Request for Proposals
VETERINARY SERVICES
FOR THE BUFFALO ANIMAL SHELTER
380 Oak Street
Buffalo, New York
Solicitation Issue Date: April 9, 2026
Proposal Due Date: May 6, 2026, 12:00PM EST
Issued by:
City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets
65 Niagara Square, 502 City Hall
Buffalo, New York 14202
1
Table of Contents
I. INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS………..……………………………………………………… 3
II. PROJECT BACKGROUND and SCOPE OF SERVICES…………………………………………… 4
III. IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIRED SERVICES…………………………………………………… 7
IV. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS & SELECTION PROCESS…………………………………… 7
V. PROJECT SCHEDULE……………………………………………………..…………………………..…… 11
VI. TIME AND PLACE OF SUBMISSION…………………………………………………………………. 11
VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…………………………………………………………………….……. 12
VIII. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS……………………………………………………………… 13
VIII. ATTACHMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………….……… 16
❖ Attachment A – Proposal Form
Attachment B – Non-Collusion Certification
Attachment C – Executive Order 16-04
Attachment D – Living Wage Application
2
I. Invitation to Submit Proposals
PUBLIC NOTICE
Request for Proposal for Veterinary Services for the Buffalo Animal Shelter
The City of Buffalo is soliciting proposals on the provision of various Veterinary Services for the
Buffalo Animal Shelter located at 380 Oak St., Buffalo, NY, 14203 The City invites all professional
service corporations organized and licensed for the practice of veterinary medicine and the
provision of medical services, with prior demonstrative experience in providing such services,
including but not limited to, for government entities, to submit a proposal for the City’s
consideration. For purposes of this solicitation, Offeror’s Veterinary Hospital must be located within
the greater Buffalo area and shall be accredited by New York State and certified with the American
Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
The City contemplates entering into an independent agent operator agreement with the successful
applicant, for an initial term of one (1) year, with up to four (4) additional separate consecutive one
(1) year periods, such extension to be upon mutual agreement.
If you would like a walk-through of the property, please contact Jennifer L. Jacobs @
jjacobs@buffalony.gov by April 17, 2026, 4:00PM
Respondents are required to submit one (1) original and one (1) copy prior to May 6, 2026 at
12:00PM labeled “Proposal for Veterinary Services for the Buffalo Animal Shelter”. Responses
shall be firmly sealed in an envelope or box and contain the Respondent’s name and return address.
Under no circumstances will the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets
consider a proposal which is received after the deadline.
City’s Designee for Communication
For the purposes of this solicitation, the City’s Designee shall be Jennifer L. Jacobs with the Division
of Streets and Sanitation.
Jennifer L. Jacobs
Director of Street Sanitation, Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets
65 Niagara Square, Room 504
Buffalo, NY 14202
jjacobs@buffalony.gov
Copies of the request for proposal including all related documents will be made available on the
City’s website and can be obtained by visiting the City’s website at https://www.buffalony.gov/bids
All questions concerning this request for proposal shall be submitted no later than April 17, 2026 at
4:00PM via email by to: jjacobs@buffalony.gov
3
All questions and answers will be posted to the City of Buffalo website by April 24, 2026.
II. Scope of Services
Each Offeror must submit a comprehensive and detailed description of the process by which it will
propose to perform the services described in this Request for Proposals. Offerors are free to make
recommendations of how their proposed services, and any additional features that they provide,
may be beneficial to the City meeting or exceeding its veterinary goals. All responses must include
anticipated costs.
The City intends to award a contract to the Offeror whose proposal is deemed to be in the best
interest of the taxpayers. The successful Offeror must possess a demonstrative record of providing
exceptional service and support.
CATEGORY A- GENERAL SERVICES
1. The primary purpose of the services sought from the Successful Offeror(s) is to perform
services incident to the Buffalo Animal Shelter. All examinations shall be covered under
general services. Any animal that is symptomatic in any way (coughing, sneezing etc.),
especially new intakes shall be examined/treated.
2. The Successful Offeror(s) agrees to provide:
A. Daily visits to the Small Animal Shelter, up to six (6) days a week between the hours of
approximately 7:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Schedule to be agreed upon by both the Director
of the Animal Shelter and the Veterinarian. If animal becomes emergency after visiting
hours, it will be transported to hospital.
B. Examination and certification of health status of all rabies observation cases, also to
include providing and the administration of rabies shots/tags.
C. Examination and emergency treatment of all other animals in the Shelter’s care, and
provide written reports of same.
D. Be available to provide emergency care seven (7) days a week within thirty (30)
minutes of being notified of the emergency.
E. Provide a qualified, currently registered/licensed Veterinary Technician on an as-
needed, on-call basis.
F. Inspection of facilities and vehicles with quarterly written reports.
G. Aid in acquiring controlled substances for tranquilizer gun.
H. Make recommendations based on professional knowledge for improvements in
sanitation, nutrition and disease control at the Shelter.
I. Be available to handle any public relations matters that the shelter Director may
request aid with.
J. Perform intravenous euthanasia at the Buffalo Animal Shelter pursuant to the
amendment to New York State Agriculture and Marketing Law and Public Health Law
4
in relation to providing for humane disposition of dogs and cats in animal shelters and
pounds. Aid from Buffalo Shelter staff shall be limited to help in restraining in event of
euthanasia.
K. Supply all personnel necessary to perform euthanasia as described in Paragraph 1
above. Minimum of two (2) people required. Any procedure that requires the use of a
needle cannot be performed by Buffalo Shelter staff (other than Vet. Tech).
L. Tranquilize all aggressive and excitable animals prior to euthanasia so as to make such
euthanasia procedure as painless and humane as possible. Buffalo Shelter staff may
assist in restraining the animals.
M. Perform said euthanasia’s six (6) days a week between 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. or at
the request of the Shelter’s Director when necessary.
N. Perform individual euthanasia’s on an emergency basis as requested by the Shelter’s
Director within 30 minutes of notification, seven (7) days a week or at the request of
the Director of the Animal Shelter.
O. Purchase Sodium Pentobarbital necessary to perform required euthanasia’s at the
Animal Shelter.
P. Maintain accurate records of euthanasias performed. Records must include:
1. Date euthanasia performed.
2. Description of animal euthanized.
3. ID number assigned by the Shelter to the individual animal.
4. Amount of sodium pentobarbital used to perform euthanasia.
5. Name of person performing euthanasia.
6. Submit all euthanasia records to the Department Public Works/Div. of Street
Sanitation on a quarterly basis within two weeks of the conclusion of each quarter.
Q. Complete records maintained by the Shelter.
R. Prepare all euthanized animals for disposal in an anesthetically accepted manner.
S. Administer feline combo test upon request of the Director of Animal Shelter. Every cat
going for spay/neutering requires a Combo Test prior to procedure. The City of Buffalo
to provide the test kit.
T. Unforeseen surgical procedures of excessive costs under this category will be
negotiated per case at the discretion of the Director of the Animal Shelter.
CATEGORY B- VACCINATIONS: See price list for items included (pg.18)
A. Provide and administer various vaccinations used in standard veterinarian practices as
requested by the Director of the Animal Shelter to include but not limited to feline
distemper vaccine, feline virulent calicivirus vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, canine
parvo vaccine, worming and bordetella/intrac. This category must be completed by the
proposer, as it is contingent upon Category A and/or C.
5
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.