U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

88 -- MICROBIOLOGICALLY AND VIROLOGICALLY CHARACTERIZED RESEARCH ANIMALS SOL PR-NC-99-12968 POC Sya M. Mayes (919) 541-3416 WEB: click here for information on solicitation, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, mayes.sya@epa.gov. NOTICE OF INTENT SYNOPSIS. For the past 21 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has purchased outbred and inbred rats to support researchers at the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) from Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc. on a sole source basis. The circumstance permitting Other than Full and Open Competition Justification is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." The majority of NHEERL's studies utilizing these strains of research animals are of a continuing nature and will require additional animals of the same strain, sex, age and microbiologic and virologic history as well as genetic background. Various published studies by a variety of research organizations, including EPA, Veterans Administration, and the Department of Defense have demonstrated that nominally identical animals from different sources of supply will react differently under identical protocols. These reactions result from subtle variables in genetic virologic and bacteriologic backgrounds. The Agency has concluded that where inter-comparability of data is required from one study to another, it is necessary to use a common source of supply to eliminate extraneous variables. For these reasons, the Agency has decided to solicit Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc. on a non-competitive basis for this requirement. The primary basis for limiting competition is the Agency's conclusion that there is substantial evidence that animals that are not identical genetically, virologically, and bacteriologically to animals previously used in our research introduce unquantifiable variables into the research protocol and that such variables cast unavoidable doubt on the significance of variations on research results. The element of doubt is of such concern to EPA that it would require a definitive and conclusive demonstration of the error of the conclusion before opening this solicitation for competition. It is anticipated that the contract will be a firm fixed price-indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity type. Contract period of performance will be for 12 months for the base period plus four 12-month option periods. Anyone wishing to request reconsideration of the Justification for Non-Competitive Procurement must provide such a demonstration to the Agency within 30 days of this notice. This information will be evaluated according to its conclusiveness. See numbered Notes 22 and 26. Posted 04/20/99 (W-SN322277). (0110)

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