Water Quality Laboratory Biennial Assessment Audit 2026

The City of Ocala is seeking a Florida Department of Health (FDOH) approved assessment provider to conduct a biennial Water Quality Laboratory Biennial Assessment Audit for its water quality laboratory (E53377), with the primary objective of maintaining Drinking Water and Non-Potable Water Accreditation. The procurement, identified as RFQ# WRS/250906, requires a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) provider to perform an on-site audit by July 30, 2026. Key deliverables include a comprehensive review of the laboratory's Quality Manual, Standard Operating Procedures, Method Detection Limits, Demonstration of Capability, and Proficiency Testing Results. The successful vendor must provide a plan of correction and/or report findings to the Florida Department of Health upon audit completion. Evaluation criteria will focus on FDOH approval status, with the contract to be awarded on a lump sum basis to the lowest bidder meeting all requirements. The solicitation was posted on August 25, 2025, with proposals due by September 9, 2025, providing potential bidders with approximately two weeks to prepare and submit their responses.

The procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must be FDOH-approved assessment providers and provide proof of approval, which may limit the pool of potential respondents. Insurance requirements are stringent, mandating $1,000,000 per occurrence Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 Commercial Automotive Liability, and Workers' Compensation per Florida statutory requirements. The contractor will be responsible for all safety precautions, equipment protection, and potential damages, with documentation to be prepared using the most current version of Microsoft Office. Invoicing will occur monthly, submitted to Benjamin Moose, Compliance Monitoring Manager at the Water Resources Department. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the available documentation, the procurement appears to be a critical quality assurance initiative for the City of Ocala's water quality management infrastructure, suggesting a focused and potentially moderate-value contract for laboratory assessment services.