Laboratory's Courier Services

Solicitation RFP 27-0905001-005, issued by the South Dakota Department of Health on behalf of the South Dakota Public Health Laboratory (SDPHL), seeks a qualified contractor to provide statewide courier services. The successful applicant will be responsible for the transport of clinical, environmental, forensic, and veterinary samples, ensuring next-day delivery and strict adherence to pickup windows. Key operational requirements include the provision of primary and backup drivers and vehicles, a comprehensive continuity-of-operations plan for disruptions, and strict compliance with specimen integrity and chain-of-custody protocols. Contractors are prohibited from altering packages and must immediately report any damaged or compromised materials to the SDPHL. The state will evaluate proposals based on a combination of technical competence, available resources, past performance, management techniques, and cost, which is assessed independently from the technical proposal. Award decisions will be made in the best interest of the state, focusing on reliability and responsiveness. Required certifications include non-discrimination statements and confirmation that the entity is not controlled by prohibited foreign governments. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least 1,000,000 dollars per occurrence. Proposals are due by November 27, 2026, with an anticipated award decision date of December 29, 2026. Invoicing is to be submitted electronically on a monthly basis in a format compatible with Microsoft Excel.