Operation and Maintenance of the Federal Chimpanzee Sanctuary System for Retired Chimpanzees

Introduction

This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research purposes only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The notice is open to all nonprofit organizations; however, small businesses are highly encouraged to respond. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified nonprofit sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a nonprofit entity should not submit a response to this notice.

Background

In 2000 Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act. In the Act Congress designated that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for the establishment and operation of a national sanctuary system for federally owned and federally supported chimpanzees no longer needed for research. 

The Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the office responsible for programmatic oversight of the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary System (the Sanctuary).

Purpose and Objectives

In accordance with the CHIMP Act, the NIH is seeking to identify qualified nonprofit private entities capable of operating the sanctuary and providing lifetime care of Federally owned and Federally supported chimpanzees in accordance with the Statement of Work and in compliance with applicable Federal laws, regulations and policies.

The primary purpose of this requirement is to operate and maintain a sanctuary providing lifetime care for up to 300 chimpanzees.

Project requirements

This requirement is to provide for the lifetime care of up to 300 chimpanzees that have been used, or were bred or purchased for use, in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, or other agencies of the Federal Government.

Anticipated period of performance

The Government anticipates awarding one cost-reimbursement contract, featuring a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. The options periods may be unilaterally exercised by the Government. If the Government elects to exercise these options, the Contractor shall provide the resources as stated above.

Other important considerations

Respondents should confirm ability to comply with:

• Animal Welfare Act (9 CFR Parts 1–3)
• PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th ed.)
• BMBL (6th ed.)
• 42 CFR Part 9 (Standards of Care for Chimpanzees in the Sanctuary System)
• NRC guidance on NHP occupational health/safety and psychological well-being
• AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines (2020)
• 29 CFR 1910.1030 (Bloodborne Pathogen Standard)
• AAALAC International accreditation (must achieve/maintain)
• OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance and USDA registration/assurances

Capability statement/information sought

(a) Staff expertise — including availability, experience, and formal and/or other training, addressed against the key personnel roles in the SOW:

• Facility Director, Attending Veterinarian, Clinical Veterinarian(s), Behaviorist, Colony Manager, animal care/enrichment technicians (min. 1 per 15 chimpanzees), and consultant veterinarians
• Applicable licensure (state veterinary license, AALAS LATG certification) and DEA licensing for controlled substance use in chimpanzees

(b) Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work, including:

• Existing facilities/capacity to house and care for up to 300 chimpanzees, with outdoor access and indoor shelter
• Veterinary care capability (physicals, TB testing, HCV/HIV testing, vaccinations, emergency/unexpected care)
• Biosafety and quarantine capability for animals exposed to zoonotic agents (HBV, HCV, HIV, SIV)
• 24/7/365 staffing capability, including holidays and severe weather
• Financial capacity to meet the 25% non-Federal cost-share requirement
• Existing or readily attainable AAALAC International accreditation, USDA registration, and OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance
• Ability to stand up/maintain required governance bodies (Governing Board of Directors, Sanctuary Chimpanzee Care Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee)

(c) Prior completed projects of similar nature, such as:

• Operation of large-scale (100+ animal) nonhuman primate or chimpanzee care programs
• Prior animal transfer/transport and quarantine intake experience
• Prior development of behavioral management plans, occupational health and safety plans, and disaster/emergency plans

(d) Corporate experience and management capability, including:

• Fiscal management expertise and long-term financial stability
• Management plan experience (reporting lines, roles, fiscal coordination, decision-making processes)
• Regulatory compliance history (Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, 42 CFR Part 9)
• Any teaming or subcontracting arrangements anticipated

(e) Examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information, such as:

• Contract numbers, agencies, periods of performance, and dollar values for comparable work
• Point-of-contact references who can speak to performance
• Any history of USDA inspection findings/deficiencies and corrective actions, if applicable

Page Limitations

Interested qualified nonprofit organizations should submit a tailored Capability Statement not to exceed 15 pages, excluding resumes. Capability Statements must not include links to internet web site addresses (URLs) or otherwise direct readers to alternate sources of information. Font size must be 10 to 12 points. Spacing must be no more than 15 characters per inch. Within a vertical inch, there must be no more than six lines of text. Print margins must be at least one inch on each edge of the paper. Print setup should be single sided on standard letter size paper (8.5 x 11" in the U.S., A4 in Europe). All proprietary information should be marked as such.

Required Business Information

• UEI.

• CAGE.

• Business size.

• SAM registration.

• Company Name.

• Company Address.

• Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address

• Current contract vehicles, GSA Schedules, and/or Government-wide Acquisition

Contracts (GWACs) appropriate to this Sources Sought.

• Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the

agency that approved the system.

• Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as

validated via the System for Award Management (SAM) located at  https://sam.gov/content/home. This indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your Capability Statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business

concern’s name and address).

Number of Copies

Please submit one (1) electric copy of your response as follows:

All Capability Statements sent in response to this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Kim Harris, Contracting Officer, at kimberly.harris2@nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The e-mail subject line must specify 75N98026R00159. Facsimile responses will not be accepted.

Common Cut-off Date

Electronically submitted tailored capability statements are due no later than 03:00 PM EDT on 09/24/2026. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

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 at SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality

Proprietary information must be clearly marked. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).