ON CALL SERVICES FOR TESTING OF HOPKINTON WATER AND OTHER CONTINGENT TESTING (WET CHEMISTRY)

The Town of Hopkinton, through its Department of Public Works, is seeking qualified laboratories to provide on-call analytical testing services for drinking water and other contingent wet chemistry analyses under the direction of the Water & Sewer Manager. This solicitation, identified as RFP#DPW-26-440-04, is open for proposals until May 27, 2026, with responses required to be submitted in two sealed envelopes—one containing the technical and non-price proposal and the other the price proposal—each including one original and one electronic copy. Contractors must be certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for bacteriological and chemical analysis of potable water and must demonstrate compliance with EPA methods, 310 CMR 22.00, MassDEP guidelines, and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. The laboratory is responsible for supplying all sampling materials, including bottles, preservatives, labels, chain-of-custody forms, and arranging courier services for sample pickup and delivery, while maintaining 24/7 availability for emergency testing. Results must be delivered within five business days, with repeat analysis of bacteriological positives completed within 24 hours, and immediate notification required for any Coliform, E. coli, or elevated HPC detections. Proposals will be evaluated based on Experience, Resources and Scheduling, Proximity to Hopkinton, Knowledge, Thoroughness, and Price, with Experience given the highest priority. Award will be made using a trade-off approach rather than lowest price technically acceptable, favoring proposals that offer the greatest overall value. The contract is structured as a one-year term with two optional one-year extensions, contingent upon annual fund appropriations and satisfactory performance. Contractors must submit certifications including a Non-Collusion Statement, Certificate of State Tax Compliance, Statement of Competency, and insurance certificates for General Liability, Professional Liability, and Motor Vehicle Liability, each with minimum limits of $1 million, naming the Town as additional insured. Subcontracting is prohibited without prior written approval, and all personnel must be direct employees of the contractor. The Town will not pay sales taxes or finance charges, and invoices must be mailed to the Water Department’s specified address and include service dates and total amounts. Failure to comply with any requirements, including submission format deadlines, certification validity, or regulatory standards, may result in disqualification or contract termination. The contract is subject to state conflict of interest laws and affirmative action reporting obligations if applicable, with all documentation submitted under penalties of per