S000000355 Questions and Answers~1.pdf
PDF 117 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Toxicology Lab Testing Services
- Solicitation number
- S000000355
- Issued by
- Pulaski County, Arkansas
About this file
This document is a Questions and Answers document related to an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued by the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services Office of State Procurement on behalf of the Arkansas State Crime Lab. The IFB is for a two-year contract with up to five one-year renewal options for Toxicology Laboratory Testing Services. The selected contractor will be required to provide comprehensive testing panels for various drugs of abuse in postmortem blood specimens, with the agency having the right to add or remove drugs during the contract term. The contractor must provide reports within 21 calendar days, packaging materials, overnight shipping, and expert witness testimony when required.
The IFB does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, and no information is provided on any incumbent vendors or current contractors. Pricing must be proposed in U.S. dollars, and quantities are estimates only. The award will be made to the bidder submitting the lowest total cost that meets the IFB requirements. Prospective contractors must be registered in the state's eProcurement system to submit bids, and the bid response is due by July 24, 2024.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Contract and Grant Disclosure~54.pdf | ||
| S000000355 Official Bid Price Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| S000000355 BID RESPONSE PACKET.docx | DOCX document | |
| S000000355 IFB Toxicology Lab Testing Services~3.pdf | ||
| Solicitation Response Guide~19.pdf |
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Text version
SECTION REQUIREMENT QUESTION RESPONSE
1.6, B, 4
Prosective Contractors should not include any other documents or ancillary information, such as a cover letter or promotional marketing information.
Should respondents provide a narrative response to Section 2- Specifications and Requirements (that would not be considered ancillary information)? If so, is it acceptable to provide as a separate attachment or should respondents provide at the end of the Bid Response Packet? If not, will it be assumed that respondents comply with Section 2-Specifications and Requirements as long as no comments or exceptions are listed in ARBuy?
Prospective Contractors should not provide a narrative response to Section 2. Prospective Contractors must comply with Section 2. Per IFB Item 3.2.G.1., a Prospective Contractor’s bid may be rejected if a Prospective Contractor takes exception to any terms, conditions, or Requirements in this IFB.
2.1, H
Upon request from the Agency, the Contractor shall provide, at no additional cost to the Agency, a data package that includes the following documents for testimony, expert witness and/or any other legal proceedings: 1. All administrative documentation (e.g., accession notes and chains of custody) and technical data (e.g., case, control, and batch data). 2. Historical control data for the type of instrument/method of testing.
Will data package requests be made by the Arkansas State Crime Lab on each request? If it isn't the Arkansas State Crime Lab, who would be requesting this service (i.e., District or County Attorney)?
The Crime Lab would make the request, but we have rarely (if ever) requested a data package.
Are data packages only needed when cases are going to trial? Yes How often are data packages requested? Rarely (if ever).
How many subpoenas does your agency receive monthly? Thousands, but very rarely on the types of cases we will be sending for testing.
2.1, I
The Contractor shall provide expert testimony when required for legal proceedings. Testimony may include video, phone, and/or any other recordable court approved methods. At the time of issuance of this IFB, less than ten percent (10%) of the casework requires courtroom testimony. Testimony is typically as a fact witness.
Does the Arkansas State Crime Lab have statistics on testimony being required to be in person compared to video, phone, or other recordable approved methods?
No. To our knowledge, expert testimony by a Contactor has never been needed.
2.2, A
State law requires that contracts for services include Performance Standards for measuring the overall quality of services that a Contractor shall provide.
Due to the comprehensiveness in death investigation cases, there are instances when turnaround time may be extended past the 21 days. Clarifies, decomposition cases, tissue testing, inferences that may ovvur during testing that require additional or repeat testing are some examples that may lead to longer turnaround times. There are also instances where complex testing is requested by the ordering forensic pathologist that may add additional time necessary for testing. Would it be acceptable to update the turnaround time language from 21 calendar days to 21 business days?
No, but exceptions will be made if circumstances are communicated to the Agency.
The majority of cases will be reported out within the 21 business day period. Would it be accptable to provide monthly turnaround time reports to to show that we are meeting this on a regular basis?
No. Any exceptions must be communicated to the Agency.
We review positivity date and from time to time will remove drugs/compounds from testing panels if they have not shown positivity over a period of time. For example, Butorphanol, Desmethyltrimipramine, Estazolam, Iloperidone, Loxapine, Methcathinone, Nalbuphine and PMA were removed from the sope of our top tiered panel but will be available for directed analysis when requested. If we provide Arkansas with ample notification and rationalization for any scope changes in testing panels being ordered, can the damages be waived?
Yes.
Bid Q&A 2
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