RADIOACTIVE ANALYSIS

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) 5400020138 for comprehensive radioactive analytical laboratory services in Richland County. The solicitation seeks a qualified vendor to perform analyses of soil, water, concrete, plant, and waste samples in compliance with multiple regulatory standards, including South Carolina Radioactive Materials Regulation and EPA test methods. Specific analytical requirements include testing for Gross Alpha, Gross Beta, Gamma Spectrometry, Radium 226, Radium 228, Uranium, Radon 222, and Tritium across different sample types. The contract requires in-house sample analysis without subcontracting, comprehensive chain-of-custody documentation, and result reporting within 21 days of analysis. The evaluation will be based on four key criteria: experience and qualifications (35 points), ability to perform (30 points), pricing (25 points), and sample kit quality (10 points). Originally scheduled with a September 17, 2020 submission deadline, the timeline was extended to September 24, 2020, with an award posting date moved to October 14, 2020. The resulting contract will have an initial one-year term beginning November 8, 2020, with potential for four additional one-year renewals.

Vendors must be certified under South Carolina Environmental Laboratory Certification Regulations R61-81 to perform radiological analyses, with in-state vendors eligible to claim applicable preferences under South Carolina Code Section 11-35-1524. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. Out-of-state vendors will be responsible for covering expenses related to DHEC regulatory staff site inspections, which could involve a minimum of two inspectors over a three-day period. The pricing structure is based on per-analysis unit pricing for three distinct sample categories: soil samples, plant/vegetable matter samples, and water samples. While no specific budget range or total contract value was disclosed, the solicitation requires detailed unit pricing for various analytical services. Vendors must submit one original paper proposal, six USB drives of the offer, a separate sealed pricing envelope, and complete all necessary registration in the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS). The contract includes provisions for repeated analyses of lost or damaged samples at no additional cost to DHEC and requires continuous maintenance of all laboratory certifications throughout the contract term.