Notice of Intent to Award - DCF ITB 2526 074.pdf

This Notice of Intent to Award document from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) announces the award of contract DCF ITB 2526 074 for Wastewater Surveillance services to the University of Florida. The solicitation, issued on March 2, 2026, sought a respondent to provide comprehensive wastewater surveillance services for drug analysis coordination across Florida municipalities. Primary deliverables include coordination and facilitation of wastewater sample collection and transfer from multiple Florida municipalities, calibration of testing equipment and analytical methods in accordance with DCF's approved substance list, creation and management of a data dashboard for tracking and reporting, and operation of a fully equipped laboratory capable of performing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis for comprehensive drug detection. The submission deadline was 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 posted on April 8, 2026. The contract term extends from March 30, 2026 through June 30, 2028, with renewal options available for an additional three fiscal years covering fiscal years 2028-29 through 2030-31, subject to Florida Statutes 287.057(14).

The solicitation evaluated proposals based on the responsible and responsive respondent submitting the lowest responsive bid and did not identify set-aside provisions for disadvantaged enterprises. Optional tiebreaking certifications were 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 were referenced in the solicitation documents. Respondents were required to submit three mandatory components: Required Certifications (PMT-58), Technical Response (PMT-59), and Cost Proposal (PMT-60), along with documentation verifying technical qualifications, licenses, certifications, and relevant experience. The cost proposal utilized unit-based pricing with separate line items for initial setup and dashboard creation, equipment calibration, and monthly surveillance services. Specific budget ranges or award values were not disclosed in the available solicitation materials.