REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2026
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with National Medical Services, Inc., dba NMS Labs to provide Postmortem Forensic Toxicology Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Contract with National Medical Services, Inc., dba NMS Labs, for the provision of postmortem forensic toxicology services, in a not to exceed amount of $1,600,000, for the period of October 6, 2026 through October 5, 2029, with the option to extend the contract for two additional one-year extensions, or one additional two-year extension to the original term.
2. Authorize the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, Undersheriff, Assistant Sheriff, or Chief Deputy Director of Sheriff’s Administration, to execute change orders to the contract, as needed, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per change order, so long as the total aggregate amount of such change orders do not exceed 20 percent of the total contract amount of $320,000, and the change orders do not amend the contract term, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to transmit all change orders to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item may result in a future request for ongoing Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) is not requesting additional ongoing Net County Cost at this time, however, a request for additional funding will be included as part of the 2027-28 budget process as these are mandated services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department’s Coroner Division (Coroner) is responsible for investigating all deaths that occur within the County; this includes determining the cause of death and clarifying all circumstances surrounding or pertaining to the manner of death of a decedent. The Coroner utilizes postmortem forensic toxicology services in approximately 95% of the 2,500 autopsies performed annually, in conjunction with autopsy findings, to formulate a medical conclusion as to the cause of death of a decedent.
The current agreement with National Medical Services Inc., dba NMS Labs (NMS Labs) is set to expire on September 30, 2026, which prompted the Department to issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to ensure continuation of these critical services, maintain compliance with all industry and regulatory standards, and support timely turnaround of toxicology results.
Approval of Recommendation No. 2 will allow for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to authorize increases, up to $100,000, per change order, the estimated annual cost for forensic toxicology services; that due to unforeseen circumstances might require a higher number of requests for analysis of samples in a particular year during the term of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
On July 1, 2026, RFP No. SHR126-ADMSR-6174 was approved and released through San Bernardino County’s electronic Procurement Network (ePro) for the provision of postmortem forensic toxicology services. The RFP was posted for 23 days and 206 registered vendors were notified of the RFP via e-mail. NMS Labs was the only vendor to respond to the solicitation.
A committee consisting of three representatives from the Coroner’s Division and one representative from the Bureau of Administration evaluated the proposal. The evaluation was based on the proposer’s qualifications, financial statements, professional references, and proposed fees. As a result, NMS Labs is recommended for contract award, having demonstrated the ability to meet the needs of the County. An award letter was emailed to NMS labs on August 25, 2026. No protests or appeals were received.
The recommended contract term is three years, commencing October 6, 2026 through October 5, 2029, with the option to extend the term by two additional one-year periods, or one additional two-year period. Either party may terminate the agreement upon 30 days’ written notice.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Gavin Hagey, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 28, 2026; Purchasing (Jason Cloninger, Lead Buyer, 387-0321) on September 2, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on September 21, 2026.