Laboratory Animals - This is for the purchase of animal species with specialized strains that may require breeding time and special husbandry and/or housing care and other needs and considerations until age maturity. The veterinary staff conducts a thorough cost, required specifications, and availability analysis for research animals purchased to support the institutional animal based research program.

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)) Availability is an important criterion for researchers to obtain laboratory grade animals in a timely basis to fulfill its research mission. Additionally, laboratory level research requires animals with distinct genetic characteristics that do not lend itself to a lot of competition. Lack of availability jeopardizes the PI's research and funding to the University.