Child Support Genetic Testing

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Child Support Services, is issuing a Request for Proposal for statewide genetic testing services to establish paternity in IV-D child support cases across all 120 Kentucky counties. The procurement seeks a qualified testing laboratory to provide DNA testing and sample collection services, with deliverables including DNA analysis, sample collection at designated sites, expert testimony, and secure online access for child support staff to schedule appointments and monitor progress. Vendors must be accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), have completed an average of 500 DNA tests monthly during 2025, maintain capacity for at least 500 monthly tests throughout the contract term, and demonstrate at least five years of experience collecting DNA samples by buccal swab with an average of 1,000 monthly collections in 2025. The vendor is responsible for all costs including sample collection, site rental, forms, supplies, shipping, expert witness testimony, and staff training, and must service each of the 120 counties with sample collection occurring at least one day per week at each collection site except Jefferson County. Sample collectors must be AABB-trained and qualified, and all test results must be completed and reported within 14 days from when the last sample is received with certified results including the donor's photograph, thumbprint, and last four digits of social security number. The evaluation criteria total 1,600 maximum points, comprising 1,300 points for technical proposals covering administration and service implementation, 200 points for cost proposals, and 100 points for optional oral presentations. Written questions were due by March 9, 2026, with responses provided in an addendum issued March 12, 2026, and proposals are due by April 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST. The anticipated contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with renewal options for up to two additional two-year periods subject to approval by the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee.

The procurement applies Kentucky resident bidder preference only against nonresident bidders from states that reciprocate such preference, and qualified bidders receive preferences under KRS 45A.490 and 200 KAR 5:410. All bidders and offerors must submit a notarized Annual Required Affidavit attesting that they have not knowingly violated Kentucky's campaign finance laws and that contract award will not violate any provision of such laws. The contractor must maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Professional Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per claim. In State Fiscal Year 2025, the current vendor collected 8,778 individual samples and completed 3,492 genetic tests, providing a baseline for anticipated volume. Vendor compensation is based on a per-sample-collection pricing scale that differentiates based on whether the vendor's qualified collector, Department of Child Support Services staff, or local contracting official staff conducted the collection, with invoices submitted electronically within 30 days of service completion and detailed supporting documentation by county. The contract value is not explicitly stated in the procurement documents but can be estimated based on the State Fiscal Year 2025 volume of 8,778 samples collected; current pricing information and details about the existing contract must be obtained through open records requests to the Commonwealth's open records custodian.