CIRMF is geographically isolated from the capital of Gabon, Libreville. The Libreville office is essential to the Franceville headquarters as it coordinates visits from staff on field missions, and forwards imported equipment to headquarters. The capital is accessible by a 12-hour ride in a four-wheel drive vehicle or in a train (three times/week schedule) covering 641 km. Due to tropical weather, four weekly domestic plane rotations often fly on an inconsistent schedule. Ultimately CIRMF needs to be largely autonomous in term of electrical power (i.e.,: unexpected fuel supply disruption), cold chain with the necessity to maintain in situ a unit of liquid nitrogen production (repository), and purified water supply. 