Rebid-HIVP24 HEP a, B&C, syphilis system

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) issued a competitive best value bid solicitation for a rebid to establish up to two reagent and equipment rental contracts for infectious disease testing systems. The procurement targets two distinct lots: Lot 1 covers HIV p24 Antigen and Antibody testing for HIV-1 and HIV-2, plus Syphilis testing, with an estimated annual usage of 110,000 tests, while Lot 2 focuses on Hepatitis A, B, and C antibody and antigen testing, with an estimated annual usage of 5,083 tests. Offerors must provide fully-automated analyzers using immunoassay methodology for qualitative detection in human serum and plasma, including kits, reagents, controls, calibrators, and consumables. The contract requires all equipment to be new, with installation and full operational status guaranteed within 30 days of delivery, and reagent delivery within ten working days after order receipt. Key submission dates include a deadline for questions on April 24, 2020, at 5:00 PM ET, with bid opening on May 14, 2020, at 2:30 PM ET, and award notification scheduled for May 27, 2020. The contract has an initial one-year term with four potential one-year renewals, spanning from June 4, 2020, to June 3, 2025.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were mentioned in the solicitation documents. The procurement requires contractors to provide on-site maintenance, preventive maintenance, technical assistance during business hours, and next-day replacement parts or loaner equipment as needed. An evaluation process will include a comprehensive assessment of the highest-ranked responsive and responsible offeror, involving an on-site system evaluation with up to three DHEC Public Health Laboratory staff, for which the offeror must cover all travel expenses and provide free reagents and supplies for a minimum of 200 tests. Pricing must be stated as cost per test on an all-inclusive basis, covering all equipment, controls, calibrators, standards, collection devices, and consumables. The State reserves the right to adjust purchase quantities by increasing up to 150 percent or decreasing by 50 percent without unit price changes, though no minimum annual test volume is guaranteed. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the extensive testing volumes and multi-year contract structure suggest a potentially significant procurement value for the selected contractor(s).