Research Cow purchase

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research, located at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Orient, New York; intends to procure the following as a sole source procurement to the vendor: Thomas D Morris, Inc. located at 4001 Millender Mill road in Reisterstown, Maryland 21136. The USDA, ARS requires a quantity of eighteen (18) Holstein Cows, 400-450 Lbs. Females which includes Transportation and Interstate Health Papers. North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) is 424520. In order to prevent zoonoses and animal stress, the animals cannot be transported from a distance in excess of a 350 mile radius of 40550 Route 25, Orient, New York. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) in Orient, New York is a unique research facility, whose mission include the development of vaccines, performing diagnostic research testing, and implementation of various applied research projects. The cattle being purchased will be used for an experiment to evaluate a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain of serotype C of importance for preparing a potential stock pile vaccine. The vaccine will be tested in the current approved PD50 cattle study. Animal procurement is a complex operation, necessitating compliance with animal transport regulations, oversight by the (PIADC) Attending Veterinarian to ensure that healthy animals are sourced from approved vendors, and logistical Animal Research Branch (ARB), animals may only be purchased from vendors that breed, raise and possess a USDA Class A or USDA Class B Dealer license. Vendors with an Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) are preferred. Thomas D Morris, Inc. possesses an AAALAC accreditation and USDA Class B license Number: 51-8-0009. Delivery is required on June 29th, 2016.