Appendix IV - Vendor Questions.docx

This is a vendor questions template form for Invitation to Bid (ITB) 2526 074, issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) for wastewater surveillance services. The solicitation seeks comprehensive wastewater surveillance services including coordination and facilitation of sample collection and transfer from multiple Florida municipalities, calibration of testing equipment and analytical methods, creation and management of a data dashboard, and operation of a fully equipped laboratory capable of performing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis for drug detection. Written questions were due March 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, with DCF responses anticipated by March 16, 2026. Bid responses were due March 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, with public opening scheduled for 2:00 PM the same day via video conference. The Notice of Intent to Award was anticipated for March 24, 2026, with a contract start date of March 30, 2026. The contract term extends from March 30, 2026 through June 30, 2028, with renewal options available for an additional three fiscal years through June 30, 2031, subject to Florida Statutes 287.057(14).

The cost proposal utilizes unit-based pricing with separate line items for initial setup and dashboard creation, equipment calibration, and monthly surveillance services spanning fiscal years 2025-26 through 2027-28. The solicitation does not identify set-aside provisions for disadvantaged enterprises or restrict participation by organization type; however, optional tiebreaking certifications are available for organizations designated as Minority Business Enterprises, Veteran Business Enterprises, Florida Businesses, Foreign Manufacturers with Florida factories, or Drug-Free Workplaces. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the solicitation documents. Notably, no questions were received from vendors during the question submission period, as documented in the related solicitation updates.