Contracted Laboratory for Toxicity Services

Dorchester County, South Carolina is seeking proposals from qualified laboratories to provide Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Services for two county-operated wastewater treatment facilities located in St. George and North Charleston. The Request for Proposals (RFP) requires certified and licensed laboratories capable of conducting acute and chronic toxicity testing in compliance with EPA-approved methods and NPDES permit conditions. Required services encompass comprehensive laboratory testing, including sample collection and handling, data analysis and reporting, quality control and assurance documentation, and consultation support from certified toxicologists. The evaluation criteria for proposals will be weighted, with cost competitiveness accounting for 40% of the total score, experience and qualifications at 25%, quality assurance and quality control program strength at 20%, staffing and availability at 10%, and proximity to County facilities at 5%. Key dates include a deadline for written questions on December 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., and proposal submissions due on January 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

The contract will be awarded for an initial one-year term with options to renew for up to four additional one-year periods. Laboratories must be certified by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to be eligible for selection. The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and is not obligated to accept the lowest cost proposal. Successful proposers must obtain and maintain all necessary state and local licenses and permits without additional expense to the County. Insurance requirements include comprehensive coverage with General Liability at $1,000,000, Professional Liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability at $1,000,000, and Workers' Compensation as required by state law. Payment terms are set at 30 days from approved invoices, with shipping terms established as F.O.B. Destination. Additionally, the resulting contract may be made available to other public agencies under the same terms and pricing, subject to contractor approval, with the requirement that records be maintained for a minimum of five years.