CBVB - DRINKING WATER ANALYSES - UCMR5

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is seeking a laboratory services contractor for drinking water analyses under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) program. This Competitive Best Value Bid (CBVB) solicitation covers analytical testing for water samples from 77 public drinking water systems across South Carolina, including 10 groundwater and 67 surface water systems. The contractor will be responsible for sample collection kit delivery, analyzing contaminants including lithium and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using EPA-specified methods, maintaining chain-of-custody documentation, and electronically reporting results through DHEC's Compliance Monitoring Data Portal and SDWARS. The procurement estimates approximately 420 total samples throughout the contract duration. Evaluation criteria will be based on Price (60% of points) and Sample Kit (40% of points), with the contract term set for one year beginning January 3, 2023, and potential for two one-year renewals. Key submission deadlines included questions due by November 14, 2022, and proposals due by November 29, 2022 at 2:30 PM ET, with award scheduled for December 13, 2022.

Contractors must be EPA Laboratory Approval Program certified for UCMR5 monitoring at the time of offer submission and maintain certification throughout the contract period. Subcontracting of analytical work is prohibited except in cases of major equipment failure with prior DHEC approval, and any samples lost or damaged while in contractor custody must be repeated at no additional cost. No specific set-aside designations or preferences are applicable to this solicitation. Offerors are required to register in the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) vendor registration system and submit responses online, with specific submission requirements including an original, four USB drives with the offer, a separately sealed price proposal with an additional USB drive, and a redacted copy if applicable. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the testing across 77 water systems suggests a significant contract opportunity. Invoicing will be conducted bi-monthly, representing completed work reported to EPA and accompanied by final reports with required documentation.