26RFP2890 - DIGITAL PCR (dPCR) System Complete for Water Quality Lab

The City of Scottsdale, Arizona, issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 26RFP2890 to procure a complete Digital PCR (dPCR) System for its Water Quality Lab, with a submission deadline of March 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM through the City's electronic Bonfire procurement portal. The procurement seeks one fully integrated dPCR system capable of performing accurate, high-sensitivity analysis of nucleic acids from environmental samples, with specific focus on detecting and quantifying pathogens and indicator organisms in wastewater matrices. The system must support multiplex analysis of nine or more targets simultaneously, provide intuitive user-friendly software comparable to existing qPCR workflows, demonstrate high sensitivity and accuracy for low-abundance targets, and maintain robust performance against common PCR inhibitors to support the lab's processing of approximately 100 samples monthly. Required deliverables include the dPCR equipment, cloud-based SaaS software delivery, system installation, comprehensive two-day on-site training at the Water Campus facility covering operation, analysis, maintenance, software overview, and troubleshooting, one-year warranty with software support, one additional year of maintenance service, consumables and reagents costs, and ongoing operating and service costs. The contractor must provide three customer references demonstrating similar system utilization within the past three years, document service engineer availability in the region with typical and guaranteed response times, and ensure all equipment is new and manufactured by an experienced, reputable vendor warranted for a minimum of five years with repair or replacement within ten business days at no charge to the City. The contract includes a ten-year value guarantee ensuring parts and service availability or residual value credit for replacement. Evaluation will be based on factors beyond price alone to determine best value to the City, and all questions must be submitted by March 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

The solicitation does not identify any specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though respondents must comply with Arizona E-Verify Program requirements for service contracts and applicable state licensing requirements. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the procurement documents, and the Water Quality Lab's existing infrastructure does not appear to require integration with legacy systems based on the available documentation. The contract is structured as a five-year engagement consisting of an initial one-year subscription term with four optional one-year renewal periods contingent on mutual agreement and approval by the City's Purchasing Director and/or City Council, with specific pricing proposals required for initial purchase costs, software, installation, training, warranty, maintenance service, consumables, and ongoing operational costs. The budget range is not explicitly disclosed in the available documents; however, pricing must be itemized across multiple cost categories including capital equipment, software licensing, professional services for training, and multi-year maintenance and support obligations. The City retains the right to waive immaterial defects, reject any or all proposals, or reissue the solicitation, and award notifications will be posted on the City's e-procurement site with a ten-day protest period following the Intent to Award notice.