LEAD & COPPER SAMPLING IN DRINKING WATER

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is seeking certified laboratories to perform lead and copper sampling in drinking water across the state through an Invitation for Bid (Solicitation #5400024752). The procurement is divided into two geographic lots: Lot 1 covering 18 upstate counties with approximately 8,735 samples, and Lot 2 covering 28 lowcountry and central region counties with approximately 8,098 samples over a five-year period. Key deliverables include comprehensive water system analyses complying with State Primary Drinking Water Regulations and National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, with contractors required to provide unit pricing for lead and copper analyses. Bidders must submit detailed documentation including sample kits, written procedures, quality assurance documentation, method detection limit studies, proficiency testing results, and personnel resumes. The solicitation requires electronic reporting of analytical results within 21 days through South Carolina's Compliance Monitoring Data Portal (CMDP). Key dates include a February 15, 2023 deadline for questions, a March 9, 2023 bid submission deadline at 2:30 PM ET, and an anticipated award announcement on March 20, 2023. The contract will have an initial one-year term with four potential one-year renewals, spanning from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2028.

Only certified laboratories with current SC DHEC Environmental Laboratory Certification Program credentials are eligible to bid, with a specific requirement for SC Lead in Drinking Water accreditation. Subcontracting analytical work is prohibited except in cases of major equipment failure approved by DHEC. While a physical location in South Carolina is not mandatory, offerors must maintain proper certification throughout the contract period. The solicitation allows for in-state vendor preferences in accordance with South Carolina Code of Laws Section 11-35-1524 for qualifying bidders. Award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with DHEC reserving the right to award both lots to a single vendor if deemed in the state's best interest. No minimum sample volume is guaranteed, and invoicing will occur monthly or bi-monthly per water system analyzed. Bidders must submit their response through the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS), with online submission preferred. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive sampling across approximately 16,833 total samples suggests a significant contract value for the selected laboratory or laboratories.