IFB 25-0045a Lab Analytical Services

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking a laboratory contractor to provide analytical services through Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 25-0045a, focusing on Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) concentration analysis for Spongy Moth control and eradication efforts. The contract will require comprehensive sample analysis across multiple environmental sample types, including air, vegetation, water, soil, sediment, pesticide formulation, and tank mix samples. Contracted services must be performed at the contractor's facility on an as-needed basis, with all analytical work conducted under federal Good Laboratory Practice standards (40 CFR Part 160). Key deliverables include qPCR assay development, direct isolation methods, enrichment by culture methods, and routine testing capabilities for 24-sample batches. The procurement timeline includes a bid release on August 11, 2025, with written questions due by September 8, 2025, and emailed bids required by October 9, 2025. The contract period will run from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026, with no renewal options.

The solicitation includes a 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goal, with potential for a DVBE incentive of up to 5% for qualifying vendors. Small businesses and those with recycled content certifications are encouraged to participate, with various state regulatory compliance requirements in place. Bidders must provide comprehensive pricing that covers all labor, supplies, transportation, equipment, permits, licenses, sales tax, and associated fees within their cost proposal. The cost proposal mandates specific unit costs for each service category, with warnings that failure to indicate dollar amounts may result in bid rejection. A zero-dollar amount for any service will be interpreted as the bidder agreeing to perform those services at no additional cost to the State. While no specific budget total is mentioned in the documents, the contract requires the selected laboratory to maintain appropriate accreditation, develop standard operating procedures, and provide comprehensive documentation of laboratory practices. Potential bidders must demonstrate technical capability to analyze Btk concentrations in environmental samples using specific products like "Dipel Pro DF" and "Thuricide Bt."