Summary
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), in cooperation with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), is seeking to identify one clinical, commercial, or state/local public health laboratory, to serve as the Tuberculosis (TB) Testing Reference Center for the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). This Reference Center will provide TB laboratory services, coordinate external quality assessment, and support laboratory quality improvement through workforce development and laboratory evaluations to improve TB diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment monitoring for ten USAPI locations: 1) American Samoa; 2) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; 3) Guam; 4) Chuuk State, 5) Kosrae State, 6) Pohnpei State, and 7) Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia; 8) Ebeye and 9) Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and in the 10) Republic of Palau. Up to 3,500 specimens will be received and processed per year. Services will include:
- Specimen transport from USAPI locations, inclusive of provision and shipping for specimen collection and packaging supplies
- Smear microscopy and culture for acid-fast bacilli (AFB)
- Identification and direct detection of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC)
- Minimally phenotypic and if performed, molecular, first-line drug susceptibility testing (DST), and as applicable, reflex (in-house or to a different laboratory) for Molecular Detection of Drug Resistance testing and second-line DST when drug resistance is suspected or detected
- Submission of MTBC isolates for genotyping to a designated laboratory, as applicable
- Efficient results reporting to USAPI locations to include use of a laboratory web portal
Anticipated RFP Schedule
June 24, 2025 – RFP Issued
July 9, 2025 – Letter of Intent Due to APHL (see below)
July 11, 2025 – Informational Teleconference, if necessary (Q&A)
July 28, 2025 – RFP Responses Due
August 6, 2025 – Proposal Reviews Completed
August 7-8, 2025 – Follow-up Interviews and Updated Proposals Due (as needed)
August 13, 2025 – Final Review Completed and Awardee Selected
Summer, 2025 – Site visit, Harmonization, Validations, and Other Pre-Planning (as needed)
September 25, 2025 – First Year Contract Awarded
APHL will communicate any modification to this anticipated schedule on APHL’s procurement website
(www.aphl.org/rfp) and via email blast to PHLs.
Response Submittal
Confirmation of Intent to Respond
APHL requires that prospective applicants submit a brief email statement indicating an intent to submit a proposal. APHL must receive this email by no later than 11:59pm EST on the due date. To allow for appropriate review process planning, a letter of intent is required for consideration.
Final Response
APHL must receive complete responses by 11:59 pm EST on the due date. Please see Proposal-Required Submissions section for items that must be included in the completed proposal. Applicants may send proposals via email to sarah.buss@aphl.org with copy to infectious.diseases@aphl.org. APHL will send an email acknowledging receipt of your application; if you do not receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please email the RFP point of contact above to confirm receipt.
RFP Materials
The Official RFP Document will provide detailed information. APHL will post all RFP-related documents, current schedule information, and answers to submitted questions and clarifications on APHL's procurement site, www.aphl.org/rfp.