T3089 Bid Amendment 2 082919~1.docx

PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor State of New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DIVISION OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

PROCUREMENT BUREAU

33 WEST STATE STREET

P. O. BOX 230

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08625-0230

ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

State Treasurer

SHEILA Y. OLIVER

Lt. Governor

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

August 29, 2019

To: All Interested Vendors {Bidders}

Re: Bid Solicitation # 19DPP00414 T3089 Laboratory Services: Forensic Toxicology and Law Enforcement Steroid Testing-OSME

Bid Amendment #2

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #2 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

· This Bid Amendment includes answers to questions, revisions to the Bid Solicitation, Price Schedule, and postpones the Quote submission date from September 5, 2019 to October 2, 2019.

· Please note that for all additions, deletions, clarifications and modifications to the Bid Solicitation, refer to the Revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719”, T3089 Revised Price Schedule 071719 and T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation Checklist 070519.

· Furthermore, Vendor’s {Bidder’s} are advised that “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719” includes revisions and additions not addressed as a result of questions submitted in response to this Bid Solicitation. As such, please refer to the following sections of “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719”:

· Section 1.2.1.1 Post Mortem Testing Services;

· Section 2.3 Blanket P.O. Specific Definitions/Acronyms;

· Section 3.1 General Overview:

· Section 3.2.4 Post Mortem Toxicology I;

· Section 3.2.5 Post Mortem Toxicology II;

· Section 3.3.1 Laboratory Certification Requirements;

· Section 3.3.2 Vendor {Contractor} Requirements;

· Section 3.3.4.1 LEDT Reporting;

· Section 4.4.1.8 Laboratory Accreditations and Certifications; and

· Section 4.4.5.2 State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions.

It is the sole responsibility of the Vendor {Bidder} to be knowledgeable of all of the additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation and/or the New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions relative to this Bid Solicitation as set forth in all Bid Amendments.

All other instructions, terms, and conditions of the Bid Solicitation shall remain the same.

Bid Solicitation #19DPP00414 T3089 Laboratory Services: Forensic Toxicology and Law Enforcement Steroid Testing-OSME

Answers to Questions

Where applicable, each question references the appropriate Bid Solicitation section.

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

If a Vendor {Bidder} agrees to the extension by executing the Cooperative Purchasing Form, the Vendor {Contractor} must extend the Blanket P.O. to all Cooperative Purchasing Participants.

The primary matrixes/specimens that will be submitted for testing are Blood and Urine.

2) Would the State want pricing for tissue too?

Yes, the State is also requesting pricing for tissue. Please refer to section 3.1 of the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719.”

3) If yes, how should this be documented in the T3089 Price Schedule 061319.xlsx file?

Please refer to revised Price Schedule entitled “T3089 Revised Price Schedule 071719”

The primary matrixes/specimens that will be submitted for testing are Blood and Urine.

2) Would the State want pricing for tissue too?

Yes, the State is also requesting pricing for tissue. Please refer to section 3.1 of the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719.”

3) If yes, how should this be documented in the T3089 Price Schedule 061319.xlsx file?

Please refer to the Price Schedule entitled “T3089 Revised Price Schedule 071719”

This Section has been deleted. Please refer to the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719 and revised Price Schedule entitled “T3089 Revised Price Schedule 071719”.

2) Will you please explain what testing is needed for D. Tissue?

Any tissue submitted for testing would be tested for a specific substance or a panel depending on case history. For example, if muscle or brain is the only available matrix in a case, it would be sent out with the same test request as if blood were to be submitted for analysis.

To date, there have been “zero” (0) cases or situations that have required the Office of the Medical Examiner to request additional testing or re-analysis of a previously submitted specimen.

Please note that in the revised Bid Solicitation, this section has been re-numbered and is now “Bid Solicitation Section 3.2.6.1. Re-Analyze/Additional Testing.”

Yes, as per the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT), electronic signatures are acceptable, provided they are secure and generated by a document control software and/or Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Please refer to the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719”.

This paragraph has been revised. Please refer to the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719” for applicable changes and additional information.

Yes, this applies to DNA testing.

Yes, the ABFT and ANSO-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) formed a strategic alliance in 2016 through which they provide the highest quality accreditation standards in postmortem and human forensic toxicology.

This provision has been deleted. Please refer to the revised Bid Solicitation entitled “T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719”. Please note that in the revised Bid Solicitation, this Section has been renumbered and is now Bid Solicitation Section 3.2.6 Additional Forensic Testing.

2) May it be removed?

Yes, it has been removed. Please refer to the response provided for part 1 of this question.

Yes, a privately held company may provide compiled financial statements.

In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 4.4.4.6 of the Bid Solicitation, the Vendor {Bidder} may include a letter demonstrating financial capacity.

Yes, Section 5.9.1 Data Confidentiality shall apply to the Blanket P.O. awarded as a result of Bid Solicitation 19DPP00414

As stated in Bid Solicitation Section 1.3.1.1, Exceptions to the State of NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): "Questions regarding the SSTC and proposed exceptions to mandatory requirements, including the Special and Standard Terms and Conditions in Sections 5 and 9 of this Bid Solicitation must be posed during this Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Vendor's {Bidder's} suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested changes." Additionally, as stated in Section 4.1, General: "Quotes including Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms Current Service Current Service and conditions may be accepted, but Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation, as defined in Section 2.0 of this Bid Solicitation, or that diminish the State's rights under any Blanket P.O. resulting from the Bid Solicitation, may render a Quote non-responsive."

Yes, the Vendor {Contractor} must submit invoices to the using agency in accordance with Section 6.3, subsection b, of the State’s Standard Terms & Conditions.

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Yes, prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Vendor {Bidder} should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a Quote is deemed non-responsive because a Vendor {Bidder} fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted Quote, a Vendor {Bidder} should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference Guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote, which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

The current Vendors {Contractors} providing the current toxicology testing are:

1. Axis; and

2. NMS Labs

The average price per each Postmortem I and II scope is $184.

2) What tests are ordered to receive the described scope of testing for each?

The scope components are identified in Sections 3.2.4 through 3.2.6 of the Revised Bid Solicitation.

3) What is the price for a Postmortem I scope?

Please refer the response provided for part one (1) of this question.

4) What is the price for a Postmortem II scope?

Please refer the response provided for part one (1) of this question.

What is the average cost per case for testing?

Please refer the response provided for part one (1) of this question.

The previous Bid Solicitation was cancelled for the following reasons:

1. Quote price sheet ambiguities;

2. Discrepancies between Section 3.0 testing requirements and price line descriptions; and

3. Section 4.4.5.2 price sheet instructions.

Based on the above, Bid Solicitation 18DPP00192 was cancelled and reissued.

2) Please clarify the anticipated start date for testing under this award.

The start date for testing on any Blanket P.O., awarded as a result of this Bid Solicitation will depend on the Using Agency’s needs.

The following documents are included as attachments to this Bid Amendment:

1. T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation Checklist 070519;

2. T3089 Revised Bid Solicitation 071719; and

3. T3089 Revised Price Schedule 071719.

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