Forensic Pathologist Locum Tenens Clark County RFQ

Clark County Public Health is soliciting qualifications through RFQ 02-2024 for locum tenens forensic pathologists to provide forensic pathology services on a fee-for-service basis for the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. The contract seeks individuals or firms holding valid Washington State MD/DO licensure, board certification in forensic pathology, and registration in the Washington Health and Life Events System (WHALES). These forensic pathologists will conduct a range of post-mortem examinations including basic autopsies, homicide and suspicious death investigations, infant/toddler autopsies, external examinations, microscopic analyses, and medical record reviews. Deliverables include finalized autopsy reports, determinations of cause and manner of death, certification of death certificates, and coordination with law enforcement and investigative agencies. The contract operates under Washington state law and requires compliance with state and federal regulations, including records retention and disclosure under the Washington Public Records Act. The period of performance is currently unspecified but excludes extensions, with services provided primarily at the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. Contract awards will be made based on a non-competitive, qualifications-based screening process emphasizing the completeness of submissions and pass/fail risk assessments via the System for Award Management (SAM). Price is not a factor in evaluation; rather, contractors are compensated per a specified fee schedule supporting billing on a case-by-case basis, including $1,000 per basic autopsy, $3,000 for homicide cases, and hourly rates for complex cases. The contract includes provisions for independent contractor status, indemnification, confidentiality, insurance requirements (including $1 million per occurrence general liability and professional liability coverage), and compliance with wage and tax laws. Changes to services or compensation must be mutually agreed upon in writing. Contractor obligations also include immediate notification of public records requests, adherence to a no-conflict-of-interest requirement, and maintenance of professional licensure and system registrations. Payment terms require net 30 days upon invoice receipt, though detailed invoicing mechanisms and specific contract value thresholds are not defined in the available documentation. Overall, the solicitation establishes a pool of qualified forensic pathologists for on-demand service provision to support Clark County’s medico-legal death investigations.