[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 20150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9681]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Request for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Capability Statements

    The purpose of this Notice is to determine the capabilities of any 
private nonprofit organizations interested in serving as a contractor 
to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees as required under the 
``Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) 
Act,'' Public Law 106-551, which amended Section 481C of the Public 
Health Service Act on December 20, 2000.
    To carry out the CHIMP Act, the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), acting on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
will, among other things:
     Seek to award a contract to a private nonprofit 
organization that meets the detailed requirements set forth in the Act. 
A complete copy of the Act is available at http://thomas.loc.gov/ or 
from the Contract Office listed below. Interested institutions should 
pay particular attention to the sections titled ``Chimpanzees Accepted 
Into System'' [Section 481C(d)(2)(A)-(K)], ``Requirements'' [Section 
481C(e)(2)(A)-(H)], ``Board of Directors'' [Section 481C(e)(3)], and 
``Requirement of Matching Funds'' [Section 481C(e)(4)]; and
     Identify the number of chimpanzees no longer needed for 
research that are available for placement in the sanctuary.
    In order for NIH to assess those organizations capable of 
responding to a Request for Proposals, we are requesting that 
interested organizations submit capability statements. When responding 
to this notice, organizations are asked to review the requirements of 
the CHIMP Act and address the following 5 items:
    1. Nonhuman Primate Management Experience and Stability: (a) 
Describe when your organization was established; (b) its management 
structure; (c) the staff that would be assigned to this project; (d) 
their experience in managing and caring for chimpanzees; (e) evidence 
of financial stability and resources that can be brought to the 
project;
    2. Matching Funds: Provide evidence of your organization's ability 
to make non-Federal contributions in cash or in-kind, in an amount not 
less than 10% of the establishment costs (including construction 
costs), and 25% of the yearly operational expenses;
    3. Capacity to Hold Chimpanzees: Due to cost effectiveness 
constraints aimed at achieving the savings foreseen by the 
Congressional Budget Office, potential offerors must demonstrate the 
capacity to house and care for at least 75 chimpanzees. Describe your 
facility's present or planned capacity to manage and operate a system 
holding at least 75 chimpanzees, with the future possibility of 
expansion at the original or additional sites;
    4. Working with Diverse Groups: Describe your ability and 
willingness to work with members of the animal protection community, 
NIH, and a wide variety of other interested parties. In addition, 
describe your experience or plans for using a board of directors 
experienced in captive chimpanzee management, animal protection, 
behavioral primatology, business management, laboratory animal 
medicine, accreditation of animal facilities, and biohazard 
containment;
    5. Board of Directors: Submit letters of commitment for possible 
members to serve on the board of directors of the sanctuary. Indicate 
the full name, credentials, expertise, and organizational 
affiliation(s) for each person.
    If possible, please address the 5 items above in a capability 
statement of no more than 30 pages in length. The capability statement 
will neither bind nor obligate any organization at this time. If a 
Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued, the NIH will transmit a copy of 
it to all organizations whose capability statements have been received 
by the due date of May 15, 2001. An announcement of availability of the 
RFP will also be made in the Commerce Business Daily and in the NIH 
Guide for Grants and Contracts. Please send three copies of the 
capability statement with an accompanying signed transmittal letter so 
that they will be received at the following address by May 15, 2001: 
Mr. Robert Best, Contracting Officer, National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
Institute, DEA, Contracts Operations Branch, Two Rockledge Centre, Room 
6100, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902.

    Dated: April 12, 2001.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Acting Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 01-9681 Filed 4-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P