IFB DCA-26-01 drug testing services

The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) DCA-26-01 on April 29, 2026, seeking a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive drug testing services supporting fourteen state regulatory boards, including the Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board of California, and Board of Registered Nursing, among others. The contractor must provide scheduling, observation, collection, processing, and analysis of urine, blood, nail, hair follicle, and oral fluid drug screening for designated test participants across the state. Key deliverables include establishing and maintaining a statewide collection site network, providing laboratory analysis compliant with federal standards, operating a 24-hour toll-free notification system, offering Medical Review Officer consultation services, and providing expert witness testimony as needed. The contract term extends from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year renewal periods available through June 30, 2031. The bid submission deadline is May 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with public bid opening scheduled for May 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM, and a bidders' conference is anticipated with interested parties required to notify the contracting officer within two days of the written questions response. Qualified contractors must be registered with the California Secretary of State, maintain current insurance and licensing, comply with all state contracting certifications including nondiscrimination and drug-free workplace requirements, and provide three references for similar services performed within the last five years. Award will be based on the lowest responsive bid totaling all board-specific costs across separate cost sheets for each of the fourteen participating boards and all contract years and options.

Small Business Enterprises receive a 5% preference, and non-small businesses committing to subcontract at least 25% of the net bid price to certified small businesses also qualify for the preference, while Disadvantaged Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirements are waived. Test participants bear all costs associated with drug testing services, including collection fees, laboratory analysis, and administrative fees, with costs varying by test type and individual board requirements; contractors are prohibited from adding fees beyond those itemized in the cost sheets and may assess non-sufficient funds charges only once per occurrence. The procurement documents do not specify a listed incumbent vendor, current contractor, or existing infrastructure requiring integration. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the available solicitation materials, as pricing is developed through the competitive bidding process across the multiple boards and contract years included in this solicitation.