Water Distribution System Sample Collection and Laboratory Analysis Services

The City of Fairfield is requesting proposals for water distribution system sample collection and laboratory analysis services to support Safe Drinking Water Act and California State Water Resources Control Board compliance monitoring, with proposals due November 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. The awardee must hold current California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certification—the central eligibility gate.

The scope encompasses weekly collection and analysis of 36 bacteriological drinking water samples, performing 1,872 annual bacteriological tests, 1,872 annual field measurements, 520 annual general physical tests, and up to 240 annual Heterotrophic Plate Count tests as needed. The consultant must conduct analyses in accordance with specified analytical methods and deliver reporting services supporting regulatory compliance and operational monitoring for the North Bay Regional Water Treatment Plant.

The contract term is five years, with services commencing April 1, 2027. Proposers must submit unit prices and annualized costs for bacteriological analyses, field measurements, general physical tests, and HPC tests for all five contract years. The City requires commercial general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence, automobile insurance of $1 million per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance of $1 million per occurrence, with the City named as additional insured. A City of Fairfield business license must be obtained prior to contract execution and payment.

Evaluation criteria are experience with similar services (weight 2), staff qualifications (weight 3), project management and responsiveness (weight 3), and cost (weight 2). Proposals must include a letter of introduction, statement of laboratory state certification and staff credentials, detailed service outline, minimum three references, insurance coverage statement, and acceptance of professional services agreement requirements. Written questions are due October 19, 2026, with City responses provided by October 30, 2026. Staff recommendations and contract award are scheduled for January 19, 2027.