The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), located on the National Naval Medical Campus (NNMC) in Bethesda, MD, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with The Jackson Laboratory for the following quantities of mice and requested delivery dates:

•·         700 female mice (12 wks old)                     Delivery date - December 15, 2009

•·         100 female mice (3 wks old)                       Delivery date - January 15, 2010

•·         100 female mice (12 wks old)                     Delivery date - February 15, 2010

•·         100 female mice (12 wks old)                     Delivery date - March 15, 2010

•·         100 female mice (12 wks old)                     Delivery date - April 15, 2010

The awarded contract will be an option contract with a three (3) month delivery period base with two (2) one (1) month delivery period options.  The contract will authorize the delivery of mice on different timelines according to the experimental schedule.  The first delivery is scheduled for December 15, 2009.

Sole source determination is made in accordance with:

FAR Part 13.106-1 Soliciting Competition

(b) Soliciting from a single source

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

The Jackson Laboratory is the sole provider of this specific genetic strain (B6D2F1/J) of mice.  The purchase of these mice will allow for the continuation of work with this animal strain.  The intestinal microflora of the requested mice must be similar to that of the intestinal bacterial microflora of mice previously used in the research effort.  The data derived from the research of these mice will be compared to similar and relevant data collected over the past twenty years.

This is not a request for quotes and a solicitation package will not be issued.