Request Form to Division of Purchasing (DOP)

Exemption from Competition - EFC

If you have any questions please contact us at DOPHelpDesk@adm.idaho.gov

Form ID 26019

Generated after Receipt by DOP

Year

Requestor Information

Agency Name* Idaho State Department of Agriculture

Agency Acronym*

ISDA

Requestor Name* Molly Heiss

Phone* 208-332-8641

E-mail* molly.heiss@isda.idaho.gov

Property Being Purchased:* ISO 17025 Lab Accreditation & Audit Services

This field has a 300 character limit

Type of Exemption Check all that apply

Type of Exemption*

A solicitation has been completed and my Agency wishes to award contracts to multiple vendors for the same or smilar property (Multiple Award Authorization)

My Agency wishes to administer or award a solicitation at a dollar amount above its normal Delegated Purchasing Authority (Limited/One-Time DPA)

The property required is available on one or more open contracts, but my Agency wishes to purchase from a different vendor. (Note: if total value is over $10,000, Agency must also check the box for exemption from competition if requesting to pruchase from a specific vendor). (Utilization of Open Contract).

A solicitation is being developed (by my Agency under its DPA or in conjunction with DOP) and my Agency wishes to limit responses to a specific manufacturer/brand name (I.e. no substitutions). (Note: this option assumes that multiple vendors can offer the identified brand name; otherwise, select the option for exemption from competition to request a Sole Source Authorization (Brand Name Only)

A solicitation has been completed and there is a need to negotiate with one or more vendors. (Authorization to Negotiate)

My Agency is seeking to purchase directly from an identified vendor without completing a solicitation OR wishes to perform a level of competition that is less formal than would typically be required. (Various exemptions-additional questions to follow) mailto:molly.heiss@isda.idaho.gov

Additional Questions*

There is an immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare (Emergency Purchase Authorization)

The required property can only be procured from a single supplier (sole manufacturer and distributor) (Sole Source Authorization)

There is an existing Policy Directive on the DOP website which requires authorization to be utilized (Utilization of Policy Directive)

It would be impractical, unreasonable, or disadvantageous to complete the required competitive process under the circumstances (Exemption from Competition)

Exemption from Competition

IDAPA 38.05.01.042.05 provides that the administrator may exempt an acquisition from competitive procurement if the administrator determines that bidding is impractical, disadvantageous or unreasonable under the circumstances. Examples include, but are not limited to:

special market conditions; property requiring special contracting procedures due to uniqueness; and services for which competitive solicitation procedures are impractical.

Proposed Supplier* Enter Unknown if supplier is not known

A2LA

Duration*

One-Time purchase Ongoing

Anticipated Total Cost* $57,000.00

Background* Describe the circumstances

ISO 17025 is a global quality standard for testing, sampling, and calibration laboratories covering a wide range of laboratories and functions.

The Animal Health Lab (AHL) became a member of the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) on June 18th, 2025. In October 2025, the USDA notified the AHL that all NAHLN members must obtain ISO 17025 or American Association of Veterinarian Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accredited status by November 1, 2027.

Please see attached.

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Justification* Why would the competition be impractical, unreasonable, or disadvantageous under the circumstances?

ISDA has researched other NAHLN Animal Health Labs to determine which business had provided their ISO 17025 accreditation. The other NAHLN labs that have become ISO 17025-certified using the proposed supplier, A2LA, include: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

A2LA has issued thousands of accreditations to a wide range of organizations and corporate entities, including federal (EPA, FDA, USDA, DoD, and DOE) and state laboratory organizations. A2LA is also familiar with working with State of Idaho government, having accredited other State of Idaho government laboratories (for example, multiple Idaho State Police Forensic Services laboratories).

Having researched how dozens of labs have completed their accreditation and finding that the labs similar to ISDA’s Animal Health Lab all followed a similar pathway to success, it would be impractical and disadvantageous to seek out an alternative path to certification that has less certainty of success.

Please see attached documentation.

Description* Describe the extent to which competition is possible

Please see attached documentation for a review of the market research ISDA has completed.

ISO 17025 is an important and required certification for ISDA to maintain our National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) status. The USDA notified the Animal Health Lab that all NAHLN members must obtain accredited status by November 1, 2027. The process of acquiring ISO 17025 accreditation typically takes 12 months.

ISDA gathered information from 43 other state laboratories to determine their certification process. The certification company that can meet our https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/38/380501.pdf requirements and is approved by the NAHLN is A2LA.

ISDA is requesting an ongoing exemption to contract with A2LA for the initial certification and for ongoing audits and periodic recertification. The first five-year period is estimated to cost $57,000.00.

ISDA is requesting authorization to contract with A2LA for our ISO 17025 certification needs on an ongoing basis (five years and beyond) until our needs or the national requirements change.

Agency Certification*

The information provided above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge,and supports the need for a direct procurement of the described goods or services, in the best interest of the State.

File Upload

Lab ISO17025 OTE Explanation, Market Research, and Documentation.pdf 674.48KB

Maximum File Size 250 MB

Agency Representative* Date of Submittal* 2026-10-28

Approval - EFC

Administrator Intends to approve (pending legal notice).*

Yes No

Optional Posting?* This exemption will be sent for posting before final approval.

Yes No

Notes Public View

This field has a 300 character limit

File Upload

Maximum File Size 250 MB

Date Time* 2026-10-28