The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) intends to negotiate a firm fixed price requirements-type award on a sole source basis, IAW FAR 13.501 under the authority of the test program for commercial items (section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996). Charles River Laboratories, 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA, has been identified as the only responsible source that can provide research animals within the conditions as described below. The requirement is for commercially available standard and modified (surgery) animals. The total estimated award amount is $3,050,000 for a Base + (2) option years
firm fixed price award.
Responsible firms may identify their interest and submit a capability statement to respond to future requirements. Submit email capability statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Jackie McGurk at, [email protected]. Fax statements may be sent to 410-436-4863; Attn: Jackie McGurk. Email statements are preferred. Statements are due no later than 5:00 P.M. EST on 28 FEB 2011. No telephone calls will be accepted. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, information received within 15 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed award is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a future competitive procurement.
In many circumstances, research must be conducted on animals with a known and consistent genetic background. One method of ensuring consistency in genetic background is to purchase animals from the same vendor. Genetically speaking, a strain of animal from one vendor is very different from the very same "strain" purchased at another vendor. In fact, genetics vary significantly after twenty generations and after forty generations, genetics of animals from different locations vary to such an extent that they are designated as "substrains." In order to prevent substrain variability from impacting the quality of research at the Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense (MRICD), certain animals must come from the same vendor location each and every time. That vendor is Charles River. Another method of ensuring consistent quality research is to purchase animals that are free of certain pathogens. The list of pathogens which makes an animal unacceptable varies by species.
The species and pathogens not present for this requirement are:

Guinea pigs must be free of:
LCMV Helicobacter species
Adenovirus (GAV) All ectoparasites
Sendai virus Clostridium piliforme
Pneumoniavirus of Mice (PVM)
Encephalitozoon species
Bordatella bronchiseptica
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Salmonella species
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
Streptococcus pneumonia
Streptobacillius moniliformis

Rats must be free of:
Sendai virus
Pneumonia Virus of Mice (PVM)
Sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV)
Rat parvoviruses: rat parvovirus (RPV), Toolhan's (H-1) and Kilham's rat virus (KRV)
Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV)/GDVII
Reovirus(REO)
Rat Theilovirus (RTV)
Hantavirus
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
Adenoviruses (MAV)
Bordatella bronchiseptica
Corynibacterium kutcheri
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Salmonella species
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
Streptobacillus moniliformis
Helicobacter species
All ectoparasites
Giardia species
Spironucleus
Helminths

Mice must be free of:
Sendai virus Spironucleus
Adenovirus (MAV) Helminths
Pneumonia Virus of Mice (PVM) All ectoparasites
Hepatitis virus (MHV) Giardia species
Minute virus of Mice (MVM) Encephalitozoon species
Parvovirus (MPV)
Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV)/GDVII
Reoviruses (REO and EDIM)
Hantavirus
Ectromeliavirus
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
Bordatella bronchiseptica
Citrobacter rodentium
Corynibacterium kutscheri
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Salmonella species
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
Streptobacillus moniliformis
Helicobacter species

Rabbits must be free of:
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV)
LCMV
Reovirus (REO)
Bordatella bronchiseptica
CAR Bacillus
Helicobacter species
Lawsonia species
Pasteurella species
Salmonella species
Treponema
Clostridium piliforme
Eimeria species
Encephalitozoon species
Helminths
All ectoparasites

Bid Protests Not Available