Child support genetic testing

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Income Support, Division of Child Support Enforcement, issued Request for Proposal 727 2000000097 to procure genetic testing laboratory services to establish paternity for children receiving IV-D child support services across all 120 Kentucky counties. The solicitation released on January 25–28, 2020, with written questions due by February 15, 2020, Commonwealth responses anticipated by February 25, 2020, and proposals due by April 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated award notification date of May 1, 2020. The selected vendor must provide DNA sample collection services via buccal swab across all Kentucky counties, arrange out-of-state and international sample collections, perform PCR genetic testing at their own laboratory, provide certified results with minimum 99% paternity probability calculations, deliver expert testimony as needed, and maintain DNA samples for a minimum of five years. Key deliverables include secure website access for child support staff, monthly reporting by county detailing samples received, turnaround times, test results, and exclusion/inclusion rates, with sample processing completed within fourteen calendar days of receipt. Required qualifications include American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) accreditation, capacity to complete at least 500 DNA tests monthly, and a minimum of five years of experience with DNA sample collection averaging 1,000 monthly collections. The evaluation criteria allocate 500 points for administration, 500 points for service implementation, 200 points for the cost proposal, and up to 200 points for oral presentations if required, for a total of 1,400 possible points, with evaluation based on vendor experience, staff expertise, record maintenance and confidentiality policies, implementation plans, and cost per sample collection. Pricing is based on a per-sample collection rate of $25 per sample, with no minimum use of contract services guaranteed, and all forms, supplies, equipment, and transportation costs are the vendor's responsibility.

The Commonwealth reserves reciprocal preferences for Kentucky resident bidders and qualified bidder preferences as specified in KRS 45A.490 and 200 KAR 5:410. Subcontractors are authorized for specimen collection purposes only. The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2022, with the Commonwealth retaining the right to renew 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. In State Fiscal Year 2019, the previous genetic testing vendor collected 11,274 individual samples and completed 4,380 genetic tests, establishing the baseline service volume for this procurement. The contract is subject to federal compliance requirements under 2 CFR Part 200, HIPAA confidentiality requirements, and standard CHFS terms and conditions, including performance-based penalties up to 5 percent of total contract value for non-performance and comprehensive security and breach notification requirements. While no specific award value is listed, the contract pricing structure of $25 per sample collection provides a basis for cost estimation based on anticipated sample volumes. Vendors with poor performance in the previous twelve months may be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for award.