The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a Master Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for environmental sample collection and microbial analysis focused on pre-harvest produce safety. The contract, awarded in September 2013 and valid through September 2018, supports scientific investigations across regional, national, and international areas. Services under this vehicle specifically target environmental sampling techniques and microbial analysis protocols designed to assess potential safety risks in produce supply chains prior to harvest.
Task orders under this IDIQ were consistently awarded to small businesses, with Consolidated Safety Services Incorporated (CSS) being a notable prime contractor. The delivery orders ranged in value from approximately $156,000 to $212,000, with completion dates typically spanning 12-24 months. Each task order maintained a firm fixed-price structure and was designated as a total small business set-aside, indicating a focused procurement strategy supporting smaller enterprises. The place of performance for these task orders was consistently in Fairfax, Virginia, with CSS demonstrating capability to provide environmental, health, safety, and scientific support services. The contract's scope remained tightly aligned with environmental sampling and microbial analysis, suggesting a specialized approach to produce safety research and monitoring.