Inactive

The Comparative Medicine Branch (“CMB” or “Program”) is responsible for the housing and care of laboratory animals for the DIR in 7 unique locations both in Bethesda and Rockville. Each species of ani... The Comparative Medicine Branch (“CMB” or “Program”) is responsible for the housing and care of laboratory animals for the DIR in 7 unique locations both in Bethesda and Rockville. Each species of animal requires a very specific type of caging, feed and bedding. One of the main goals of the CMB is to reduce variables in housing and ensure that investigators can obtain reproducible results. In order to accomplish this goal, all caging, feed, and bedding supplies are from one manufacturer. In addition, due to lack of storage and adequate clean areas of holding, only one type of racking system and its accompanying cage components (to include water bottles, water bottle racks, feed wire bars, calibrated blowers and rack washing equipment) is used by each facility. The CMB uses a High Density Ventilated Rack (HDVR) system that is composed of unique-to-the-rack cages, which have specifically sized wire bars, feed hoppers, water bottles and lids. Cages are “hooked” to racks via air grommets which are unique to each manufacturer and only hold those cages that have valves and grommets that match. Program requires the acquisition of 7,000 filter top lids and 7,000 cages that fits the currently used HDVR system. Lab Products LLC (aka Lab Products Inc. or Lab Products) is the manufacturer of the currently used HDVR system that requires replacement caging.