Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC)
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 Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), intends to award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This presolicitation notice is for the Operation and Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Care Center (CCC) in Bastrop, TX, providing lifetime care for approximately 30-40 NIH-owned chimpanzees retired from research. Capability statements from responsible sources are due by April 9, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contract requires the operation and maintenance of the CCC, focusing on the quality of life for aged chimpanzees. Key services include:
- Chimpanzee Care: Daily veterinary care, husbandry, environmental enrichment, medical management of age-related diseases, pathogen monitoring (HBV, HCV, HIV), and ensuring psychological well-being. Invasive biomedical research is strictly prohibited.
- Facility Operations: Maintenance of the Chimpanzee Housing Complex (Building 302a), including indoor/outdoor housing, Primadome™ habitats, and associated infrastructure (sanitation, HVAC, emergency power).
- Staffing: Provision of qualified professional, technical, and animal care staff, including key personnel like a Director/Attending Veterinarian and Clinical Veterinarian, with extensive experience in nonhuman primate medicine.
- Compliance: Adherence to federal laws and regulations, including the CHIMP Act, Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, and biosafety guidelines (BSL 2/BSL 3 practices).
- Reporting: Submission of monthly and annual progress reports, a Chimpanzee Quality of Life Plan, a Minimal Staffing Plan, and an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)/Animal Exposure Surveillance Plan (AESP).
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)
- Duration: One twelve-month base period with four (4) one-year option periods.
- Place of Performance: Contractor's own facility at the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, Bastrop, TX.
- Response Date (Capability Statements): April 9, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
- Published Date: March 25, 2026
Sole-Source Justification
This action is conducted under 41 USC 3304(a)(1) (Only One Responsible Source). The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is identified as the only source capable of satisfying requirements because the chimpanzees are housed in their facility and have been formally determined unfit for relocation due to high risk of irreversible harm to their physical and behavioral health. Transitioning care to another provider would introduce unacceptable risks and delays.
Additional Notes
This is a presolicitation notice of intent to award a sole-source contract and not a request for competitive proposals. However, all responsible sources may identify their interest and submit a capability statement for agency consideration. Information received will be used to determine if a competitive acquisition is feasible. NIH retains ownership of existing chimpanzees; any born at the CCC will be owned and financially supported by the Contractor. An Occupational Medical Program is required for staff due to potential zoonotic disease exposure.