Provision of Bordetella-Free Baboons for Pertussis Infection and Vaccination Studies

The Food and Drug Administration, under the Department of Health and Human Services, is soliciting the provision of twenty Bordetella-free baboons for pertussis infection and vaccination studies aimed at advancing understanding of why currently licensed acellular vaccines fail to prevent infection, unlike whole-cell vaccines. This procurement, identified by solicitation number 75F40126Q00204, targets the delivery of animals that meet strict health and exposure criteria: they must be of specified age, gender, and weight, free from any Bordetella pertussis exposure, and arrive in good health. Final acceptance will occur upon successful quarantine entry physical performed by the supervising veterinarian at the CBER primate facility on the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. The contractor is fully responsible for all aspects of shipping, quarantine compliance, and transit, adhering to USDA standards, the CBER Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol ASP#2009-19, and coordination with USDA-licensed carriers and CBER veterinary services. The contract is structured as a commercial item, firm fixed price, with deliveries expected within ninety calendar days of award, and performance estimated to span from October 26, 2026, to December 25, 2027. An optional line item allows for the return of the baboons at the study’s conclusion. The award will prioritize technical capability above past performance, with price as the least significant factor unless non-price factors are deemed substantially equal. Payment is strictly net-30 days after government acceptance, with no advance payments permitted; all invoices must be submitted electronically through the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform, accompanied by a detailed invoice log addendum and supporting documentation per FAR 32.905(b). Compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards is mandatory for all information and communication technology, requiring submission of an Accessibility Conformance Report based on VPAT for any non-compliant items, with remediation at the contractor’s expense. Offerors must be registered in SAM, provide their Unique Entity ID, and adhere to strict electronic submission rules excluding macros and executable files. The acquisition is not set aside for small businesses but includes a HUBZone price evaluation preference, and is subject to the Buy American Act and Executive Order 14005. The government reserves the right to cancel the solicitation at any time without cost reimbursement.