The Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is inviting proposals for Drinking Water bacteriological analysis and testing services for a period of two (2) years with a irrevocable option granted to the CK PUC to extend the contract for an additional one (1) year period or parts thereof. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to secure the services of a qualified and accredited laboratory to perform bacteriological analysis of drinking water samples in accordance with all applicable Ontario regulatory requirements, including the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards (O. Reg. 169/03) and the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.
This RFP seeks to ensure that the contracting municipality/organization has access to timely, accurate, and reliable microbiological testing—such as E. coli, total coliforms, and heterotrophic plate count (HPC)—to verify the safety of its drinking water supply and support regulatory compliance, operational decision making, and public health protection.
The selected laboratory must maintain Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) and/or Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accreditation and have a current and valid Drinking Water Testing License issued by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for the required analytical methods, follow strict quality assurance and quality control procedures, and deliver results within legislated timelines. To support timely sample transport and compliance with sample holding times, the laboratory must be located within 100 kilometres of 325 Grand Avenue East, Chatham, Ontario and must provide in-house courier service or subcontracted courier service for routine/weekly sampling pick up and delivery as well as non-routine and emergency pick-up and delivery. Through this procurement, the organization aims to establish a consistent, dependable, and cost effective testing arrangement that supports ongoing monitoring and risk management within the drinking water system.