DFS-3500 CE and 7500qPCR

The Illinois State Police is requesting bids on preventative maintenance and repair services for forensic DNA analysis equipment under IFB 26-493ISP-FOREN-B-53861, with bids due September 14, 2026. Bidders must attend a mandatory pre-submission conference; failure to attend, arrive on time, remain for the entire session, or sign the attendance sheet results in disqualification.

The scope covers scheduled preventative maintenance once annually and as-needed repair services for 23 Applied Biosystems 7500 Real-Time PCR Systems, 9 3500 Genetic Analyzers, and 5 3500xL Genetic Analyzers deployed across eight Illinois State Police forensic laboratories in Chicago, Belleville, Decatur, Joliet, Rockford, and Springfield. Service technicians must be factory-certified by Applied Biosystems (Thermo Fisher subsidiary). Only new, OEM-supplied or OEM-certified parts are acceptable. Response times are one hour during business hours (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday–Friday) and two hours after hours, with a minimum 95 percent on-site response compliance rate required. Services must include parts, labor, travel, OEM software updates, and technical telephone support in a single firm-fixed annual price. Prevailing wage obligations apply where applicable and must be incorporated into the fixed-price bid. Payment is contingent on successful completion verified by laboratory performance checks. The vendor may be terminated for chronic noncompliance with response times in any two consecutive months or failure to achieve passing performance checks on three or more service events within any six-month period.

The contract term is one year from execution, with a maximum total term not exceeding ten years including renewals or extensions. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 general commercial liability per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, $1,000,000 auto liability, and workers' compensation as required by law. Subcontractors with annual values exceeding $100,000 require prior written State approval. The State will award to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder. Bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. Vendors not registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway must submit a Vendor Disclosure form; active registered vendors submit an IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure. A $15 administrative fee for the Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative is deducted from the first payment for contracts valued at $1,000 or more. Illinois Business Preference and Domestic Product Preference are available to qualifying bidders.