Pesticide Soil Analysis Laboratory Services

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Agriculture, on behalf of Elliott County, is soliciting bids through a Request for Bid (RFB 758 2500000565) to establish a Master Agreement for Pesticide Soil Analysis Laboratory Services. The procurement seeks to engage a qualified laboratory contractor to conduct comprehensive sample analysis on pesticide products and residue samples collected by state inspectors to support Kentucky's regulatory oversight of pesticide sale, use, and distribution throughout the state. The deliverables include analysis of up to 193 different pesticide compounds across multiple matrices (soil, water, plant tissue, and liquid) using AOAC protocols, Good Laboratory Practices, and EPA-approved analytical methods, with bidders required to specify per-test pricing for each line item, delivery timeframes from sample receipt to results provision, and analytical methodologies employed. Required qualifications include laboratory registration in the Commonwealth eProcurement System, participation in a Quality Assurance/Quality Control audit program such as the AAPCO check sample program, maintenance of laboratory equipment on manufacturer-recommended schedules with documented records, and the ability to notify the Commonwealth within five business days of any service delivery impediments. The solicitation timeline includes a deadline for written vendor questions by March 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET, with bid closing on April 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET, and bid readings scheduled for 3:30 PM ET on the closing date via conference line; all proposed pricing must remain valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date. Bidders must submit responses electronically through the Commonwealth eProcurement system, entering $0.01 as the unit price in the electronic system while providing actual pricing on the separate Bid Sheet, and must acknowledge receipt and understanding of all solicitation documents and terms by signing the solicitation face.

The solicitation includes set-aside provisions allowing resident bidders and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities to claim preferential status, with resident bidder affidavits requiring entities to certify authorization to transact business in Kentucky, prior-year corporate income tax filing, unemployment insurance fund payments, and a current workers' compensation policy, while qualified nonprofit affidavits require certification that seventy-five percent of direct labor hours be performed by individuals with severe disabilities. All bidders must submit required affidavits under Kentucky Revised Statutes 45A.110 and 45A.115 prior to contract award, along with Revenue Form 10A100 (if applicable), Secretary of State registration for foreign entities (if applicable), and EEO forms (if applicable), with these affidavits effective for one year from execution and subject to renewal or verification at the Commonwealth's discretion. Contractors may utilize subcontractors for specific analyses, though subcontractors will invoice the primary contractor, who in turn invoices the Department; all work performed by subcontractors must comply with the same quality standards and regulatory requirements. The contract is awarded as "Group All," requiring vendors to bid all 193 line items to maintain responsiveness, and the evaluation criteria emphasize best price and demonstrated experience in pesticide analysis. No incumbent vendor or specific budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents, though the contract structure accommodates flexibility in delivery times and analytical methodologies to accommodate various pesticide compound analyses.