DNA Testing Services, Evaluations & Research

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a public notice of its intended decision to award a single-source contract to Othram, Inc. for DNA Testing Services, Evaluations & Research under solicitation number FDLE-SS-2659AD. This procurement is justified under Florida Statute 287.057 and is not a competitive solicitation, with no evaluation factors, competitive bids, or standard contract clauses included in the notice. The scope of work requires advanced forensic genomic services, including Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing, shotgun sequencing targeting 500K or more SNP markers, or whole genome sequencing for unknown, highly degraded, contaminated, or bone samples. The vendor must employ genetic genealogists and scientific staff directly, prohibiting subcontracting, and must maintain contractual access to at least one law enforcement-authorized genetic genealogy database, with the capability to upload data to GEDmatch and FTDNA. Services must include genetic genealogy research assistance for Doe cases and the generation of validated likelihood ratios for SNP-to-SNP comparisons, with methodologies documented and published in peer-reviewed scientific literature to ensure legal admissibility. A quality control step using either real-time PCR or proprietary suitability analysis is required to determine sample viability, and testing must be discontinued if results are unlikely, to preserve limited forensic material. The place of performance is specified as Florida, and pricing is structured as a rate agreement with no stated total contract value or ceiling, though associated funding is expected to expire in September 2026. The contract does not include details on packaging, delivery schedules, inspection locations, payment terms, or period of performance beyond the fiscal timeframe referenced.