ITB - Histology Slide Stainer and Related Items for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science

Harris County, Texas is seeking qualified vendors through an Invitation for Bid (ITB) to furnish and install a histology slide stainer system with integrated glass coverslipper equipment for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science. The specific procurement requires delivery and installation of three integrated components: a Tissue Tek-Prisma Plus Automated Slide Stainer (Product Number 6170), a Tissue-Tek Glas g2 Automated Glass Coverslipper (Product Number 6500), and a Tissue-Tek Prisma Link system (Product Number 6168) to integrate both units. The equipment must accommodate hemotoxylin and eosin (H&E) and special stains with a capacity for 60 slides per run and 530 slides per hour for the stainer, and up to 400 slides per hour for the coverslipper. The contract will commence on or about February 1, 2026 and continue for one year, with Harris County retaining the option to renew for four additional one-year periods subject to Commissioners Court approval. All bids must be submitted by 2:00 P.M. local time in Houston, Texas on February 9, 2026, either online through Bonfire or as hard copies; late bids will not be accepted for any reason. Vendors must provide all-inclusive pricing incorporating labor, materials, equipment, and associated costs, complete delivery and installation at the HCIFS Histology Lab Monday through Friday between 8:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. CST with 48 hours' notice, offer trade-in credit for existing equipment or removal and disposal at vendor expense, and provide a one-year warranty covering 100 percent parts and labor. Award will be made to the responsible bidder submitting the lowest and best bid as determined by overall evaluation considering price, vendor capacity and skill, time constraints, availability, quality of performance, and other direct and indirect cost factors.

Bidders must comply with Harris County's minimum wage policy requiring payment of $21.65 per hour (adjusted annually), maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Workers Compensation, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 general aggregate per project, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, and Umbrella/Excess Liability of $1,000,000, with Harris County named as Additional Insured on all applicable coverages. Vendors must submit completed Bid Acknowledgement, Tax Residence Certification, Subcontractor Listing Form, and Certificate of Interested Parties (Form 1295) prior to bid submission; bidders must certify Texas residency status, confirm no delinquent taxes or debts owed to Harris County as of the bid due date, and disclose all subcontractors for county approval. Harris County is exempt from all federal excise, state, and local sales and use taxes, and all pricing must remain firm for the contract duration with no price changes or additions honored during contract performance. The document does not identify incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it specify a particular award value or budget range; however, Harris County reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of lowest and best offer, make awards to multiple offerors, or reject any or all bids. The contract is subject to fiscal funding and may become null and void if appropriations are not continued; if services end, the vendor must continue performance for up to 90 days during transition to a replacement vendor at the rate in effect when transition is invoked.