Medical Laboratory Equipment

Assiniboine College is soliciting proposals for Medical Laboratory Equipment through a negotiated procurement process under solicitation number 2026-RFP-04, with responses due by May 25, 2026. The procurement is conducted via Merx.com, and while the solicitation is issued under the College’s name, the organization is affiliated with the Government of Canada. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Lexington County E-Procurement System, despite the inconsistency in agency naming, and must include mandatory documentation such as the two most recent annual reports and financial data in Appendix A, with optional marketing literature in Appendix B. Each submission is subject to a 50 MB file size limit. Bidders are required to certify familiarity with the RFP, affirm non-collusion, and comply with extensive contractual obligations including bonding requirements—a 5% proposal bond and 100% performance and payment bonds if the contract exceeds $50,000—and insurance coverage totaling $1 million for commercial general liability, $600,000 for professional liability, and $1 million/$2 million for automobile liability, with the County named as an additional insured. The contract, structured as a fixed-price indefinite quantity agreement, has a base term of one year with up to four one-year renewal options. Performance is governed by FOB Destination terms in Lexington, South Carolina, requiring delivery to the County’s administration building, and all equipment must be fit for purpose, merchantable, and free from defects. Contractors must adhere to South Carolina law, including E-Verify compliance for employment verification and adherence to federal affirmative action standards under 41 C.F.R. parts 60, and are responsible for all payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance. Invoices must be submitted daily with the purchase order number and mailed to a specified address in Lexington, SC, with payment terms capped at 30 days after acceptance, though invoices submitted after the 10th of the month may be deferred. Evaluation will be based on a trade-off approach considering management capability, technical expertise, reputation, and cost, with an emphasis on non-cost factors over lowest price. The County retains the right to reject any proposal, negotiate with selected bidders, and terminate or modify the contract as needed, and all submissions must be signed, complete, and submitted via the designated portal prior to the deadline to be considered responsive.