Small & Any Other Size Business Are Encouraged To Respond

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Jefferson Laboratories, in Jefferson, Arkansas, is conducting market research to support the National Center for Toxicological Research study designed to determine the photococarcinogenicity of the cosmetic ingredient, retinyl palmitate which requires the used of hairless mice.

Providing 700 male and 700 female SKH-1 E hairless 28 day (approx. 4 week old) mice, with 116 mice of each sex to be delivered each of 5 weeks beginning 09/19/2011 and 120 mice of each sex to be delivered at week 6 (October 24, 2011)

The SKH1-E hairless mouse, Strain Code 477 are the preferred mice for phototoxicity and photocarcinogenicity assays because these mice contain a genetically defective gene for the hair follicle, and do not develop adult hair. As a result, application of tropical test agents and UV-light does not require constant, irritating shaving of the target area.

Item #1
Quantity of One (1)
1400 SKH-1 Hairless Mice

Six shipments of mice are needed as follows:
Delivery date: 09/19/2011 - 116 male and 116 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates

Delivery date: 09/26/20112011 - 116 male and 116 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates

Delivery date: 10/03/20112011 - 116 male and 116 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates

Delivery date: 10/10/20112011 - 116 male and 116 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates

Delivery date: 10/17/20112011 - 116 male and 116 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates

Delivery date: 10/24/20112011 - 120 male and 120 female SKH-1 mice, freight, and animal crates
Firms believing they offer equivalent mice to the above specifications are encouraged to respond electronically via email to the attention of Howard Nesmith at [email protected] on or before July 26, 2011 by 9:00 AM (Central Time) with no less than the following information:

• Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number and email address; [North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 112990 - All Other Animal Production. Small Business Size Standard is $0.75 in millions of dollars.
• Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered products meet or exceed above specifications.
• Though this is not a request for quote, informational pricing may be submitted.

The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response.

For information regarding this market research effort, please contact Howard Nesmith at [email protected].

Disclaimer and Important Notes
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in FedBizOpps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality
No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Notice of Intent
In the event no responses (included no acceptable response) received to this market research effort this will serve as the notice effort to enter into a sole source contract with Charles River Lavatories, for their SKH1-E hairless mouse, Strain Code 477.