Laboratory Animal Feed, Bedding, Produce, Enrichment, and Related Dry Goods
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
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
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a sole-source contract to Animal Specialties and Provisions, LLC (ASP). This requirement is for laboratory animal feed, bedding, produce, enrichment, and related dry goods to support NIH animal research facilities in Bethesda, MD. This is not a request for proposal, but interested parties may submit capability statements by April 20, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide all labor, materials, transportation, logistics, and quality control necessary to supply and deliver essential items to multiple NIH animal research facilities. These supplies include, but are not limited to:
- Standard rodent chow (maintenance, breeding, irradiated, and certified diets)
- Specialty research diets
- Nonhuman primate chow and biscuits
- Rabbit diets and agricultural species diets
- Bedding materials (corn cob, paper-based, hardwood, or approved alternatives)
- Fresh produce and enrichment feed items All products must adhere to strict quality, nutritional, traceability, and contamination control standards required for regulated research environments and comply with applicable animal care regulations.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Notice of Intent (NOI) for a sole-source contract.
- Intended Contractor: Animal Specialties and Provisions, LLC (ASP).
- Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1901(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b), citing only one responsible source.
- Period of Performance: May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027.
- Place of Performance: Bethesda, MD 20892 (Delivery to 9000 Rockville Pike).
- Capability Statement Due: April 20, 2026, by 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time.
- Published: April 3, 2026.
Set-Aside
This is a Sole Source requirement; it is not a competitive set-aside. The agency intends to negotiate with a specific vendor.
Submission & Evaluation
This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources that believe they can provide the required services may submit a capability statement via email to Linda Smith (Linda.smith2@nih.gov). The email subject line must reference NOI-NIH-26-PCA-ORS-02827. Responses will be considered by the Government to determine if competition is feasible. A determination not to compete is solely at the Government's discretion.
Additional Notes
The Government is not obligated to award a contract or pay for any information provided. Respondents should ensure their capability statements are complete and sufficiently detailed to demonstrate their qualifications.