Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

Continuation of specialized genetically engineered laboratory research mice including transgenics (mice altered by gene transfers), homologous recombination (gene targeting), and (chemical mutagenesis) strains.

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)) Purchase of laboratory animals from the same vendor provides less variability in research and greatly improves the quality and reproducibility of the studies. If the exemption is not approved, the research community will lose access to Jackson lab research models which helps maintain consistency in research studies and avoids minor genetic variations in strains acquired from different vendors. Furthermore, not approving exemption would jeopardize critical, high-cost research, forcing university researchers to incur thousands of dollars in expenses to transition to different sources.