EPA - Vivarium and Veterinary Services - MRAS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to support the operation and maintenance of its animal care facilities at the Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center (AWBERC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The overarching goal of this contract is to ensure high-quality care and maintenance of research animals, which are integral to EPA's environmental research efforts. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining a vivarium space of approximately 10,000 square feet, providing care for up to 12,000 animals per year including both vertebrates and invertebrates, and ensuring compliance with relevant animal welfare standards.

The work requested includes comprehensive "Animal Care Services" which encompass routine animal husbandry tasks such as feeding and monitoring the health of fish and invertebrates housed primarily in flow-through tanks and aquariums. The contractor will also be tasked with maintaining facility sanitation by cleaning cages, equipment, and disposing of waste appropriately. Additionally, technical support for animal research projects is required; this may involve procedures like injections, blood collections, necropsies, and parasite purification. All activities must adhere strictly to guidelines set forth by the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as well as other applicable regulations.

Key personnel necessary for this contract include a project manager and an attending veterinarian who will provide veterinary care services as well as participate in Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee (IACUC) meetings. These roles are crucial for ensuring that all aspects of animal welfare are managed effectively within the facility. The contractor must also prepare for regular audits conducted by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) every three years.

Furthermore, operations at another EPA facility located at Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina require similar services under a separate contract focusing on rodents and aquatics with an average daily census comprising approximately 400 rodents and 7,000 fish. This involves not only routine care but also procurement of animals from designated sources as needed by EPA researchers. Compliance with relevant regulations including those stipulated by AAALAC International is mandatory across both facilities to maintain accreditation standards essential for supporting EPA's scientific research endeavors.