Validation services for new DNA scientific instrumentation at the DCI Crime Laboratory

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Nov 13, 2025
Due:	Dec 19, 2025
Agency:	State Government of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	J - Maintenance, Repair, and Rebuilding of Equipment Q - Medical Services
Solicitation No:	005-RFP-2294-2026
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP COVER SHEET

Administrative Information

RFP Number

005-RFP-

2294-2026

Title of

RFP

Validation of DNA Instrumentation (EZ2, TissueLyzer III, &

MVac) in a Crime Laboratory

Agency

Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS)

Available to other State agencies?

yes

Available to Political Subdivisions?

yes

Available to other States or governmental entities outside of the State of Iowa?

State Issuing Officer:

Paul Manges

Phone: 515-330-7325

E-mail: paul.manges@iowa.gov

PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE—Event or Action

Date/Time (Central Time)

State Posts Notice of RFP on the TSB website

State Issues RFP

RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested changes

from Respondents due

11/12/2025

11/14/2025

12/5/2025 2:00 PM

Proposals Due

12/19/2025 2:00 PM

Relevant Websites

Internet website where the Addenda to this RFP will be posted

http://bidopportunities.iowa.gov and IMPACS Electronic Procurement

System.

Internet website where contract terms and conditions are posted

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/procurement/pdf/050116%20te

rms%20services.pdf

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/procurement/pdf/050116%20te

rms%20goods.pdf

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/procurement/pdf/Terms%20an

d%20Conditions%20for%20Federal%20Compliance.pdf

Firm Proposal Terms

The minimum number of days following the deadline for submitting

proposals that the Respondent guarantees all proposal terms, including

price, will remain firm is 120 Days.

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from Responsible

Respondents to provide the goods and/or services identified on the RFP cover sheet and further

described in Section 4 of this RFP to the Agency identified on the RFP cover sheet. The Agency

intends to award a Contract(s) for the initial period identified on the RFP cover sheet, and the

Agency, in its sole discretion, may extend the Contract(s) for up to the number of annual

extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet.

1.2 Definitions

For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting contract, the following terms shall mean:

“Agency” means the agency identified on the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP and any other

agency that purchases from the Contract.

“Contract” means the contract(s) entered into with the successful Respondent(s) as described in

Section 6.1.

“Contractor” means the awarded business/person to provide the contractual services agreed

upon.

“Deliverable” means the completion of a milestone or accomplishment of a task.

“General Terms and Conditions” means the General Terms and Conditions for Services Contracts

as referenced on the RFP cover page.

“Proposal” means the Respondent’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP.

“Respondent” means the company, organization or other business entity submitting a proposal

in response to this RFP.

“Responsible Respondent” means a Respondent that has the capability in all material respects to

perform the scope of work and specifications of the Contract. In determining whether a

Respondent is a Responsible Respondent, the Agency may consider various factors including, but

not limited to, the Respondent’s competence and qualifications to provide the goods or services

requested, the Respondent’s integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Respondent

and the best interest of the Agency and the State.

“Responsive Proposal” means a Proposal that complies with the material provisions of this RFP.

“RFP” means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or addenda

hereto.

“State” means the State of Iowa, the Agency, and all state agencies, boards, and commissions,

and any political subdivisions making purchases from the Contract as permitted by this RFP.

1.3 Overview of the RFP Process

This RFP is designed to provide Respondents with the information necessary for the preparation

of competitive Proposals. The RFP process is for the Agency’s benefit and is intended to provide

the Agency with competitive information to assist in the selection process. It is not intended to

be comprehensive. Each Respondent is responsible for determining all factors necessary for the

submission of a comprehensive Proposal.

Respondent should review Request for Confidentiality, for more information if its Proposal

contains confidential information. Any Proposal marked “Confidential” or “Proprietary” on

every page may be disqualified.

It is the Agency’s intention to evaluate Proposals from all Respondents that submit timely

Responsive Proposals, and award a Purchase Order in accordance with the evaluation and

selection criteria provided in this RFP.

1.4 Background

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Crime Laboratory located at 2240 S. Ankeny Blvd.,

Ankeny, IA 50023 desires to contract with a vendor to conduct a validation within our forensic

DNA (biology) section. The purpose of this validation will be to validate three separate

instruments used for forensic DNA casework. The Qiagen EZ2 extraction instrument, the Qiagen

TissueLyser III sample preparation instrument (bone-teeth-tissue), and a MVAC DNA sample

collection instrument will be validated in accordance with the requirements of the 2025 FBI

Director’s Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) and applicable ANAB ISO 17025 Standards. The

validation work will be carried out onsite in our forensic DNA (biology) section as well as at the

vendors facility. It is expected that for a portion of this validation that the vendor will need to be

onsite at the Iowa DCI Crime Laboratory to do the wet lab work. Validation work that does not

require in laboratory time, such as data analysis and write-ups, etc. can be done at the vendors

facility.

SECTION 2

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

2.1 Issuing Officer

The Issuing Officer identified in the RFP cover sheet is the sole point of contact regarding the RFP

from the date of issuance until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued.

2.2 Restriction on Communication

From the issue date of this RFP until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued,

Respondents may contact only the Issuing Officer. The Issuing Officer will respond only to written

questions regarding the procurement process. Questions related to the interpretation of this RFP

must be submitted as provided in Section 2. Oral questions related to the interpretation of this

RFP will not be accepted. Respondents may be disqualified if they contact any State employee

other than the Issuing Officer about the RFP except that Respondents may contact the State

Targeted Small Business Office on issues related to the preference for Targeted Small Businesses.

This section shall not be construed as restricting communications related to the administration of

any contract currently in effect between a Respondent and the State.

2.3 Downloading the RFP from the Internet

The RFP and any addenda to the RFP will be posted at http://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/ and

IMPACS Electronic Procurement System. The Respondent is advised to check the website

periodically for addenda to this RFP, particularly if the Respondent downloaded the RFP from the

Internet as the Respondent may not automatically receive addenda. It is the Respondent's sole

responsibility to check daily for addenda to posted documents.

2.4 Procurement Timetable

The dates provided in the procurement timetable on the RFP cover sheet are provided for

informational and planning purposes. The Agency reserves the right to change the dates. If the

Agency changes any of the deadlines for Respondent submissions, the Agency will issue an

addendum to the RFP.

2.5 Questions, Requests for Clarification, and Suggested Changes

Respondents are invited to submit written questions and requests for clarification regarding the

RFP. Respondents may also submit suggestions for changes to the specifications of this RFP. The

questions, requests for clarifications, or suggestions must be in IMPACS on or before the date and

time listed. Oral questions will not be permitted. If the questions, requests for clarifications, or

suggestions pertain to a specific section of the RFP, Respondent shall reference the page and

section number(s). The Agency will post written responses to questions, requests for

clarifications, or suggestions received from Respondents in IMPACS.

The Agency assumes no responsibility for oral representations made by its officers or employees

unless such representations are confirmed in writing and incorporated into the RFP through an

addendum.

2.6 Amendment to the RFP

The Agency reserves the right to amend the RFP at any time using an addendum. The Respondent

shall acknowledge receipt of all addenda in its Proposal. If the Agency issues an addendum after

the due date for receipt of Proposals, the Agency may, in its sole discretion, allow Respondents

to amend their Proposals in response to the addendum.

2.7 Amendment and Withdrawal of Proposal

The Respondent may amend or withdraw and resubmit its Proposal at any time before the

Proposals are due. The proposal must be updated and submitted using IMPACS. Electronic mail

and faxed amendments will not be accepted. Respondents must notify the Issuing Officer in

writing prior to the due date for Proposals if they wish to completely withdraw their Proposals.

2.8 Submission of Proposals

Respondent must submit Proposal in the State’s IMPACS Electronic Procurement System before

the “Proposals Due” date and time listed on the RFP cover sheet. This is a mandatory

specification and will not be waived by the Agency. Any Proposal received after this deadline

will be rejected and returned unopened to the Respondent. Respondents sending Proposals

must allow ample upload time to ensure timely receipt of their Proposals. It is the Respondent’s

responsibility to ensure that the Proposal is received prior to the deadline. Electronic mail and

faxed Proposals will not be accepted. There is a 50MB per file size limitation, but no limit to

number of files. Plan accordingly.

Respondents must furnish all information necessary to enable the Agency to evaluate the

Proposal. Oral information provided by the Respondent will not be considered part of the

Respondent's Proposal unless it is reduced to writing.

2.9 Proposal Opening

The Agency will open Proposals after the deadline for submission of Proposals has passed. The

Proposals will remain confidential until the Agency has issued a Notice of Intent to Award a

Contract. See Iowa Code Section 72.3. However, the names of Respondents who submitted timely

Proposals will be publicly available after the Proposal opening. The announcement of

Respondents who timely submitted Proposals does not mean that an individual Proposal has been

deemed technically compliant or accepted for evaluation.

2.10 Costs of Preparing the Proposal

The costs of preparation and delivery of the Proposal are solely the responsibility of the

Respondent.

2.11 No Commitment to Contract

The Agency reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals received in response to this RFP at any

time prior to the execution of the Contract. Issuance of this RFP in no way constitutes a

commitment by the Agency to award a contract.

2.12 Rejection of Proposals

The Agency may reject outright and not evaluate a Proposal for reasons including, without

limitation:

2.12.1 The Respondent fails to deliver the Cost Proposal as a separate file.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.