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

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB #HHS0017054) for lead sample analysis services to support the Environmental Lead Investigators of the Blood Lead Surveillance Branch. The procuring agency seeks an EPA-recognized laboratory accredited through the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) to analyze environmental samples collected from sites where children with elevated blood lead levels reside, including paint chips, soil, dust samples, food/spices, and cosmetics. The successful contractor must maintain capability to perform multiple specialized laboratory testing methods, including Flame Atomic Absorption (SW-846 7000B), Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), Total Threshold Limit Concentration (TTLC), Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration (STLC), TSP Lead testing, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP/ICP-MS) analyses in compliance with EPA publications, NIOSH methods, and 40 CFR Part 50 standards. Services must be performed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, with a mandatory four-hour response time during regular business hours and one-hour response time for emergency requests, with test results delivered to the DSHS Blood Lead Surveillance Branch within 24 to 48 hours of finalization. Bidders must submit minimum documentation including two years of relevant experience, three verifiable references for similar contracts completed within the past three years, proof of required insurance coverage (workers' compensation, commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, professional liability, and umbrella liability), and a completed Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan. The IFB questions deadline was May 27, 2026, with responses posted by May 29, 2026, and bid responses are due June 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time, with an anticipated contract start date of September 1, 2026, for an initial one-year term through August 31, 2027, followed by two optional one-year renewal periods and potential extension for up to one additional year for service continuity.

This solicitation includes a mandatory HUB Subcontracting Plan requirement for all respondents on contracts valued at $100,000 or more, with a statewide HUB utilization goal of 26.0% and probable subcontracting opportunities identified in Automated Information System services and Water and Wastewater Treatment Services; failure to submit a properly completed and compliant HSP will result in bid disqualification. No incumbent vendors or existing contractor information is identified in the solicitation documents. All respondents must comply with comprehensive HHS Solicitation Affirmations and Uniform Terms and Conditions, including E-Verify employment eligibility verification, cybersecurity training requirements, Texas Public Information Act compliance, and adherence to federal and state laws regarding debarment, suspension status, human trafficking prohibitions, and restrictions on abortion-related services and gender reassignment procedures. Bidders must establish a Texas Identification Number (TIN) and submit Form 1295 (Certificate of Interested Parties) if selected for award, and background checks on all contractor personnel performing services are required at the contractor's expense prior to work commencement. Pricing must be submitted as firm, fixed unit costs on Exhibit C - Pricing Sheet covering both regular business hours and emergency after-hours services, with acceptable pricing ranges between $0.01 and $85,000.00 per unit; the HHSC is not obligated to select the lowest-priced bidder but will award to the bidder offering the best value based on meeting or exceeding requirements, ability to perform, and price. The contract involves no guaranteed volume of work, and all compensation is subject to appropriations and fund availability.