The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is seeking sources capable of performing the requirement briefly described below. The contractor will be required to conduct multigeneration reproductive studies involving the testing of ~8 chemicals per year. The standard conduct of studies will begin with dosing of F0 males and females (by gavage, drinking water or feed) 2 weeks prior to cohabitation, throughout mating, gestation, and lactation, for the birth of 3 F1 litters, and the weaning and dosing of the 3rd F1 litter through the mating of 2 males and 2 females from each litter to produce 3 F2 litters. The contractor will conduct histopathology evaluations on reproductive and other target organs from all F0 animals and 5 males and 5 females of each of the 3rd F1 and F2 litters. Crossover mating of F0 animals will frequently be conducted. The laboratory and personnel should have prior experience in evaluating endocrine disruption endpoints (anogenicat distance, prepucial separation, nipple retention, vaginal opening and estrous cyclicity) and conducting dominant lethal tests. Salient performance capabilities include but are not limited to the following: animal facilities large enough to house 1500 rat cages animal facilities that can provide spf barrier conditions (clean-dirty corridor preferred) AAALAC accreditation proven capability to conduct GLP compliant studies demonstration of the laboratory's prior experience conducting large-scale multigeneration reproductive studies in rats and mice qualified personnel on-site for all of the primary duties required for conduct of a study Potentially interested offerors may submit capabilities statements not to exceed fifteen (15) pages in length, excluding standard brochures, etc., for receipt by the agency within fifteen (15) days from the date of this announcement. Please submit information to Thomas M. Hardee, Contracting Officer National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Office of Acquisition, OM, P.O. Box 12874, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive Building 4401 Research Commons Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 The estimated release date for the actual solicitation is January 2006. The estimated receipt date for proposals is March 2006. NIEHS will establish the specific dates by future FedBizOps announcement. Electronic versions of the RFP will be available at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/dert/rtb/rfp.htm. See note No. 26.

Bid Protests Not Available