgency, extending services at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop, Texas, through August 31, 2026. The total obligated value is $8,280,890.87 with a $402,667 extension to ensure uninterrupted care for 30–40 federally retired chimpanzees with chronic, complex health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis, and HIV/HCV exposure. The work is governed by the CHIMP Act of 2000, mandating lifelong, humane care without biomedical or invasive research, and requires continuity of care by staff with over four decades of site-specific experience to mitigate unacceptable risks to animal welfare. Inspection and acceptance occur solely at the CCC facility, where the contractor is responsible for daily medical, behavioral, and biohazard-safe care, while the National Institutes of Health oversees compliance and funding. Performance is tied to population attrition, with automatic termination upon the last chimpanzee’s death. No competitive bidding is permitted due to the uniqueness of the staff’s expertise, institutional knowledge, and the proven impossibility of relocating the animals without severe physiological and psychological harm. Special requirements include strict adherence to biocontainment protocols for blood-borne pathogens, NIH-approved quality-of-life criteria for euthanasia decisions, and recurring certifications by the Contracting Officer and Program Office to justify continued non-competition. Funding is provided on a cost-reimbursement basis with no formal line-item structure, and submission of proposals is restricted to electronic filing via SAM.gov with a deadline of August 31, 2026, under the solicitation number 75N97021C00001.