The Food and Drug Administration intends to award a sole source contract for a research and development project to provide environmental samples from unique farms for an Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA) Consortium. The award will be made to:

University of Vermont, Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety

310 Main St.

Bennington, VT 05201-0559

In accordance with FAR 6.302-3 (a)(2)(ii) and FAR 5.203, this solicitation contains circumstances permitting other than full and open competition for developmental and/or research capabilities.

To support the FDA’s OARSA’s office for a soil, manure, compost and water consortium, there is a need to for a collection of samples from unique small produce farms located in the Northeast Region of the United States. The FDA requires the assistances of the University of Vermont’s agricultural extension, which maintains established relationships with select scientific collaborators with unique farms that perform activities not replicated around the rest of the country. These activities include the utilization of high-tunnels to extend the availability of produce due to weather and submission of samples for sequencing and research to include various foodborne pathogens (such as Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., STEC, and enteric virus and parasites). The University of Vermont, through the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS), is uniquely positioned to assist on the coordination and pre-selection of collaborators and existing projects from several of the Land-grant University Extension programs located on this part of the country. NECAFS already has established a network of scientists that closely work with farmers that grow covered produce (as defined by the Produce Safety Rule, PSR) under high-tunnels conditions (greenhouses and shade-houses) unique to the Northeast region of the U.S.

Without the involvement of the University of Vermont, the FDA will not be able to obtain knowledge regarding the presence of foodborne pathogens from several unique farm locations under unique weather conditions throughout this region. In accordance with FAR 6.302-3, a sole source award shall be made to the University of Vermont to maintain an essential research and development capability to be provided by an educational institution. There are no other performers available for performance of this requirement, therefore in is in the best interest of the government to plan an award in the estimated amount of $1,380,555.95 to the University of Vermont.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement within fifteen (24) days after the publication of this synopsis which shall be considered by the agency. Responses received after 24 days or without the required information may not be considered. For information concerning this proposed acquisition contact:

Nikola Zuber

Contract Specialist

[email protected]

(301) 796 - 9671