IFB: 2CA07665 - Devil's Garden Fire Center Water Testing Services

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB 2CA07665) for certified water quality testing services at the Devil's Garden Fire Center in Alturas, Modoc County, California. The contractor must provide all materials, labor, equipment, tools, permits, transportation, and fees necessary to conduct comprehensive water testing, including sample collection materials, chain-of-custody documentation, and analytical reporting to the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water. The scope of work encompasses testing for nitrates, nitrites, mercury, fluoride, metals digestion, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, selenium, thallium, lead, copper, gross alpha, and radium 228, along with emergency testing services for both drinking water and wastewater pond samples. Services will be provided Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with 24/7 emergency testing availability required upon request. Qualified bidders must demonstrate Environmental Lab Accreditation Program (ELAP) certification, current California business licensure, and proof that their laboratory is located within a two-hour one-way drive from the facility. Required insurance coverage includes General and Commercial Liability Insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, Worker's Compensation Insurance with Waiver of Subrogation, and Commercial Automobile Insurance of $1,000,000. The bid submission deadline is February 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, with bid opening scheduled for February 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., and the written question submittal deadline is February 6, 2026. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on the Rate Sheet pricing for individual test analyses and emergency testing services, with an estimated contract term commencing March 1, 2026, and expiring February 28, 2029.

The solicitation includes a five percent Small Business (SB) preference for certified small businesses or microbusiness contractors, and the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive Program offers incentive amounts ranging from one to five percent based on verified DVBE participation levels, with a combined incentive and preference dollar cap of $100,000. Bids must include required attachments including the Rate Sheet, Bid/Bidder Certification Sheet, Payee Data Record (STD 204), Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC), Darfur Contracting Act Certification, and applicable Small Business or DVBE declarations. All bids must be submitted electronically to Bids@fire.ca.gov and will be treated as public records under the California Public Records Act upon bid opening. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information was identified in the procurement documents. The solicitation does not specify an overall award value or budget range; rather, compensation will be determined based on the submitted Rate Sheet pricing for individual test analyses and emergency testing services performed during the contract term.