Statement of Work - Enzyme Substrate Coliform Test Media 2
Municipal Laboratory,
Environmental Services and
Sustainability Department
1056 S. Mayhill Rd.
Denton, Texas 76208
8563 Enzyme Substrate Coliform Test Media
STATEMENT OF WORK
Date Prepared: 5/1/2024
Presenter Name: Marcos Diosdado
City of Denton Statement of Work
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Name of Project: 8563 Enzyme Substrate Coliform Test Media
1.0 Introduction/Background
The City of Denton Municipal Laboratory (Laboratory) was recognized and accredited in
accordance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) and
the Texas Water Code Chapter 5, Subchapter R, Title 30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter
25 to provide testing services for Heterotrophic Plate Count (The NELAC Institute, TNI analyte
2555, TNI method 20180001) and Total Coliforms & Escherichia coli (E. coli)
presence/absence (TNI analyte 2502, TNI methods 20212413 & 20214602) for drinking water
in 2009. The Laboratory expanded its accreditation in 2017 to include E. coli & Total Coliforms
enumeration in drinking water (TNI analytes 2525 & 2500, TNI method 20211603) and E. coli
enumeration (TNI analyte 2525, TNI methods 60002600 & 20212800) in non-potable water.
The Laboratory requires the use of an Enzyme Substrate Coliform Test Media (Media) that is
suitable for use in testing potable and non-potable waters. The Laboratory processes samples
and reports results to regulatory agencies for over 170 external customers and four internal
customers.
2.0 Objectives
The City of Denton is interested in receiving proposals from prospective suppliers to provide
enzyme substrate coliform test media, sample vessels (bottles and multi-well enumeration
trays), tray sealer, and results comparators to continue sustaining the current customer testing
needs and to accommodate future increases.
Results generated by the Laboratory are used by internal and external customers to meet their
regulatory requirements under the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) using test methods
approved under the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 141 (40 CFR 141) and National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits using test methods approved under
the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 136 (40 CFR 136). The Laboratory seeks to
continue providing testing services to its internal and external customers under NELAP
(National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program) standards for drinking water and
non-potable water.
3.0 Scope of Work
Media and multi-well enumeration trays must be approved for compliance testing of Total
Coliforms and E. coli in drinking water under 40 CFR 141 and for compliance testing of E. coli
in wastewater under 40 CFR 136 using the Standard Methods 9223B procedure. Media must
pass quality control and performance checks for sterility, selectivity, sensitivity, growth
promotion, and growth inhibition as outlined in The NELAC Institute Standard (2016), Volume
1, Modules 2 & 5. Media and vessels must pass quality control testing (QC) as outlined in
Standard Methods 9020 and 9223B and the TNI Standard (2016), Volume 1, Modules 2& 5.
Media must be packaged in individual portions, suitable for direct use in 100 mL of sample.
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Sample vessels must be suitable for the direct addition of media and incubation. Enumeration
trays must be suitable for direct incubation in a circulating air incubator and by submersion in a
water bath. All media, sample vessels, and enumeration trays must be assigned a lot number
traceable to the Certificate of Analysis (COA).
3.1 Media Specifications
The Laboratory requires a medium with a 24 – 28-hour incubation time and a medium with an
18 – 22-hour incubation time.
• Media must exhibit a color change to indicate the presence of total coliforms.
• Media must exhibit fluorescence to indicate the presence of E. coli under a long
wavelength (365 – 366 nm) ultraviolet lamp.
• Media must be able to detect one colony-forming unit (CFU) in a 100 milliliter (mL)
sample.
• Media must be able to suppress heterotrophic growth up to 2 million heterotrophs per
100 mL.
• Media must simultaneously detect total coliforms and E. coli without requiring a
confirmation step.
• Media must be suitable to use in multi-well trays and have capacity of producing a
most probable number (MPN) result for total coliforms and E. coli of at least 2,419 for
100 mL of undiluted sample.
• Individual media packets must be assigned and marked with a unique lot number
traceable to the COA.
3.2 Sample Bottle Specifications
The Laboratory requires sample bottles in two volume sizes, 120 mL and 290 mL. The 120 mL
bottles must have a 100 mL gradation. The 290 mL bottles must have 100, 200, and 250 mL
gradations. Sample bottles must pass quality control checks for sterility, pH, auto-
fluorescence, chlorine neutralization, and volume.
• Sample bottles must show to be sterile using non-selective growth media after a 48-
hour incubation period at 35 ± 0.5°C.
• Must show to be at a circumneutral pH using bromothymol blue.
• Must lack auto-fluorescence under a long wavelength (365 – 366 nm) ultraviolet lamp.
• Volume gradations must show to be within ± 2.5 mL of stated volume using a
gravimetric method.
• Must contain enough sodium thiosulfate to neutralize at least 15 mg/L of chlorine per
100 mL of sample.
• Must have a tamper-evident shrink band seal.
• Individual bottles must be assigned and marked with a unique lot number traceable to
the COA.
3.3 Multi-well Sample Tray Specifications
The laboratory requires multi-well sample trays capable of partitioning 100 mL of sample to
provide results for total coliforms and E. coli of at least 2,419 MPN per 100 mL of undiluted
sample.
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• Trays must show to be sterile using non-selective growth media after a 48-hour
incubation period at 35 ± 0.5°C.
• Must show to be at a circumneutral pH using bromothymol blue.
• Must lack auto-fluorescence under a long wavelength (365 – 366 nm) ultraviolet lamp.
• Must be able to remain sealed during the incubation period without allowing individual
wells to merge or leak into another.
• Each case/box of enumeration trays must be assigned and marked with a unique lot
number traceable to the COA.
3.4 Multi-well Sample Tray Sealer Specifications
The laboratory requires a multi-well sample tray sealer capable of permanently heat-sealing
trays containing 100 mL of a sample without allowing individual wells to merge or leak into
another.
• Must be able to seal trays containing 100 mL of sample at 4°C.
• Must not raise the temperature of the temperature of the sample in the wells more than
5°C.
3.5 Comparators
The laboratory requires comparators to accurately determine test results. Comparators must
show the minimum color threshold for total coliforms and fluorescence threshold for E. coli that
determines a positive result for each media type. Comparators must have the same volume
and be the same type of container as the sample vessels.
4.0 Vendor Requirements
Vendor must make accessible online or provide printed copies of applicable Safety Data Sheets.
Vendor must make accessible online or provide printed copies of applicable Certificates of
Analysis that are traceable to lot numbers of all media, sample vessels, and enumeration trays.
Vendor must give a 45-day advanced notice of any changes in materials that could have an effect
on the performance or suitability of the media, vessels, comparators, and related equipment.
5.0 Price Structure
Vendor’s proposal must specify the proposed pricing structure. Pricing structure should include
unit pricing, quantity price breaks, pricing breaks for supplies bought as combination packs or
sets, and projection of expected pricing increases for the life of the contract.
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6.0 Evaluation Procedure:
6.1 Compliance with Specifications (Factor: 40%)
Approval under the Code of Federal Regulations and compliance with the stated specifications
is critical due to regulatory and certification requirements. Prospective vendors must be able to
show approval of proposed media under the CFR. Media, vessels, and enumeration trays
must meet the stated specifications. Prospective vendors must make accessible online or
provide printed copies of applicable Safety Data Sheets. Vendor must make accessible online
or provide printed copies of applicable Certificates of Analysis that are traceable to lot
numbers of all media, sample vessels, and enumeration trays.
6.2 Overall Experience and Performance (Factor: 20%)
Overall evaluation of the history of the vendor, experience as it relates to the requirements for this
proposal, evidence of past performance, and demonstrated quality of products and services.
Extent and previous experience providing services to government organizations under NELAP or
similar certification.
6.3 Price and Projected Price Increase (Factor: 40%)
Consideration of proposed vendor pricing structure, unit costs, and quantity price breaks. This will
include consideration of projected pricing increases.