Lead Testing in School and Childcare Program

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is seeking a contractor to implement the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program (LTSCC), a comprehensive environmental sampling initiative mandated by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, Section 2107. The primary objective is to support statewide lead testing in drinking water at schools and child care facilities, with a focus on at-risk facilities serving children six years old and younger in low-income or underserved areas. The contractor will be responsible for developing and executing a complete program management solution that includes teleservice capabilities, data management platforms, reporting services, public communication support, and laboratory analysis. Specific deliverables include participant enrollment, training, sampling plan development, sample collection, and comprehensive reporting to meet EPA requirements. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for June 23, 2025, with proposal responses due on July 8, 2025. The contractor must be TCEQ-accredited and comply with National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) standards. Evaluation criteria will likely include technical capabilities, proposed methodology, laboratory accreditation, and comprehensive program approach.

The procurement includes opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), with bidders required to submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan as part of their proposal. The contract is structured for a three-year term with an option to renew for one additional year, with an estimated total contract capacity of $6,000,000.00. Potential respondents must demonstrate expertise in environmental sampling, data management, and communication strategies specifically tailored to school and child care facility lead testing programs. The project is federally funded through a grant, which may impose additional compliance and reporting requirements. While specific incumbent vendors are not mentioned, the comprehensive nature of the contract suggests a complex procurement requiring significant technical and logistical capabilities. Interested contractors will need to provide detailed pricing structures covering project personnel rates, travel expenses, program management, participant activities, sampling procedures, and post-sampling services. All costs are subject to pre-approval by the TCEQ Project Manager, with limitations on indirect cost recovery.