Department of Transportation, Transportation Administrative Service Center (TASC), Acquisition Services, SVC-180, 400 7th Street SW, Room 5106, Washington, DC 20590

Q -- FORENSIC DRUG TESTING LABORATORY SERVICES SOL DTTS59-2000-R-00432 POC Deborah Rincon at 202-366-6689 E-MAIL: Deborah Rincon, deborah.rincon@tasc.dot.gov. The Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Administration Service Center (TASC) plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Forensic Drug Testing Laboratory Services. TASC and current TASC customer agencies present urine specimens for drug testing from anywhere in the USA and, to a limited extent, foreign locations. These include specimens that must be handled under various regulatory requirements, such as the US Department of Health and Human Services, DOT, and the Department of Defense regulations and guidelines. TASC as a fee-for-service entity must acquire a service that provides the best quality for DOT and non-DOT customers. TASC defines that quality as follows: TASC requires the capability of performing at least 30,000 screening tests a year. However, testing levels (amounts of specimens) fluctuate from day to day. The offeror must be capable of performing at least 200 screening tests of specimens submitted under this contract (regardless of other work) within any 24 hours. It is an accepted industry standard for laboratories to report negative screen tests within 24 hours of receipt by the laboratory unless there are unusual circumstances on a specimen. This is a quality expectation of DOT and its customer agencies. Our testing overwhelmingly involves operating safety-sensitive employees. It is imperative that these services provide accurate results in the minimum time possible. The reduction of potential threats to public safety is a paramount goal of this program. The offeror must be capable of performing 20 confirmation tests under this contract (regardless of other work) within a 24-hour period. Actual amounts of specimens received per day may fluctuate. The offeror must be capable of performing tests for drugs listed in Schedules I and II of the Controlled Substances Act according to specific cutoff value(s) for drug test results to be considered positive. These are provided by TASC based on the drug involved. This testing must include a screening test and, if the screen is positive, a confirmation test. Methods used must be forensically sound and defensible by the laboratory. The offeror must be capable of performing tests for adulteration and substitution. This is in addition to specific gravity, pH, and creatinine and quantitative levels for positive tests on request. Daily laboratory test results reports must be provided electronically to DOT/TASC or customer agencies. The industry standard is to electronically transmit screen negative results within 24 hours of receipt. Specific information is required on all specimens. Other data and report requirements would indicate that the offeror utilizes a state-of-the art information management system. This system must interface with a testing management system called Heidi, that is utilized by DOT and some of DOT's customers. The contract will be awarded based on "best value" to the government for a base period and four option years. The estimated start of contract performance will be October 1, 2000. The RFP will be a full and open competition. Release of the RFP is planned for the middle of May, 2000. The RFP will be distributed electronically via the Government's electronic posting Web site at http://www.eps.gov (reference DTTS59-2000-R-00432). THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE HARD COPIES OF THE RFP; DISTRIBUTION WILL ONLY BE DONE VIA THE AFOREMENTIONED METHOD SO FIRMS SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE BY REQUESTING TO BE PLACED ON A SOLICITATION MAILING LIST. The RFP and related documents will be provided in Microsoft Word format. The RFP will have instructions for providing questions and comments. DOT anticipates that all subsequent solicitation documents (e.g., amendments to the RFP and responses to questions) will be disseminated to offerors via the same method. Posted 04/22/00 (W-SN447745). (0113)

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