This is not a Solicitation for Offer, nor is this a Request for Proposal.
The National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center (the Center) in Carr, Colorado houses approximately 66% of the world's ex-situ population of endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, ferrets). The Center's mission is to maintain a viable assurance population of black-footed ferrets in managed care and to produce healthy kits to support reintroduction efforts to the wild. Ferrets born at the Center are reintroduced to select sites in several states each year in an effort to meet recovery goals. The Center houses at least 170-185 breeding ferrets year-round. This number doubles during summer and fall of each year as hundreds of kits are born and more are transferred to the Center from five zoo breeding facilities for veterinary processing and behavioral preconditioning.
Due to the retirement of the current on staff veterinarian, The Center requires a contract veterinarian who will provide primary care for the managed population of black-footed ferrets. The contract veterinarian will work five days/week (Monday through Friday) and be available on weekends on call. Specialized veterinary care for these endangered mustelids needs to be available within one hour for 365 days per year. Transport of ill or injured ferrets to companion animal vet clinics is not advised due to disease and animal stress concerns.
The NAICS Code is 541940, Veterinary Services. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks a second part-time veterinarian to provide veterinary services for the Center 8 hours per week on all, but up to, four annual Fridays and provide veterinary services, or on-call duty when the VMO is unavailable due to leave, travel, illness or other circumstances not to exceed a total aggregate of 500 hours per year.
Interested veterinarians must meet the following conditions:
- Follow all veterinary protocols as described in the Center's Managed Care Operations Manual and as updated elsewhere and as directed.
- Perform all appropriate preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in a prompt, safe, and effective manner.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately with all Center staff and the Recovery Coordinator.
Specifically:
- Provide emergency veterinary care for BFFs on-site as needed.
- Provide veterinary support to Program partners as appropriate.
- Process kits (vaccinate, evaluate, anesthetize, transponder etc.) safely and humanely.
- Perform or direct diagnostic physical and fecal exams, & further diagnostics
- Prescribe and administer medications and preventive treatments including vaccinations.
- Perform anesthesia, phlebotomy, surgery, (primarily castrations, ovariectomies, dental extractions).
- Process and interpret vaginal cytologies and electroejaculations. Keep associated supplies/equipment in stock and in good working order.
- Conduct at least annual outside nutritional analysis of processed diets
- Collect and store approved biological samples and maintain log of those stored and sent out.
- Communicate promptly and effectively with appropriate staff and VMO regarding health and treatment of BFFs.
- Perform necropsies, take appropriate samples, photos, and follow up with CSU histopathologists.
- Communicate promptly with VMO regarding need for veterinary medications and supplies.
- Keep veterinary rooms and equipment clean and ready to use.
- Operate and maintain all veterinary equipment, (gas anesthesia, autoclave, microscopes, blood chemistry, CBC, UPC, x-ray, ultrasound, and other).
- Maintain current written medical records; both hard records, ZIMS and spreadsheets
- Maintain Colorado State License, DEA license and USDA Accreditation Category II and provide Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for interstate and international animal transfers.
- Provide appropriate veterinary care for housed hamsters and prairie dogs at FCC.
- Provide overnight field veterinary support as available and requested under the total hourly cap.
- Assist the VMO for additional on-the-job training and complete other training as necessary.
- Travel to and from the Center, including any commuting or on-call related commuting or travel expenses, will not be authorized or reimbursed under this contract.
- Non-routine travel that may be requested to support the Center outside of a 50-mile radius may have expenses reimbursed equivalent to federal government travel rates and per-diem rates. No additional compensation for actual travel time will be reimbursed time charged for travel outside of a 50-mile radius must fit under the hour and financial cap outlined above (i.e. not to exceed 500 hours and $3,000.00 dollars per year).
- Non-emergency relief veterinary services requested when the primary veterinarian is unavailable for duty (due to continuing education, annual leave, scheduled sick leave, meetings or other) must be planned in conjunction with and approved in advance by the Ferret Center Manager as appropriate.
The highly qualified veterinarian will have at least 3 years of recent full-time clinical experience with at least weekly medical cases involving small carnivores.
They will also demonstrate high competency in the following:
- phlebotomy; cranial vena cava, jugular, other sites in ferrets
- emergency care and surgical skill
- tracheal intubation, dentistry, extractions
- internal and reproductive medicine
- gas and injectable anesthesia and monitoring
- microscopic analysis- fecal exams and vaginal cytology
- collaboration with veterinary, research, and field colleagues
- written and verbal communication skills
- initiative and eagerness to learn
- problem solving and creative thought
This is not a request for proposals, only a request for information for planning purposes, and does not constitute a solicitation. A solicitation may or may not be issued. This notice is being published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 5.201.
All interested parties should respond to this announcement no later than June 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM. ET. Please include name of firm, name of contact person, address, phone, and e-mail address.
All responses shall be made (email only) to the following: Please include RFI # DOIFFBO250092 in the subject line in email. e-mail: khalilah_brown@fws.gov
This is not a Solicitation for Offer, nor is this a Request for Proposal. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not pay for any costs incurred as a result of this advertisement.
