Toxicology Services for Medical Examiner's Office

Bergen County, New Jersey is seeking a qualified toxicology laboratory to provide forensic toxicology services for the County Medical Examiner's Office through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ-25-013). The procurement requires a laboratory capable of conducting approximately 500 postmortem panels and 50 targeted analysis panel tests annually, with comprehensive responsibilities including drug and alcohol level analysis, written specimen reporting, minimum one-year specimen storage, and litigation support package preparation. The laboratory must be accredited by recognized forensic organizations such as SOFT, ABFT, or CAP, with the Chief Toxicologist required to hold a doctoral degree and ABFT or American Board of Clinical Chemistry certification. Proposals will be electronically submitted through the Bonfire eProcurement platform by November 19, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. The county will evaluate proposals based on factors including experience, reputation, subject matter knowledge, availability for meetings, and other criteria deemed in the best interest of Bergen County.

The procurement includes several set-aside and enterprise participation opportunities, specifically targeting Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women's Business Enterprises (WBE), Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE), and Small Business Enterprises (SBE) through Bergen County's economic inclusion program. Businesses must be independently owned, operated, and have a principal place of business in New Jersey, with at least 51% ownership by the relevant group. While no specific contract value is listed, vendors must comply with extensive requirements including providing comprehensive insurance coverage (minimum $1,000,000 in general and automobile liability), completing various state-mandated disclosure forms, and adhering to affirmative action regulations. Additional compliance requirements include certification of non-involvement in prohibited activities in Russia and Belarus, ownership disclosure statements, and Iran investment activity disclosures. The contract is anticipated to be a two-year agreement with potential extensions, contingent upon fund availability and performance.