24-0164 Lab Analytical Services

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 24-0164 for Lab Analytical Services, seeking a qualified contractor to perform comprehensive analytical services focused on Bacillus thuringiensis, subsp. Kurstaki (Btk) environmental sample testing. The contract will run from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, with no renewal options. The selected laboratory will be responsible for analyzing various sample types including air, vegetation, water, soil, sediment, pesticide formulation, and tank mix samples, specifically determining Btk concentration in "Dipel Pro DF" and "Thuricide Bt" products. Key qualifications include maintaining federal Good Laboratory Practice standards (40 CFR Part 160), having appropriate accreditation, and developing comprehensive quality assurance and quality control protocols. Critical bid dates include a bid release on April 9, 2025, written questions due by April 16, 2025, and completed emailed bids due by 2:00 PM PT on April 30, 2025. The contract requires detailed method validation, specific reporting timelines, and potential quality assurance audits of the contracted laboratory's work.

The procurement includes a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goal of 3%, with potential incentives for meeting or exceeding this target. Bidders must submit several mandatory documents, including a Contractor Status Form, DVBE Participation Declarations, and a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Reporting Factsheet. The cost proposal includes a detailed pricing structure with four primary service categories: Common qPCR assay development, Direct Isolation Method, Enrichment by culture method, and Routine Testing (24-sample/Batch). Each service category requires bidders to provide specific unit costs, with a warning that failure to indicate a dollar amount in any line item may result in bid rejection. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the pricing structure suggests the contract will be awarded based on comprehensive cost coverage, including labor, non-consumable supplies, transportation tools, equipment, permits, licenses, sales tax, fees, and freight charges. The contract allows for as-needed analytical services to be performed at the contractor's facility, indicating flexibility in service delivery.