Provision of Barrier Reared and Maintained Rabbits, Rats, Mice, Hamsters, Gerbils, and Guinea Pigs   4

Various strains and stocks of barrier reared and maintained rats, cotton rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and rabbits from commercial catalogs that meet specific species, strain, health status, sex, age, weight, and/or pregnancy requirements;

Tissues, organs, blood and other biological specimens; including germplasm

Empty shipping crates and containers

Social housing of rabbits is desirable

The animals, tissues, organs, and blood or serum supplied under this contract shall be maintained and collected in the Contractor's facilities.

The Contractor shall operate any and all proposed facilities for services related to rederivation of animal models for the elimination of the vertical and horizontal transfer of pathogens, parasites and other undesired organisms, and the cryopreservation of mouse and/or rat embryos or sperm. However, with the Government's approval, some or all of the long-term storage of cryopreserved embryos or sperm (repository functions) may be subcontracted.

The Contractor shall be accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC). In addition, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards governing animal welfare while performing under this contract. All facilities, practices and procedures of husbandry, care and maintenance of animals used in the performance of this contract shall be in accordance with the latest issue in effect of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.