Provision of Bordetella-Free Baboons for Pertussis Infection and Vaccination Studies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) has issued this sources sought notice to identify potential providers of twenty Bordetella-free baboons. These animals are required to support ongoing studies regarding pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium *Bordetella pertussis*. Because the baboon model developed by CBER is the only animal model that accurately recapitulates the disease as it appears in human patients, the acquisition of these specific animals is necessary to evaluate the differences between licensed acellular vaccines and whole-cell vaccines, particularly regarding their ability to prevent infection via natural transmission.

This requirement is identified under solicitation number CBER-2026-134085 and is classified under NAICS 112990, All Other Animal Production, and PSC 8820, LIVE ANIMALS, NOT RAISED FOR FOOD. There is currently no set-aside assigned to this procurement. The primary place of performance is Silver Spring, MD, and David Kramer serves as the point of contact for this notice.

Responses to this market research inquiry are due by May 29, 2026. The notice, originally published on May 21, 2026, includes one attachment titled CBER-2026-134085 SSN.pdf. All provided details regarding the scope and purpose of the animal procurement are synthesized from the agency's research needs for refining the baboon model to better understand vaccine-mediated protection and public health measures.