SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Veterinary pathologist - desert tortoises.
- Notice Date
- 6/7/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, APS BRANCH OF ACQUISITION AND GRANTS 3020 STATE UNIVERSITY DR. EAST, MODOC HALL STE 3001 SACRAMENTO CA 95819
- ZIP Code
- 95819
- Solicitation Number
- 06WRSS0012
- Response Due
- 6/22/2006
- Archive Date
- 6/7/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, Western Ecological Research Center, Box Springs Field Station (USGS) has identified a requirement for a qualified veterinary pathologist capable of performing necropsies on desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). This will be a negotiated acquisition in accordance with (IAW) the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. Full and open competition will be provided for. This acquisition is unrestricted, under NAICS code 541940 - Veterinary Services. The USGS desires a five year contract period, which will likely consist of a base year and four option years. A brief description of the required services follows. General Background Research has been underway since the 1970's to determine causes of illness and death in desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) from the Southwest. New and emerging diseases appear to be contributors to decline in wild desert tortoise populations. On April 2, 1990, the federal government of the United States listed desert tortoise populations north and west of the Colorado River as threatened. Since 1989, the Principal Investigator (PI, U.S. Geological Survey), and scientists at other government institutions, have used a combination of data from clinical observations in the field and necropsies to conduct research on diseases suspected of causing population declines in wild desert tortoises. Over six dozen tortoises, collected between 1989 and 2005, have been the subject of this ongoing study. Most tortoises were discovered ill, dying, or recently dead in the field. In a few cases, the tortoises were apparently healthy, but were killed by vehicles; their organ systems provided baseline information on topics such as concentrations of metals and organic compounds. Diseases that have been identified as the cause of illness or death include but are not limited to: cutaneous dyskeratosis; shell necrosis; cutaneous mycotic infection; malnutrition/dehydration; pneumonia; mycoplasmosis; intracoelomic ectopic egg retention; elevated tissue concentrations of cadmium, lead and iron, and other potentially toxic elements; and trauma and urolithasis. Objectives There is a continuing need to monitor the routine health monitoring of tortoise populations by performing complete necropsies on ill, dying and recently dead tortoises. These routine necropsies provide valuable baseline data for the various populations. The data and publications from the necropsied tortoises have contributed to a better understanding of how the desert tortoise responds to a variety of disease conditions. The overall goal of this project is to determine the actual and potential causes of illness or death by gross and microscopic examination of tissues and by conducting hematological, plasma biochemical, and other laboratory tests. Using FY06 research funds and future funds as they become available, we propose a variety of research objectives which include, but are not limited to: (1) perform necropsies on ill, dying, and recently dead wild desert tortoises from all parts of the geographic range within the United States, with a focus on California; (2) establish a reference collection of laboratory data, including histologic studies and photographs of lesions, on relevant organ systems for both healthy and diseases tortoises; (3) determine actual and potential causes of the illness or death using standardized techniques of research veterinarians, pathologists, and microbiologists, as well as new techniques where appropriate; (4) continue ongoing research on the cause of shell diseases; (5) determine the concentrations of heavy metals, other potentially toxic elements, organic compounds, and other potentially toxic substances in tortoise tissues; (6) provide support for ongoing research on epidemiology of mycoplasmosis by identifying tortoises that are infected with Mycoplasma sp. and/or have lesions of mycoplasmosis, and identifying the species of Mycoplasma isolated from respiratory or genital tract; or other organs; (7) continue support and research on herpes virus infections by identifying tortoises that are infected with herpes virus and the organ system involved; (8) visit specific field sites, when requested, to respond to new critical situations; (9) collaborate with other scientists on the health/disease research project; and (10) in collaboration with the PI, USGS, prepare interim and final reports and publications for the peer-reviewed research veterinary medical journals (open literature) that will summarize the methods, results, and general findings of necropsies and on specific subjects. Such reports and journal articles will be done in collaboration with other scientists on the health/disease research project. The timing and achievement of these objectives are partially dependent on getting adequate numbers of tortoise with different kinds of diseases. The PI, USGS, will be providing the tortoises and shall manage all the required permits. The objectives and comparative weight of the tasks required to achieve the objectives will be reevaluated on the quarterly basis. Objectives are aimed at providing valuable information that research workers can utilize and build upon for investigations into the ecological and medical management of desert tortoises, particularly tortoises with different diseases such as herpes virus, mycoplasmosis, and cutaneous dyskeratosis. Complete specifications will be provided with the Request for Proposals, which is anticipated for release on or about 26 June 2006. For further information regarding this announcement, please contact Jeff Caravelli, Contracting Officer, at (916) 278-9341 or jcaravelli@usgs.gov. Numbered note 26 applies.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN01064368-W 20060609/060607221845 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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