DATE:
September 9, 2025
02
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - REQUEST FOR SINGLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT FOR FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY SERVICES FROM BIO-TOX LABORATORIES INCORPORATED (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Sheriff's Regional Crime Laboratory (Crime Lab) receives over 3,000 requests annually from law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County for forensic toxicology services, or for testing of controlled substances in the blood or urine of criminal offenders. The test results are a crucial tool to criminal investigations and are essential in the prosecution of the offenders.
The Crime Lab is in the process of establishing an in-house toxicology program, which will help advance the standardization of toxicology practices and will decrease the amount of toxicology services outsourced to a third-party laboratory. The in-house toxicology program is estimated to go live by the end of 2025. While the Crime Lab is in the process of implementing this in-house drug testing program, its scope will not include analysis for all types of substances. Bio-Tox Laboratories Incorporated (Bio-Tox) will continue to provide testing for drugs that fall outside the capabilities of the internal program. Additionally, Bio-Tox offers expert testimony services that are critical to supporting legal proceedings. The Crime Lab previously contracted these services to Bio-Tox until the contract expired on December 31, 2024.
Today's request is to authorize the Director of Purchasing and Contracting to establish a new contract with Bio-Tox for one year, with four option years and a six-month extension if needed, subject to the availability of funds, and to amend the contract as required to reflect changes to services and funding allocations, subject to the approval of the Sheriff.
RECOMMENDATION
SHERIFF
In accordance with Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contractin...
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