Hematology & chemistry analyzers

The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued a solicitation (5400020302) for a one-year lease of hematology and chemistry analyzers, including associated maintenance services and chemistry consumables. The primary procurement focused on acquiring a Beckman Coulter DxC700 AU Chemistry Analyzer with integrated sample exchange (ISE) and a Hematology Analyzer for processing medical laboratory tests. The chemistry analyzer must process comprehensive metabolic panels, liver function tests, lipids, therapeutic drug monitoring, and urinalysis, with a processing capacity exceeding 1,100 samples per hour. Key deliverables include the analyzers, bidirectional Laboratory Information System communication, automated maintenance protocols, online operator manuals, and maintenance alerts. The procurement required vendors to provide complete equipment packages including printers, CPUs, modems, touch screen monitors, uninterruptible power supplies, and training for two personnel. Critical submission deadlines included a question cutoff of September 30, 2020 at 4:30 PM, with sealed bids originally due October 6, 2020, and subsequently extended to October 27, 2020 at 10:00 AM. The award was initially scheduled for November 3, 2020 but was further extended to November 10, 2020.

The solicitation did not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, but did acknowledge South Carolina resident vendor preferences could be claimed by line item. No incumbent vendors were identified in the documentation. The contract structure included an initial one-year term with four optional one-year renewal periods, with the vendor responsible for all equipment shipping, installation, property taxes, water systems, yearly maintenance, filters, and repairs. The maintenance agreement required comprehensive coverage including preventive maintenance, replacement parts with vendor-paid shipping, Monday through Friday downtime support, 24-hour technical phone support, and regulatory modification notifications at no additional cost. Vendors were required to provide monthly shipments of metered reagents, emergency technical support, and complete manufacturer literature. While no specific award value was explicitly stated, the procurement involved leasing sophisticated medical laboratory analyzers with comprehensive maintenance and consumables support. Notably, the final Statement of Non-Award indicated that no responsive bids were received, and the procurement would be re-solicited at a later date.