The VA Network 22 Logistics Office intends to negotiate a commercial (FAR Part 12) sole source contract with Charles River Labs, 251 Ballardvale St., Wilmington MA 01887, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. A justification for other than full and open competition is being prepared in support of this acquisition. Charles River shall provide specified strains and stocks of barrier reared and maintained rats and mice including, but not limited to the following: INBREAD LEWIS RATS VAF Female/Male in Grams, Sprague Dawley Rats Female Male VAF, Retired Breeders Littermates, Lactiating Rat with Litter, Inbred Rats - Fisher CDF Female/Male VAF. These mice and rats shall be supplied at the specified age, weight or sex, shipping and crates, or surgically altered as required for Gastroenterology Research as requested to meet the needs of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System investigators for ongoing research projects. The Contractor shall be regularly engaged in the breeding, raising, and shipping of the rats and mice. The rats and mice supplied under this contract shall be maintained in the Contractor's facilities. The Contractor shall be accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care or shall be eligible for accreditation. The period of performance will be for one twelve (12) month period, with options to renew for four (4) additional twelve (12) month periods. It is believed that Charles River is the sole source for this requirement because of the following: VA Long Beach Healthcare System investigators have established baseline research data using animals that were consistently obtained from Charles River. Deviations in the procedures used by different vendors to house, breed, feed, water, handle, monitor health, perform timed matings, ship, etc. result in production of animals that may slightly or significantly change response to different types of experimental manipulation. Furthermore, the cost to the Government to re-establish baseline data using mice and rats acquired from a different source would be prohibitive and potentially unsuccessful. Also, if another source were used to acquire animals for these studies, it would be necessary to duplicate some portions or all previously conducted studies, thus necessitating inappropriate utilization of greater numbers of animals. The North American Classified System Code is 112990, size standard $0.75M, will be used for this requirement. All proposals received by 4:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, July 21, 2005, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely with the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquires will only be accepted by facsimile at (562)961-1378. See Numbered Note 22.

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