Lab Equipment for Animal Disease Testing

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory is requesting bids for lab equipment for animal disease testing, with proposals due September 4, 2026. The procurement is subject to Pennsylvania's Reciprocal Limitations Act (GSPUR-89), which applies to all bids exceeding $10,000 and establishes preference mechanisms for Pennsylvania-based bidders and Pennsylvania-manufactured goods, with preference percentages ranging from 1% to 15% depending on the bidder's home state and the state of manufacture.

The scope specifies one Bio-Rad Laboratories NSP 2 System (Part# 90130), an automated sample preparation instrument for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) screening in animal samples. The equipment includes an 8-channel liquid handling system with disposable polypropylene tips, 250-microliter sampling capacity per nozzle, 1.0 percent precision and reproducibility, integrated control software, database management and backup capabilities, and quality inspection software. The system measures 780 x 1,200 x 430 millimeters and weighs approximately 90 kilograms. All equipment must be brand new and manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories; only the manufacturer and authorized representatives are permitted to submit bids, establishing a sole-source procurement structure.

Bidders must complete and submit three mandatory certification forms: the Reciprocal Limitations Act Requirements form disclosing manufacturer and state of manufacture for each item; the Domestic Workforce Utilization Certification Form attesting to compliance with domestic labor standards; and the Worker Protection and Investment Certification Form (BOP 2201) certifying compliance with Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation, Workers' Compensation, and labor and workforce safety laws. Failure to comply with these requirements or provide accurate documentation results in bid rejection. False certifications carry contract termination and three-year ineligibility to bid on future Commonwealth contracts.