RFP for Microcystin Test Strips

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued this Request for Proposal on June 16, 2021, seeking rapid test strips to assess microcystin concentration in ambient water for recreational water assessment purposes. The procurement targets field test strips that provide preliminary, qualitative screening for microcystin with results delivered in a short timeframe applicable to Michigan surface waters, with an estimated three-year quantity of 3,000 test strips. Required deliverables include test strips that incorporate an algal cell lysis step, provide preliminary qualitative screening, and maintain shelf stability for at least six months; all contract activities must be delivered within ten calendar days of order receipt to Constitution Hall in Lansing, Michigan. The contractor must maintain a toll-free customer service line available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, and provide technical support during the same hours. Service level agreements require 100 percent compliance with delivery schedules, with penalties of $100 per occurrence for the first five violations and $500 per occurrence thereafter in a calendar year. Proposals were due July 1, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, with an anticipated contract begin date of July 19, 2021; no bidders conference or site visit was scheduled.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations eligible to respond, nor does it identify disadvantaged enterprise requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the available documentation. The contract term spans three years with the option to renew for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's sole discretion, with pricing to remain firm for the three-year base contract period; adjustments in subsequent renewal periods may be made based on documented changes in actual contractor costs supported by evidence such as Consumer Price Index data, Producer Price Index figures, or manufacturer letters. The RFP does not specify a budget range or estimated award value, though federal provisions are included in the contract terms, suggesting potential federal funding involvement. No detailed evaluation criteria are provided in the available documentation.