26PSX0023 Addendum 3.pdf

Solicitation Number 26PSX0023 Addendum Number 3

Please Note:

Respondents must read and accept any modifications to the solicitation that are contained in this Addendum. Acceptance of this addendum shall take place in CTsource with your organization’s submitted response.

Addendum Description: Document changes and Answers to submitted Questions

1. For Exhibit B, Schedule 2 SW-846 Methods: (Use Document titled “Exhibit B Schedule 2 SW846 Methods 8.3.26”)

a. SW-Organics tab - corrected item numbers that were out of sequence.

b. SW-Characteristic_Misc tab - Under the Other/Miscellaneous heading, added a new item SWOM-1 for Percent

Solids and adjusted item numbering.

2. For Exhibit B, Schedule 6, Miscellaneous Costs: (Use Document titled “Exhibit B Schedule 6 Miscellaneous Costs 8.3.26”)

a. Added item MISC-7 for analysis of Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate samples, only when requested by the

Client Agency and not as part of normal laboratory QA/QC procedures.

b. Correct first line of spreadsheet to read Exhibit B-6, instead of B-5.

3. Contract Document: (See Document titled “26PSX0023 Contract Document GS V13 8.3.26”)

a. Section 61 (e) has been removed and replaced with RESERVED.

4. Questions and Answers # Question Answer

Liquidated Damages: Can the Client provide information on the number of liquidated damages assessments incurred under the previous contract term? Additionally, is there any flexibility regarding the liquidated damages provisions or associated fee structure for this contract?

DAS has not compiled historical information regarding the number of liquidated damages assessments under the previous contract term. The liquidated damages provisions and associated fee structure contained in the Contract Document are not subject to negotiation and will remain as issued. Proposers should submit their bids accordingly.

Historical and Projected Sample Volumes:

Can the Client provide historical sample volumes from the previous contract period, as well as estimated sample volumes anticipated during the upcoming contract term?

Historical and projected sample volumes are not available.

Because this is a statewide contract utilized by multiple agencies, usage varies and no estimates or guarantees of future volume can be provided. Proposers should submit pricing based on the solicitation requirements and not on any anticipated quantity of work.

After-Hours and Emergency Response Requests: Can the Client provide the number of after-hours and/or emergency response requests that occurred during the previous contract term? In addition, are there opportunities for flexibility regarding any fees or rate structures associated with after-hours or emergency response services?

Emergency and after-hours response requests are infrequent and unpredictable. Based on historical experience under the current contract, the volume has ranged from 0 to 3 or more emergency/after-hours requests in a given month, with individual requests ranging from one to more than a dozen samples, some requiring expedited turnaround. These historical observations are provided for informational purposes only and do not represent a guarantee of future workload or volume.

Pricing shall be submitted in accordance with Exhibit B. The State will not consider alternative fee structures or pricing methodologies that deviate from the solicitation's required pricing format.

Tissue Analysis: Can the Client provide clarification on what type of tissue is included (Human? Fish? Other?)? Are there any tissues that include infectious samples, or will everything be certified as "non-infectious?" Any bio-haz?

The types of biological tissues anticipated for analysis include plant, fish, shellfish, and other species that would be tested in performing ecological risk assessments. It is not intended that infectious samples would be submitted for analyses.

Are J values to be provided for DW work, or only in cases where requested or that the lab could not meet the necessary MCL?

Refer to Exhibit C, Technical Specifications, Section 9- Content of Deliverables and Analytical Report Information: "13. Flag data with a “J” for estimated values greater than the detection limit but less than the reporting limits for drinking water samples and as requested by the Client Agency..." Report "J" flags for compounds detected above the detection limit, but less than the reporting limit in all drinking water samples. Client Agencies may request "J" flags in other circumstances.

Can alternative methods from those listed be used (ex. 353.2 for Nitrate-Nitrite, where

300.0 is listed)?

Refer to Description of Deliverables Section H: "Methods not included in DPH’s approved parameter list must meet standards established by the most recent revisions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Quality Systems Manual (QSM) or National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC)."

Also note, EPA 353.2 is listed on the Exhibit B Schedule 1 Drinking Water Inorganics tab.

Who are the incumbent laboratories to this contract?

Please refer to the current contract 19PSX0095 in Ctsource at:

https://portal.ct.gov/das/ctsource/contractboard?language=en_US

Section 61(e) requires Professional Liability Insurance in the amount of $5,000,000 per claim and annual aggregate. Given that this solicitation is for environmental analytical laboratory services and does not include engineering, design, construction, or similar professional services with significant worksite exposure, can DAS confirm that the $5,000,000 requirement is required? If so, would DAS consider reducing the Professional Liability requirement to an amount more consistent with the risks associated with laboratory analytical services?

Section 61 (e) is removed from the Contract Document as documented in this Addendum. Please see new Contract Document titled "26PSX0023 Contract Document GS V13 8.3.26".

Emergency Award Process When emergency analytical services are required, how will agencies determine which awarded contractor receives the work? Will emergency response capability and demonstrated availability be considered as part of the Best Value determination?

For emergency analytical services, the Client Agency will determine the most appropriate awarded Contractor based on the circumstances of the specific request and the best interests of the State. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to, the Contractor's emergency availability, ability to meet the required turnaround time, geographic location, and familiarity or involvement with the incident or project. The determination will be made in accordance with the Contract's work assignment provisions and the specific needs of the requesting agency.

Emergency Service Expectations Are contractors expected to maintain continuous after-hours, weekend, and holiday analytical availability throughout the contract term, or will such services be requested only on an as-needed basis through mutual agreement?

Emergency analytical services will be requested on an as-needed basis. While emergency requests are generally infrequent, most incidents allow for some advance coordination, ranging from several hours to a few days, to discuss the required analytical services, turnaround times, and other incident-specific needs.

Emergency Workload Approximately what percentage of analytical requests historically require expedited (24-hour), emergency, weekend, or holiday turnaround

DAS cannot provide a historical percentage of analytical requests requiring expedited (24-hour), emergency, weekend, or holiday turnaround. Such requests are infrequent, vary based on the nature of the incident or project, and are inherently unpredictable. In certain situations, time-critical response decisions may depend on the timely availability of analytical results. Bidders should submit pricing in accordance with the solicitation requirements without relying on any anticipated volume or frequency of expedited or emergency Services.

Approximately how many analytical projects or purchase orders are issued annually under this contract?

Refer to attachment titled "Addendum 3 Data"

Can DAS provide historical annual spending under the previous Environmental Analytical Services contract by participating agency and analytical category?

Refer to attachment titled "Addendum 3 Data"

Can DAS describe how geographic proximity to State agencies, sample transportation time, emergency response capability, local project management, and customer support will be considered during Best Value evaluations?

Awards will be made in accordance with the terms and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation. As stated in the solicitation, DAS intends to make multiple awards to ensure adequate capacity, redundancy, and statewide coverage. In making awards, DAS may consider the geographic distribution of Contractors to support timely and effective statewide service delivery. Geographic proximity, sample transportation time, emergency response capability, local project management, and customer support are not evaluated as standalone criteria but may be considered to the extent they support the objectives described in the solicitation.

Can DAS clarify whether, as part of the Best Value evaluation, consideration may be given to factors such as maintaining in-state analytical capacity, supporting Connecticut businesses, reducing sample transportation time, improving responsiveness during emergency events, and strengthening Connecticut's environmental laboratory infrastructure?

Awards will be made in accordance with the terms and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation. DAS will not evaluate proposals based on maintaining in-state analytical capacity, supporting Connecticut businesses, or strengthening Connecticut's environmental laboratory infrastructure as standalone considerations. As stated in the solicitation, DAS may consider the geographic distribution of Contractors to support timely and effective statewide service delivery when making multiple awards.

Are Bid Tabulations Available for the previous Iteration of this bid?

The current contract 19PSX0095, as awarded, reflects the awarded contractors and pricing submitted. This is available on the Ctsource site at:

https://portal.ct.gov/das/ctsource/contractboard?language=en_US

17 If/When will the performance/bid bond be required?

This is not a requirement.

What is the breakdown of the work mix, between DW, WW, Solids, Tissues, and

PFAS?

DAS cannot provide an exact breakdown of the anticipated work mix among drinking water, wastewater, solids, tissue, and PFAS analyses. The types and quantities of Services requested will vary based on the needs of participating Client Agencies throughout the term of the Contract. Bidders should submit pricing for the Services identified in the solicitation without relying on any anticipated distribution of work.

Will there be multiple labs on the contract once awarded?

Refer to Description of Objectives: "The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) intends to make multiple awards under this solicitation to ensure adequate capacity, redundancy, and statewide coverage for the required laboratory testing Services.

In making awards and administering resulting contracts, DAS may consider the geographic distribution of Contractors to support timely and effective statewide service delivery."

Will there be a breakdown of the grading system? ie. what percentages will be used for RFP aware process based on Price, Capabilities, Experience, and Expertise?

This solicitation is an Invitation to Bid (ITB), not a Request for Proposals (RFP). Accordingly, there is no weighted evaluation or scoring system based on percentages. Awards will be made in accordance with the terms of the solicitation, including the State's intent to make multiple awards to ensure adequate capacity, redundancy, and statewide coverage.

Are there any specific EDD's required by the State of Ct

There are no statewide Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD) requirements applicable to all Services under this Contract.

However, individual Client Agencies or specific programs may require program-specific EDD formats or data deliverables, which will be identified as part of the requested Services, as applicable.

Is the overall spend of this contract divided out among multiple labs, or is it all awarded to the lowest bidder?

This solicitation contemplates multiple Contract awards. DAS intends to make multiple awards to ensure adequate capacity, redundancy, and statewide coverage for the required laboratory testing Services. Accordingly, work may be distributed among multiple awarded Contractors based on agency needs, Contractor availability, geographic considerations, turnaround time requirements, capacity, Contractor performance, and other factors determined by the State to be in its best interest. No Contractor is guaranteed any specific volume of work, percentage of work, or number of assignments.

23 What is the Historical spend been on this contract?

Refer to attachment titled "Addendum 3 Data"

For any analyses that we may have to subcontract out, do we need to list another vendor, or can we NO BID Select items?

Bidders may elect not to bid on specific analyses by selecting "No Bid" for those items. If a Bidder intends to subcontract the performance of specific analyses, the applicable subcontractor(s) shall be identified in the "Subcontractor" column of the applicable Exhibit B Schedule.

Will any deviations from methods listed in the bid be allowed if NELAP Certified?

The analytical methods identified in the solicitation are the required methods for the applicable Services. As provided in Description of Deliverables, Section H, methods not included in the Connecticut Department of Public Health's approved parameter list must meet the standards established by the most recent revisions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Quality Systems Manual (QSM) or the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC). Bidders proposing any alternative methods should ensure they are consistent with the requirements of the solicitation and seek approval from the Client Agency.

Item 11 in the "requirements" tab states that a bid bond or performance bond may be required. The bid documents do not state that this is a requirement. Is a bid bond or performance bond required?

This is not a requirement.

Can we include additional surcharges such as % solids, or MS/MSD samples on the miscellaneous spreadsheet?

Items for percent solids when not otherwise required by an analytical method and for Analysis of Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate (MS/MSD) samples when specifically requested by the Client Agency have been added to Exhibit B Schedules 2 and 6, respectively. Note that the Client Agency will not pay for analysis of MS/MSD samples analyzed as part of a laboratory's normal QA/QC procedures.

How many labs are you expecting to include on the contract?

Refer to Description of Objectives: "The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) intends to make multiple awards under this solicitation to ensure adequate capacity, redundancy, and statewide coverage for the required laboratory testing Services.

In making awards and administering resulting contracts, DAS may consider the geographic distribution of Contractors to support timely and effective statewide service delivery."

Exhibit B, Schedule 2 – SW846 Methods, SW- Organics tab, includes individual sample preparation methods. Could you please clarify the purpose of including the preparation methods as separate line items on this schedule? Are the prices entered for these preparation methods intended to be used only in situations where samples are submitted for extraction/preparation only and the analytical testing is placed on hold or performed separately?

The sample preparation methods are listed as separate line items to account for potential differences in the preparation procedures and associated costs. Pricing for each preparation method shall be provided as specified in the Schedule. It is expected that the laboratory will perform the appropriate preparation method based on the specific analysis requested by the Client Agency.