Department of Agriculture explains lab vendor choices as Controlling Board approves multiple sole‑source items
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Summary
Ohio Department of Agriculture officials told the Controlling Board most laboratory and certain campus control system contracts are de facto sole source because instruments, reagents and control systems require long certification and matching supplies; related waivers were approved.
The State Controlling Board approved a group of Department of Agriculture items June 2 after agency officials explained why several laboratory instruments, supplies and building control systems are treated as sole‑source or single‑source purchases.
Todd Thatcher and Chris Geyer of the Ohio Department of Agriculture told the board the department conducts specialized animal‑health, pesticide and food‑safety testing that must meet federal and national standards. Chris Geyer said once an instrument and compatible supplies (reagents) are selected and validated, switching suppliers requires recertification: “If we switch from using one type of reagent to another, we have to recertify that the test will still be accurate with the new supply that we've started using.”
The agency explained that some tests are performed by prescribed external providers (for example, tests the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructs states to use), while others depend on expensive instruments and established supply chains. The department said it does actively evaluate alternatives and in one recent case switched to a new reagent vendor (IndiCal) after retesting and recertifying, which it said produced “tens of thousands of dollars” in savings.
Why it matters: laboratory continuity can create practical constraints that limit immediate competition. The department said it will open bids for control systems and other future procurements where possible, but for many ongoing tests changing suppliers carries measurable time and cost to validate.
Discussion vs. action: the agency described technical limitations and certification costs; the Controlling Board approved the held agriculture items by voice vote.
What’s next: the department said it will advertise controls for new laboratory construction and continue to look for cost savings where possible, and noted federally funded testing sometimes specifies a provider.