Specialized research equipment to establish a germ-free mouse facility core resource for the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy in the Molecular Biology Research Building (MBRB) to support the aims of several National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored programs.

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 specialized equipment will help establish a new Gnotobiotics Facility on the West Campus in MBRB Room 2009 that has recently been remodeled under PPCON Project 919-601-17 to meet germ-free laboratory conditions. The equipment is required to conduct externally funded research objectives with the NIH.