Contracted Laboratory for Toxicity Services

Dorchester County, South Carolina has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP No. 2026-23) seeking qualified, certified, and licensed laboratories to provide Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Services for its wastewater treatment facilities. The selected laboratory will be responsible for conducting acute and chronic toxicity tests on effluent samples collected from multiple County sites, in compliance with EPA-approved methods and the County's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. Services include sample collection, maintaining chain-of-custody documentation, laboratory analysis, data quality assurance and control, reporting, and consultation to support regulatory compliance. The contract term is one year with the option to renew for up to four additional one-year periods. Proposals must be submitted electronically by January 13, 2026, through the County’s OpenGov Procurement Portal. Evaluation of proposals will focus on a best-value trade-off basis, with cost comprising the largest weighted factor (40%), followed by experience and qualifications (25%), quality assurance/quality control programs (20%), staffing and availability (10%), and geographic proximity to County facilities (5%). The County will select the proposal that offers the best overall value rather than simply the lowest price. Key contract requirements include strict adherence to South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) certifications, submission of certified test reports, and compliance with Chain-of-Custody procedures. The agreement mandates minimum insurance coverage levels, drug-free workplace compliance, record retention for at least three years, and broad indemnification protections for the County. The contract lacks standard federal acquisition clauses, relying instead on locally developed terms, and imposes detailed obligations on reporting, auditing, subcontracting restrictions, and coordination with County personnel to ensure regulatory compliance and service quality.