The USDA National Animal Disease Center in Ames, IA, intends to award a procurement of 31 Bison heifers to Timber Ridge Bison. This animal procurement will be conducted in accordance with the procedures in FAR Part 13.106 and 6.303-2. The purchase determination is based on previous vaccine experiments that have utilized bison obtained from this source. Obtaining bison from a different source may introduce new variables to the ongoing experiences that may lead to increased variability in immune responses and impair comparison of vaccine responses across experiments. This herd has been verified free of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), a significant cause of mortality in many bison herds. Currently available diagnostics lack the sensitivity and specificity to detect infected herds or individuals. Purchase of bison with MCF would make all data from the proposed experiment invalid and non-publishable. Of equal concern would be the possibility that MCF could be inadvertently introduced into bison in other experiments (i.e. deer) at NADC; a scenario that would be devastating to several ongoing brucellosis, tuberculosis and possibly prior research projects. Least cost procurement of bison on a previous occasion did result in procurement of MCF-positive bison. This vendor maintains our bison genetic needs at an agreeable travel distance. The cost has been determined fair and reasonable based on current technical knowledge of fair market value. The anticipated purchase order value is $40,325.00.

This is not a request for quotation. However, all interested parties may contact the Contract Specialist listed below. Sources interested in responding to this requirement must be able to provide compelling evidence that they can obtain/provide the required animals. Responses must be submitted electronically, via email, to [email protected]. The deadline for the submittal of responses is 12:00 pm central time, December 27, 2013.

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