REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Chief of Police
Police Department/Office of the Chief
BY: MARK SALAZAR, Deputy Police Chief
Police Department/Investigative Division
SUBJECT
Title
Award a Requirements Contract for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024 “Testing of Partially Tested Kits” in an amount not to exceed $525,600 for three years with no extension options to DNA Labs International. (RFP File No. 12600269).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement with DNA Labs International in an amount not to exceed $525,600 for three years with no extension options. This agreement would be to perform DNA analysis of sexual assault kits.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On August 22, 2025, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP #12600269) requesting proposals for a Requirements Contract for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024 “Testing of Partially Tested Kits”. The RFP received three responses and an evaluation committee comprised of Fresno Police Department (FPD) personnel within the Sex Crimes Unit of the Family Justice Bureau and two individuals outside of city the evaluation committee unanimously recommends that DNA Labs International be awarded the contract not to exceed $525,600 for a three-year contract period. Funding for this contract is available with grant funding from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) 2024 grant and the new contract would begin December 18, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The FPD has conducted prior sexual assault kit (SAK) testing under previous SAKI grants. However, the allocated SAK testing grant funds were exhausted, which left FPD with 64 victim SAK cases that need further testing. In addition to this immediate need, the FPD identified that the prior forensic laboratory testing from SAK cases between the years 2020 - 2024 also require further forensic review. A criminalist was hired under this FY2024 SAKI grant initiative, and her duties include reviewing prior testing results and making professional recommendations for additional analysis. This criminalist review process has proven extremely important and vital in identifying offenders, resulting in additional DNA profiles that would have gone undetected. This review and further testing process will undoubtedly result in additional case closures that would have fallen through the cracks.
A committee consisting of two Police Officers from the Fresno Police Department SAKI Grant unit, the retired Director of the Fresno Department of Justice Regional Laboratory, the owner of Central Valley Forensic Nursing Specialists, Inc. and an Assistant Deputy Chief from the Fresno County Probation Department was formed to develop an RFP for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024, “Testing of Partially Tested Kits”.
On August 22, 2025, the committee released RFP (#12600269) for Requirements Contract for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024 “Testing of Partially Tested Kits”. When the RFP closed on September 25, 2025, it received a total of three responses. Respondents were Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc., DNA Labs International and Serological Research Institute.
Upon the committee’s thorough reviews and discussions of the submissions, on October 1, 2025, DNA Labs International was unanimously selected as the vendor of choice. The committee believes that DNA Labs International has the experience, service and quality past performance to provide the best value to the City. Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. does not have a CODIS lab partnership and for this reason they were disqualified from serious consideration for the award.
Serological Research Institute, although technically qualified, proposed a significantly higher cost than the top-ranked proposer. While the submission met all minimum service requirements, it lacked sufficient detail in implementation planning. The vendor’s experience was adequate but not as extensive or directly relevant as that of the leading contender. The proposal was compliant but less clearly structured, which impacted its overall clarity. Furthermore, the interview was brief and disorganized, raising concerns about internal coordination and project management capabilities. These factors collectively placed the vendor behind the top choice in the evaluation process.
DNA Labs International submitted a competitively priced proposal that met all budgetary
expectations while fully satisfying the technical and operational requirements, including a verified partnership with a CODIS-compliant laboratory. The vendor demonstrated strong past performance on similar projects, supported by clear documentation of successful outcomes. Their proposal was well-organized, responsive to all elements of the RFP, and legally compliant. During the interview, the team presented professionally and thoroughly, reinforcing the strengths of their written submission and instilling confidence in their readiness and capacity to deliver. Overall, DNA Labs International offered the most balanced and complete proposal, combining value, reliability, and proven expertise. As a result, the committee unanimously recommends awarding the contract to this vendor.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because the DNA Analysis project will go out to bid with the most qualified laboratory being selected.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no net impact to the general fund. The 2024 SAKI grant provides full cost recovery for all positions, operations, training, equipment, testing and supplies for this program during the period of the grant. Expenses will be claimed and reimbursed on a quarterly basis.
Attachments:
Committee Evaluation Report and RFP #12600269 Evaluation Form