Training and Exercise Plan Drafting Services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking capability statements from all firms interested in a proposed training and exercise plan development services contract.

Services involve planning, designing, and developing training and exercise activities for the National Bio and Agro‑Defense Facility (NBAF), located in Manhattan, Kansas which is a state‑of‑the‑art biocontainment research facility dedicated to transboundary animal disease research, vaccine development, diagnostics, and training. NBAF includes BSL‑2 through BSL‑4 laboratories, a GLP biologics development module, and BSL‑3Ag, ABSL‑4, and BSL‑4Ag animal spaces.

As a unique high containment research facility, NBAF must maintain strong biosafety, biosecurity, and operational readiness standards. Longterm frameworks for training and exercises are essential to ensure preparedness, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. For a more detailed description of the proposed requirements, please see the attached Statement of Work (SOW)

All interested parties are invited to submit capability statements and completed questionnaire for acquisition planning purposes. The following outline is recommended (5-page limit):

1) Company name, address, UEI (SAM), GSA contract #

2) A statement of capability which demonstrates the ability to perform this requirement.

3) Recent and relevant past performance information (Note: Prior government contract work is not required to submit a response.)

USDA APHIS reserves the right to determine if a small business set-aside is appropriate based upon the capability information provided in response to this notice, and other pertinent information gathered by the contracting officer. Respondents should ensure the information provided is detailed, current, accurate, and complete.

Please submit capability statements by email to Kathy Melby, Kathleen.melby@aphis.usda.gov, no later than July 8, 2026.

This notice does not constitute a solicitation. This invitation for capability statements is for planning purposes only. The acquisition strategy for this proposed project has not yet been determined. Response to this notice is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse any party for its participation in this effort. Information submitted in response to this notice is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge or provide feedback with respect to any information submitted under this notice.