Animal Husbandry and Behavioral Testing Services for a NASA Human Research Program.

SOL #: 80NSSC26924080QSpecial Notice

Overview

Buyer

National Aeronautics And Space Administration

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, MS, 39529, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical (541715)

PSC

General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; R&D Administrative Expenses (AJ14)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/4bc0cdfef03a4e4f9d9e1566f3b3b634/view

Timeline

Posted

Feb 5, 2026

Last Updated

Feb 9, 2026

Action Date

Feb 10, 2026, 10:00 PM

Qualification Details

Fit reasons

NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.

Risks

Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.

Next steps

Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.

Quick Summary

NASA/NSSC intends to award a sole source contract to the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) for Animal Husbandry and Behavioral Testing Services for a NASA Human Research Program. This effort supports a critical project investigating the neuroconsequences of spaceflight. Interested organizations may submit capabilities by February 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CST.

Purpose & Context

This Special Notice announces NASA/NSSC's intent to procure specialized animal husbandry and behavioral testing services. The services are crucial for the 'Oxidative Stress and the Neuroconsequences of Spaceflight Environment - Immune Dysfunction and Dietary Countermeasure Efficacy' project, which aims to assess sensorimotor and cognitive behavior in aged mice exposed to simulated microgravity, radiation, and isolation relevant to future NASA Artemis missions. KUMC has been identified as the sole provider due to its world-class expertise, specialized facilities, and prior involvement in the Rodent Research RR-20 mission, ensuring data consistency for this mission-critical HRP Path to Risk Reduction project.

Scope of Work

The required services include:

Animal Husbandry: Housing, feeding, watering, bedding, enrichment, cage changes, cleaning, census, daily health checks, and veterinary services.
Behavioral Testing: Performance of specific tests on mice, including SHIRPA phenotype assessment, sociability and social memory, Force Plate Actimetry, Grip Strength, Beam Walk, Elevated Zero Maze, and Barnes Maze.
Data Provision: Delivery of data and videography from all behavioral tests.

Contract Details

Type: Sole Source Contract (Special Notice for justification)
NAICS Code: 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology))
Period of Performance: February 1, 2026 – May 31, 2026
Place of Performance: University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) Rodent Behavior Facility, Kansas City, Kansas.
Estimated Value: Approximately $47,790.50 for 4 months ($33,402.50 for behavioral testing and $14,388.00 for animal housing).

Submission & Evaluation

Response Deadline: February 10, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Submission Method: Interested organizations must submit written capabilities and qualifications to the identified point of contact. Oral communications are not acceptable.
Evaluation: Submissions will be evaluated solely to determine if the procurement should be conducted on a competitive basis. The government reserves the right to not compete this proposed effort.