Marine Mammal Diagnostic Testing and Histopathology Services RFP

Description: To provide marine mammal diagnostic testing from cases submitted by the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) network members especially during and after Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs), and by researchers especially from live capture release health assessments. Data from these cases will further our understanding of health, health trends, and diseases of marine mammal populations in the wild and provide advice to management regarding circumstances or causes of morbidity and mortality in these marine animal populations. The requirement is to provide specialized tissue sample processing (including trimming, embedding, cutting, H&E stains, immunohistochemical stains, etc.), histological evaluations, laboratory diagnostic pathogen testing (PCR, whole genome sequencing, etc.) and expert consultations. This contract is important to inform the MMHSRP and researchers on the health, health trends, and diseases of marine mammal populations, and to provide advice to management regarding circumstances or causes of morbidity and mortality to support NOAA’s mandates for species conservation and recovery under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.