APHIS Announces Sources Sought Notice to Gather Information on Diagnostic Test Kits for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank

August 5, 2020 — 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the availability of a sources sought notice that will be posted for 30 days to gather information from interested diagnostics manufacturers on their ability to supply test kits for three major livestock diseases: foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF). [Source: USDA 3 August 2020]

APHIS will analyze information gathered through the sources sought notice to determine whether it would be appropriate and feasible to include test kits and their components in the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB).

USDA anticipates the potential need for diagnostic kits and reagents from more than one source to ensure an adequate supply of these products for a sudden surge of diagnostic samples that could result from an infectious disease epidemic. Limited reagent availability during the COVID pandemic highlighted the potential need for a diagnostics stockpile to support a nationwide large-scale foreign animal disease outbreak.

APHIS is taking this action to better understand options for sourcing these vital test kits and components. Our goal is to ensure a sufficient supply of diagnostic kits and reagents to sustain the disease surveillance and monitoring of animals during an infectious disease outbreak of national significance.

The sources sought notice is available through beta.sam.gov/. Interested manufacturers should respond by September 3, 2020.

The 2018 Farm Bill established and provided funding for the NAVVCB. It allows USDA to stockpile animal vaccine and countermeasures including diagnostic assays to use in the event of an FMD outbreak or other high-impact foreign animal diseases, such as ASF and CSF. More information about the NAVVCB and other animal health programs established by the 2018 Farm Bill is available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/farm-bill/farmbill12101.