RFB-758-2600000675-4 | Courier Service for Newborn Screening Samples

The contract requires a courier service to transport newborn screening specimens and other clinical samples from 46 birthing hospitals, 12 health departments, and one correctional facility across Kentucky to the Division of Laboratory Services in Frankfort, with daily pickups Sunday through Friday and guaranteed next-morning delivery by 7:00 a.m. EST. All specimens must be handled in strict compliance with DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations, CDC/WHO guidelines, and HIPAA standards, with NBS samples requiring temperature control not exceeding 80°F, humidity levels below 30%, and protection from direct sunlight; airtight packaging is prohibited. Vehicles must be equipped with spill kits and PPE, drivers must be trained in hazardous material handling, and shipments must be secured in carry cases without placement on vehicle dashboards. The contractor is prohibited from opening or modifying any packaging and may refuse improperly labeled or packaged shipments. Delivery is F.O.B. destination, freight prepaid, with the vendor bearing all transportation costs. The contract has an initial one-year term with four optional two-year renewal periods, subject to mutual written agreement and potential renegotiation. Pricing is evaluated on a trade-off basis with 80% weight given to monthly pricing for standard specimen transport (Commodity Line 1) and 20% to on-demand urgent delivery service (Commodity Line 2), with the lowest-priced offer receiving the highest score; no non-price factors such as past performance or technical capability influence scoring, though they may be used for responsibility determination. Offerors must submit a notarized affidavit confirming compliance with Kentucky state laws, including campaign finance and resident bidder status, and disclose any tax or employment law violations within the past five years. Insurance requirements mandate $1,000,000 per occurrence automobile liability coverage naming the Finance and Administration Cabinet as additional insured, with insurers needing an AM Best rating of B+ or higher. The vendor must disclose any use of generative AI, comply with accessibility laws, avoid energy company boycotts, and provide two years of credit monitoring for individuals affected by lost specimens. Failure to submit required affidavits or comply with procurement rules renders a bid non-responsive. Invoices are to be submitted to the Office of Procurement Services in Frankfort and paid within 30 working days of receipt or service acceptance.