Provisions for Barrier Reared and Maintained, Rats, Mice, Hamsters, Gerbils, and Guinea Pigs, and Specialized Animal Services

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) intends to award a sole source contract to Taconic Biosciences, Inc. acquisition of barrier reared and maintained, rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, and specialized animal services for the NIEHS. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This notice is being published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.201 and 5.204 requiring notice of a proposed contract action. The statutory authority for this sole source action is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Award is subject to approval of the Justification and Approval for Sole Source (J&A). DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The purpose of this procurement is to continue acquisition of barrier reared and maintained, rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, and specialized animal services for the NIEHS. The Comparative Medicine Branch (CMB), Animal Resources Section (ARS), is responsible for the centralized ordering of rodents and for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The ARS maintains procurement mechanisms with several commercial contractors for laboratory animals and animal services to support the research requirements of investigators within the NIEHS Intramural Research Program. This centralized purchasing mechanism is used for the following functions: - To provide an efficient and cost-effective centralized purchasing mechanism that can maintain uninterrupted support of the research animal needs of NIEHS intramural investigators. - To provide monitoring and oversight of the genetic quality and health status of research animals introduced into the NIEHS animal facilities. - To provide monitoring and oversight of the genetic quality and health status of NIEHS-owned research animals housed and maintained offsite at the commercial contractor's facilities. - To maintain compliance with various federal, state, local laws and National Institute of Health (NIH) & NIEHS regulations affecting the use of laboratory animals; and - To ensure that NIEHS Principal Investigators and the Comparative Medicine Branch have authorized the placement of individual animal procurement requests. The objective of this acquisition is to secure these animals and services for principal investigators at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) by acquiring specific strains from named vendor to maintain a continuity of research. Taconic Biosciences, Inc. is the incumbent for these services under Contract Number 75N96019D00004, which will expire on December 15, 2023. The period of performance for the proposed sole source action is anticipated to be five years with an estimated start date of December 16, 2023. RESPONSES THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a written capabilities statement (NOT TO EXCEED 3 PAGES). The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement and must be received by the response date listed in this posting. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NIEHS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. Please email all questions and correspondence regarding this notice to Erica Kitzmiller at: erica.kitzmiller@nih.gov. ONLY EMAIL RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.