Genetic Testing

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is soliciting competitive bids for genetic testing services to support paternity determination in child support cases throughout Cook County, with solicitation number 26-478HFS-CHSUP-B-49843. The procuring agency seeks a single vendor to provide comprehensive DNA sample collection, genetic testing, and documentation services for both judicial and administrative child support proceedings in compliance with federal Title IV-D requirements and state regulations. Required services include on-site DNA sample collection via buccal swab at HFS locations in the Daley Center and Juvenile Court Building in Chicago, provision of mobile collection services for out-of-state individuals and military personnel, performance of DNA paternity testing at 99.99% certainty in accordance with Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) standards, maintenance of chain of custody documentation, secure web-based access to test results, and delivery of certified test reports within seven business days. The vendor must maintain current AABB accreditation throughout the contract term, possess the capacity to complete a minimum of 1,500 tests monthly, supply all necessary materials including sterile swabs and prepaid shipping mailers to approximately 12 HFS regional collection sites statewide, and provide monthly and quarterly performance reports. The contract term commences January 1, 2027, with an initial four-year period and renewal options of up to six years in two-year increments, not to exceed ten years total, with renewal pricing capped at a 2.5% annual increase. Prospective bidders must submit electronically through the BidBuy platform by March 19, 2026, and must provide a completed Vendor Experience Attestation & Verification Form demonstrating a minimum of five years of experience collecting DNA samples while maintaining chain of custody procedures; a non-mandatory pre-submission conference will be held via WebEx on an unspecified date, with written questions due by February 25, 2026. The State intends to award to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest overall total price, with bids remaining firm for 90 days following opening, and pricing shall be structured as a per-test fee for each individual DNA test resulting in a final paternity confirmation or exclusion.

This solicitation includes a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goal of 1% for participation by minority-owned, women-owned, or disability-owned businesses, with applicable NIGP codes 948-55 (Medical and Laboratory Services, Non-Physician) and 948-48 (Healthcare Services Not Otherwise Classified); all bidders must submit a completed BEP Utilization Plan as a mandatory requirement, and failure to do so will render the bid non-responsive. Vendors must be either actively registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) and submit the IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure form, or submit the alternative Vendor Disclosure form (formerly Forms A) if not registered; all bidders are further required to complete comprehensive certification documents addressing compliance with state and federal laws, conflict of interest disclosures, and financial disclosures for contracts exceeding $100,000 in annual value. The contract is subject to prevailing wage requirements where applicable, HIPAA and Social Security Administration data security compliance, federal funding regulations, and general commercial liability insurance requirements of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate; HFS reserves the right to impose corrective action plans, withhold ten percent of invoices for service failures, levy 25% penalties for performance deficiencies, and terminate the contract for cause if more than three erroneous test results occur within one calendar year or if AABB accreditation is lost. No specific incumbent vendor or budget range is identified in the solicitation documents. An administrative fee of $15 per contract will be deducted from the first payment issued to the awarded vendor for contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The contract may be partially or fully funded with federal funds, with the specific percentage and dollar amount of federal funding to be disclosed upon notice of award.