Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

Laboratory research grade animals required for biomedical research purposes includes specialized pathogen free inbred and outbred species as required and specified in approved protocol research projects

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) The University's College of Medicine in Chicago manages the Surgical Innovation Training Laboratory, which is used to provide advanced robotic and laparoscopic training to UIC faculty and students as well as to host training for non-UIC surgeons in conjunction with manufacturers of advanced surgical equipment. The preferred model for surgical training is domestic farm swine due to the similarities in organ anatomy and physiology to humans. As there are 2-4 training labs per week, a reliable and economic source of the animals is required to meet the training mission of the College and University. Oak Hill Genetics meets the needs to support this training objective. Purchase of laboratory animals from the same vendor provides less variability in research and greatly improves the quality and reproducibility of the studies.