Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

The purchase of laboratory animal species with genetic guarantee for ongoing research required for biomedical research purposes, includes various specific pathogen free rodent species as 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)) Animals bred and maintained in isolated colonies become genetically adapted over time. Therefore, minor genetic variations occur between colonies maintained by different vendors. These genetic variations Interfere with consistency of experimental results and can jeopardize very expensive and important research. Purchase of animals from the same vendors provides less variability in the research and thus greatly improves the quality and reproducibility of the studies. Therefore, it essential to ensure consistent sourcing of animals for continuation of ongoing long term scientific research projects.