Questions and Answers_Final.docx

Massachusetts State Police Biological/DNA testing and Validation Services

BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543

Questions and Answers

This is your notification that Parabon NanoLabs submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/04/2025 04:26:45 PM.

Answer There are no format requirements for bid proposal and the Mock Reports.

This is your notification that Parabon NanoLabs submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/04/2025 04:27:30 PM.

A bid may be submitted for some, but not all of the services listed on the Attachment 1 price sheet.

The evaluation criteria document will be revised and uploaded at a later date. Technical issues in Commbuys prevent processing amendments at this time.

This is your notification that Parabon NanoLabs submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/04/2025 04:29:41 PM.

Please mail an ink-signed Standard Contract Form and Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing to Mass State Police attn: Dianne Miller, 470 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01702 and please upload the signed forms to commbuys.com to the quote attachments tab. The deadline is August 28, 2025 by 3:00PM Eastern time.

This is your notification that Identifinders International LLC submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/04/2025 05:49:26 PM.

Yes, MSPCL will accept bids from companies without a lab for forensic genealogy. However, per RFR Appendix 2 section 22, all subcontractors must be pre-approved by the Department. Bidders shall clearly identify any intended subcontractors in their proposal, if known.

This is your notification that Identifinders International LLC submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/05/2025 01:24:04 AM.

Yes, the MSPCL will accept a subcontracting arrangement, if pre-approved by the Department. See RFR Appendix 2 Section 22.

Bidders shall clearly identify any intended subcontractors in their proposal, if known.

This is your notification that The Bode Technology Group, Inc. submit 3 questions for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/05/2025 01:31:05 PM.

3. Page 9, Mandatory Lab Requirements #10 requires the vendor lab to submit validations with the response. Given the proprietary nature and large volume of these documents, would it be acceptable to provide them upon notification of an intent to award before executing the contract?

3. A list of validations would be acceptable, but summaries must be provided upon notification of an intent to award the contract. Additional validation data / documentation may be requested by the MSPCL DNA Technical Leader and must be provided.

b. If we are understanding the price table correctly, there isn’t a line item for Tier 1 references in which they are submitted for testing, comparison, stats and reporting or Tier 2 references in which a ref is submitted for testing and reporting with no stats. Please confirm and consider adding line items to account for these scenarios.

c. The second and third price line items on page 2 state “DNA statistics only” but that “exemplar DNA profile(s) to be generated by vendor” which implies they should also include the cost of testing the exemplar sample, and not just the statistics. Please confirm.

d. Please confirm if the line item for “discharge cartridge casing DNA collection only” is for sampling of the casing only, and does not include extraction/stop at quant.

e. For Database known samples, they are typically processed in a batch to achieve the best pricing. Please confirm the minimum batch size that should be considered for this pricing.

b. Please provide pricing for the following scenarios which cover exemplar / reference profile(s) provided by MSPCL and exemplar / reference profile(s) to be generated by Vendor.

If a bidder wants to provide supplemental pricing documentation for these scenarios where no statistics are reported this can be included in the response.

DNA statistics only, Q sample previously reported– Binary Method / Y-STRs (exemplar profile(s) provided)

DNA statistics only, Q sample previously reported – Probabilistic Genotyping exemplar profile(s) provided)

DNA statistics only, Q sample previously reported – Binary Method / YSTRs (exemplar DNA profile(s) to be generated by vendor)

DNA statistics only, Q sample previously reported – Probabilistic Genotyping (exemplar DNA profile(s) to be generated by vendor)

c. This is correct.

d. This is correct.

Discharge Cartridge Casing DNA testing [STR] is the line item where pricing is to include collection and testing.

e. The MSPCL would work with the vendor to maximize the batch size for the best pricing. Vendor can provide the batch size for the best pricing.

This is your notification that The Bode Technology Group, Inc. submit 1 question for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/05/2025 05:20:23 PM.

As stated in the RFR, all responses and information submitted in response to this RFR are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., c. 66, s. 10, and to c. 4, s. 7, ss. 26. (RFR p.28). Bidders are able to find out more about the MA Public Records Law by accessing the following website: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/public-records/public-records.htm.

When uploading documents to a quote in www.commbuys.com bidders can mark documents “confidential” so the public cannot view it. However, this does not prevent a document from being subject to a public records request.

This is your notification that Signature Science, LLC submit 3 questions for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/06/2025 08:27:44 AM.

The MSPCL expects to outsource 2 cases per month initially for FIGG analysis, though the expectation is that this would increase substantially over the contract period.

This is your notification that Signature Science, LLC submit 3 questions for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/06/2025 08:29:33 AM.

The MSPCL is seeking full service Forensic Genealogy to include both laboratory work and the genealogical investigation, though services do not have to be provided by a single provider.

This service would require the uploading of genetic data to any database whose terms of service allow the upload and search of law enforcement genetic data.

The MSPCL is open to receiving a variety of report types to evaluate. The content of which should be per the company’s policies / procedures.

This is your notification that Signature Science, LLC submit 2 questions for bid # BD-26-1084-POLCL-DNMAY-118543 at 08/06/2025 08:30:31 AM.

Answer

Though not routine, the MSPCL has larger samples that consist of evidentiary material that requires multiple tubes for the extraction process. Post extraction the extracts from these tubes should be combined/ concentrated to maximize the DNA yield. A corresponding negative control would be required. Multi tube extractions can range from 2 to 8 tubes (2 tubes are the most common).