New steps are being taken by USDA to help increase U.S. preparedness to respond to high-consequence foreign animal diseases (FADs). USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is purchasing diagnostic test kits for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). This is the first purchase of these kits, used to test livestock for African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), APHIS said in a release on Friday.
The test kits were ordered using Farm Bill funds and sole-source authority. The purchases were made from the manufacturer of the only APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics-licensed PCR kits for these two diseases, the release notes.
In addition, APHIS announced the availability of a sources-sought notice that will be posted for 90 days to gather additional information from interested diagnostics manufacturers and developers on their ability to supply test kits or devices for three major FADs: FMD, ASF and classical swine fever (CSF).
“This is not a solicitation. Information gathered through the sources-sought notice will be analyzed to determine the potential to include additional test kits/devices and their components in the NAVVCB. APHIS anticipates the need for diagnostic products from more than one source and possibly of more than one type to ensure an adequate supply of these products for a sudden surge of diagnostic samples that could result from an FAD outbreak in the United States,” APHIS said in a release.
Why is APHIS taking this action? The agency said its goal is to better understand options for sourcing these test kits/devices and components for these important FADs. APHIS must have diagnostic testing capacity to sustain the disease surveillance and monitoring of animals during a high-consequence FAD outbreak. An adequate supply of test kits is critical if disease control and eradication becomes necessary.
The sources-sought notice is available through Sam.gov. Interested vendors should visit the Contracting Opportunities page and search for the Notice ID: 1088535. Interested parties should respond by May 8,.
Editor’s Note: 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 FADs, such as ASF and CSF. Click here for more information about the NAVVCB and other animal health programs established by the 2018 Farm Bill.
