Lead Sample Analysis Services for the Department of State Health Services located in Austin, TX.

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is requesting bids for lead sample analysis services supporting the Department of State Health Services Blood Lead Surveillance Branch in Austin, Texas under IFB HHS0017054v3, with bids due August 21, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. and questions due August 12, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. The contractor must be EPA-recognized and accredited through the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) — the primary capability filter.

The scope encompasses laboratory analysis of lead samples collected from residential and environmental sites to identify exposure sources. Sample matrices include paint chips, soil, dust, food, spices, cosmetics, drinking water, air, and wastewater. The contractor must perform seven primary testing methodologies: Flame Atomic Absorption (SW-846 Method 7000B), Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption (EPA 200.9, NIOSH 7105, SW-846 Methods 7010/7421), Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), Total Threshold Limit Concentration (TTLC), Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration (STLC), TSP Lead analysis, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The contractor must respond to routine service calls within four hours and emergency calls within one hour, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. Delivery of finalized test results is required within 24 to 48 hours of completion.

The contractor must demonstrate a minimum of two years of relevant experience with three verifiable references from similar contracts within the last three years and must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence, professional liability of $1 million, and umbrella liability of $1 million. Pricing must be firm and fixed, submitted on the Pricing Sheet (Exhibit C) in US dollars with unit costs between $0.01 and $85,000 per unit for regular and outside-business-hours services. The initial contract term runs September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027 with potential for one-year extensions at HHSC discretion. No volume, usage, or compensation is guaranteed. Responses must include Exhibit A HHS Solicitation Affirmations, Exhibit C Pricing Sheet, and Exhibit F HUB Subcontracting Plan. Responses to questions will be posted August 14, 2026.