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 Chimp Haven, Inc. 13600 Chimpanzee Place, Keithville, LA 71047to operate and maintain the Federal Chimpanzee Sanctuary System (the Sanctuary) and to provide lifetime care for 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. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541940-Veterinary Services. Background: In 2000 Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act. In the Act Congress designated that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for the establishment and operation of a national sanctuary system for federally owned and federally supported chimpanzees no longer needed for research. The Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the office responsible for programmatic oversight of the Sanctuary. Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to operate and maintain the Sanctuary and to provide lifetime care for approximately 230 to 250 chimpanzees, retired from active federally-supported research, in accordance with the CHIMP Act. The NIH will retain title to the chimpanzees. No invasive research shall be performed on any Federally owned or supported chimpanzees at the Sanctuary. Construction of facilities will not be supported under the resultant contract. 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. CHIMP Act Requirements for the Sanctuary Contractor: Among other requirements, the Chimp Act requires award of the contract for the operation and maintenance of the Sanctuary be made to a nonprofit private entity which: 1) has a governing board of directors that satisfies membership, term and meeting requirements; and 2) shall provide nonfederal matching contributions in an amount not less than 25 percent of total expenses associated with operating the Sanctuary. Sole Source Justification: Chimp Haven, Inc. is a nonprofit private entity with years of experience providing lifetime care for chimpanzees. Chimp Haven has a multi-acre property with forested habitats, enclosed outdoor yards, open air corals, indoor housing areas and additional facilities required to satisfy Sanctuary requirements and to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Chimp Haven also has the experience and ability to: provide consistent and uniform animal care, including veterinary, husbandry and behavioral care; ensure human and animal safety, including managing animals exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B and C; maintain a board of directors that satisfies membership, term and meeting requirements; provide adequate administrative infrastructure; and provide the required 25% matching funds. Additionally, Chimp Haven is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), maintains an Animal Welfare Assurance from the NIH Office of Laboratory and Animal Welfare (OLAW) and is accredited by AAALAC International. For the reasons stated above, Chimp Haven is uniquely qualified to provide the services, property, facilities and resources required to satisfy the SOW in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies. Currently, there are no other nonprofit private entities that can provide the required services, property, facilities and resources to carry out 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 Chimp Haven 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 april.merriwether@nih.gov and boakyes@mail.nih.gov by 2:00 PM EST on Monday, April 17, 2017. Proposals shall include pricing information and shall reference Presolictation/Intent to Sole Source Notice No. NIHLM2017959-AM.
