COVID TESTING - SCHOOLS

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP No. 5400023515) for turnkey COVID-19 testing services targeting public schools and charter schools statewide. The procurement seeks contractors to provide point-of-care antigen testing and over-the-counter antigen test distribution, with a preference for cross-panel tests that can detect Flu A/B and COVID-19 for students, staff, and household contacts. Contractors must establish mobile and semi-permanent testing sites capable of performing hundreds of tests at single events, with the ability to respond to testing requests within 24-72 hours' notice. Mandatory qualifications include maintaining a CLIA certification, possessing at least six months of COVID-19 testing experience, and having performed a minimum of 25,000 diagnostic tests. Evaluation criteria will allocate 40 points to qualifications and experience, 35 points to technical approach, and 25 points to cost. Key submission deadlines include a July 21, 2022 questions deadline, a virtual pre-proposal conference on the same date, and sealed proposal submissions due by August 30, 2022 at 2:30 PM ET, with award notification initially expected September 22, 2022.

The solicitation anticipates multiple vendor awards, with current vendors including Mako Medical Laboratories, Ambulnz, Patriot Medical Laboratories, and Tempus Labs. Non-laboratory entities may serve as prime contractors if they meet qualifications through subcontractors. The contract is funded through an Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant supporting safe in-person instruction, with a contract term estimated from September 15, 2022 to July 31, 2025. Pricing will be structured across four event-size lots: Small Events (0-75 tests), Mid-Size Events (75-200 tests), Large Events (201-500 tests), and Extra-Large Events (500+ tests), with separate line items for over-the-counter test distribution and point-of-care testing. Contractors will invoice based on actual tests performed, with options to bill minimum daily quantities if actual tests fall below thresholds. The contract includes requirements for electronic lab reporting to DHEC within 24 hours, weekly aggregate reporting, and six-year record retention. While no specific budget range is provided, historical data indicates 220 vendor testing events occurred during one sample week, with most events ranging from 0-75 tests and some reaching up to 350 tests.