Specialty Laboratory Analysis Services

The County of Orange, California, County Executive Office is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB #017-2972802-LM-2) for Specialty Laboratory Analysis Services to be procured on an as-needed basis with no guaranteed volume. The County seeks qualified vendors to provide comprehensive laboratory testing services across five primary categories: organic and solvent chemical analysis (including toluene, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, benzene, and xylenes); inorganic chemical analysis (asbestos, lead, mercury, metals speciation, silica, and chromium); environmental and air quality testing (ambient air analysis, diesel particulates, indoor air quality, soil vapor gas systems, and water quality); microbiology and mycology services (coliforms, E. coli, endotoxins, legionella, and microbial identification); and specialized services including environmental emergency response, microscopy, pesticide and herbicide analysis, toxicology, and waste characterization. Contractors must provide firm, fixed pricing organized by analysis type with three turnaround time tiers (five business days, three business days, and 24 hours), along with appropriate sampling media and equipment. Required qualifications include current and active accreditations from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program with specific accreditations in Asbestos/Fiber Microscopy, Beryllium Testing, Chromatography Core, Gravimetric, and Spectrometry Core, as well as at least one accreditation from AIHA ISO 1705-2005, NELAC, or equivalent standards, and a minimum of ten years of business experience in laboratory analysis and testing services. Award will be based on the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, and the County reserves the right to make multiple awards. Electronic bids must be submitted through the County's online bidding portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/ocgov no later than April 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM, with all questions and requests for clarification due by April 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Awarded contractors must execute the contract within seven days of notification.

The County of Orange offers preferential evaluation consideration for certified local and disadvantaged businesses, including a five percent (5%) preference for County of Orange Local Small Business (OCLSB) certified bidders and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certified bidders, with an eight percent (8%) preference for businesses certified as both OCLSB and DVBE. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The contract requires contractors to maintain a catalog and fee schedule that may be updated annually without contract amendment, provide technical guidance on test selection and sampling protocols at no additional cost, and furnish analysis reports within five business days of sample receipt unless otherwise requested. Contractors must also agree to expedite reporting at no additional cost when requested and to perform specialty analyses not listed in the standard catalog on an as-needed basis with quotes subject to County Project Manager approval. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds are required at a rate per thousand dollars of contract value. The specific contract value or budget range is not disclosed in the solicitation; instead, a "not to exceed" amount will be determined following award, and pricing remains firm throughout the entire contract term with no profit increases permitted and all price decreases automatically extending to the County.