NIGP 495: Laboratory and Field Equipment and Supplies: Biology, Botany, Geology, Microbiology, Zoology, etc.

NIGP 495 Laboratory and Field Equipment and Supplies: Biology, Botany, Geology, Microbiology, Zoology, Etc. is a Class code under which state and local governments procure specialized laboratory testing services, microbial analysis, chemical-resistant laboratory equipment and supplies, and related technical support—grounded in recent solicitations focused on water quality analysis, environmental microbiology, and occupational health testing rather than traditional equipment distribution. School districts, municipalities, water utilities, and county health and social services departments are the primary buyers. Pinellas County School District is requesting Indoor Air Quality Services (ITB #26-CD-039, due November 6, 2026) encompassing asbestos and mold testing, laboratory analysis, and same-day to five-day air quality reporting, requiring bidders to maintain in-house laboratory capacity with microbiologists and environmental analysts within 25 miles of the service center; the estimated contract value is approximately $100,000 with a December 2026 start. The City of Santa Monica's Water Resources Division issued an Invitation to Bid for Microbial Source Tracking laboratory analysis (ITB, due June 9, 2026) requiring USEPA-approved laboratory certification to perform PCR assays identifying human, avian, and gull genetic markers in water samples, with provisional results due within three weeks and a five-year term with four one-year renewal options. The City of Meriden Water Department solicited laboratory testing services (ITB B026-58, due June 12, 2026) covering 56 frequent-test parameters and 11 infrequent parameters including copper, lead, coliform, trihalomethanes, and PFAS, with Connecticut Department of Public Health certification required and two-year initial term plus two optional two-year renewals.

Recent activity concentrates in Florida (Pinellas County School District, City of Palm Bay), California (Santa Monica), and Connecticut (City of Meriden), with secondary activity in Oregon (Marion County) and Arizona (Tucson Water). Solicitation types span ITBs and RFPs with response windows of 30–90 days. Bidders commonly face mandatory licensing or certification requirements—Florida Asbestos License and Licensed Mold Assessor credentials for indoor air quality work; USEPA laboratory approval for water microbiology; Connecticut Department of Public Health certification for water testing—and insurance requirements including General Liability of $1 million to $2 million, Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions coverage, and the contracting jurisdiction named as additional insured. Prevailing wage and affirmative action compliance apply in some jurisdictions. No set-asides or small-business preferences are prominently flagged in the available opportunities. Contract values range from approximately $100,000 (Pinellas County) to unspecified but substantial multi-year arrangements (Santa Monica's five-year MST term), with initial terms typically two to five years and renewal or extension options common.