Guidelines for Bringing Research Animals to the NICHD
Investigators must have an Animal Study Proposal (ASP) approved by the NICHD Animal Care and Use Committee prior to making arrangements for the importation of any vertebrate animal to the NIH.
An NIH Centralized Animal Order Request (NIH 79-3) form must be completed, submitted to, and processed by the NICHD Research Animal Management Branch office in order to obtain research animals. Forms may be hand carried, mailed, or a facsimile sent to Building 6, Room 446, Facsimile: 402-0502. Approval signatures on this form include the Animal Program Director (or his representative) and the Facility Manager/Veterinarian (if applicable). This form is used for administrative purposes by both the institute and the animal facility.
Rodents from commonly used vendors of research animals are ordered through contracts that are maintained by the Veterinary Resources Program (VRP). Animal orders received by the RAMB prior to 3:00 p.m. are usually processed and forwarded to the appropriate animal facility and on to the VRP on the same day. Plan ahead for your animal orders. The VRP generally requires receipt of an animal order 5 business days prior to the requested delivery date, especially if the order has particular requirements (e.g., timed pregnant animals).
Some vertebrate and invertebrate animals cannot be ordered through the VRP (e.g., fish, amphibians, sea urchins); these species are ordered through your Administrative Officer as procurement actions (purchase orders or blanket purchase agreements). These orders also must be approved by the RAMB. The same NIH Centralized Animal Order Request (NIH 79-3) form is used for this purpose.
Animal orders sent directly to the VRP or to NICHD procurement by investigators will not be processed.
Standing animal orders, where a certain number of animals are delivered at regular intervals, can be initiated by submitting the same NIH Centralized Animal Order Request (NIH 79-3) form. All standing orders are terminated at the end of each fiscal year; they must be resubmitted if you want these animal shipments to continue.
For additional information contact the RAMB Program Manager.
