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AMENDMENT NOTICE: Email address to send RFI to has been amended on 03/05/2024. See below under Administration for more information.

CLARIFICATION NOTICE: Clarification on total number of pages has been provided on 03/12/2024. See below under RFI Structure and Requirements for more information.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

SUPPORT OF THE Chemical and Biological Incident Preparedness and Response (CBIPR) MODEL EFFORT

Objective:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes only. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. No solicitation document exists or is guaranteed to be issued as a result of this RFI. The Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical) under the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) is seeking information on the available capabilities and willingness of private entities (academic, non-profit, and commercial) to collaborate with the Government in the areas listed below.

Background:

JPM-CBRN Medical is interested in developing the CBIPR Models effort to ensure a steady supply of Nonhuman primates (NHPs) for Science and Technology (S&T) and Advanced Development programs to reduce negative impacts on cost and schedules caused by NHP supply constraints. The effort seeks to work with a performer or performers to procure juvenile NHPs, of various species (e.g. cynomolgus macaques of Chinese, Mauritius or Indonesian origin, or rhesus macaques of Indian, Chinese, or Cambodian origin), and rear these animals until they are needed to be used for research. Possible future efforts for CBIPR Model would include examining the feasibility of establishing breeding colonies of NHPs to ensure the long-term sustainability of the effort.

Requirements:

The Government is seeking white papers outlining the ability to reliably procure F1 juvenile NHPs, ideally of various species, rear, and board these animals. Additionally, the proposer should discuss the feasibility of creating an NHP breeding colony.

Performance Objectives:

For this specific effort, the objective is to create a sustainable supply of NHPs for S&T and Advance Development efforts by the procurement and rearing of juvenile NHPs.

The following topics are specific topics to be addressed in the white paper

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  1. The ability to procure juvenile NHPs in advance for use in S&T and Advance Development research. Responses must address the following:
     
     
     
     1. Are you an importer of NHPs?
        
        
        
        1. If an importer of NHPs, provide Proof of registration as an importer as required by 42 CFR § 71.53
        
        
        
        
     
     
     2. The quantity of NHPs that can be obtained and held at your facility per year by species.
     
     
     3. How many NHPs can be supplied by your facility per year.
     
     
     4. What is the lead time to acquire NHPs.
     
     
     5. What is the current cost to procure NHPs and is there a bulk rate.
     
     
     6. What species of NHPs can be procured.
     
     
     7. What is the nation of origin for the NHPs.
     
     
     8. What is the average age of the NHPs you are importing.
     
     
     9. Provide specific information about the type of animals supplied i.e. wild caught, farm/ranch raised, purpose bred, specific pathogen-free, and/or naïve etc.
     
     
     
     
  
  
  2. Describe the ability to rear and board NHPs for future use in S&T and Advanced Development studies. The responses must address the following:
     
     
     
     1. What is the maximum boarding and rearing capacity.
     
     
     2. Is infrastructure expansion required to board and rear additional 200-1,000 animals. If so, to what degree of expansion is needed to achieve what capacity?
     
     
     3. What transportation arrangements or agreements are in place to transport animals from the facility to the designated laboratory.
     
     
     4. What is the rough order of magnitude (ROM) for the cost of the transportation above.
     
     
     5. What is the current per diem for boarding and rearing.
     
     
     6. What animal support services do you possess (i.e. onsite Veterinarian, support personnel, etc.).
     
     
     7. What are the surgical capabilities including telemetry and catheters.
     
     
     8. Describe your health screening protocols to ensure that the animals meet the below health criteria prior to importation to the United States.
     
     
     
     
  
  
  
  


• Fecal Examination within 4 weeks of shipment (parasite treatment pre-shipment as indicated)


• Measles vaccination or evidence of a positive titer


• Current negative TB Test within 30 days prior to arrival


• All NHPs must have the following serological testing conducted within 45 days prior to arrival into the United States:

Abr. Pathogen Acceptable Result

HBV Herpes B Virus. (Macacine Herpesvirus1) Negative

SIV Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Negative

SRV Simian Retrovirus Negative

STLV-1 Simian T-lymphotropic Virus Negative

Chagas Trypansosoma cruzi Negative

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   1. Discuss the feasibility of creating a future NHP breeding colony making sure to address the following:
      
      
      
      1. What could be the maximum size of the colony by species.
      
      
      2. What would be the anticipated number of NHPs per year by species.
      
      
      3. What is the ROM cost to stand-up this colony.
      
      
      4. What is the expected per diem to sustain this colony.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   2. Identify any logistical issues faced in the procurement and/or shipment of NHPs from their suppliers.
   
   
   3. Disclose all ties to foreign governments either directly or indirectly through their international suppliers.
   
   
   4. Provide evidence of animal care and use compliance in accordance with Federal and DOD regulations and standards.
   
   
   
   

RFI Structure and Requirements:

The Respondents shall provide the following in their reply to this RFI, not to exceed 12 pages in total (Clarification: Total pages does not include a cover page, table of contents or the Proof of registration as an importer as required by 42 CFR § 71.53):

1. Company Description (2 page maximum).

• Provide a brief description of company history and partnerships, emphasizing experience procuring and rearing NHPs.


• What is the maximum boarding and rearing capacity.


• What animal support services do you possess (i.e. onsite Veterinarian, support personnel, etc.).

1. Project Development Plan (9 page maximum)

• Respondents to this RFI need to address the points set forth in the above Performance Objectives.


• Responses also need to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude cost for the per diem to house and rear NHPs for 18-24 months.


• Responses also need to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude cost to stand-up, run, and maintain an NHP breeding colony.

1. Past Performance (1 page maximum).

• Respondents should provide one relevant past performance outlining previous work with DOD or industry in the procurement, boarding and rearing of NHPs for delivery to research facilities.

Administration:

The Government will retain comments and information received in response to this RFI. Proprietary information should be identified as Company Proprietary. Do not use Government security classification markings. All written responses must be received by COB on 15 March 2024. Responses should be sent by e-mail to: dan.l.adams2.civ@army.mil and brendy.l.santiago.civ@army.mil with Subject Line of Responding Organization and RFI Title. Material that is advertisement only in nature is not desired. If a solicitation is subsequently released based on the responses to this RFI, it will be posted on sam.gov. For questions related to this RFI, please e-mail to: dan.l.adams2.civ@army.mil and brendy.l.santiago.civ@army.mil. The Point of Contact for this RFI is Dan Adams at dan.l.adams2.civ@army.mil.

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