DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Vincent Nathan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation for STD/HIV Testing Services
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes an agreement with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation (SAAF) in the amount of $30,000.00 for the provision of field testing services in support of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s STD/HIV 1115 Medicaid Waiver Project for a term beginning October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016 with an option to renew for one additional year.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 31, 2013, City Council authorized the submission of six project proposals for consideration and funding through the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) funding pool. DSRIP pool payments are available as incentive payments to hospitals and other providers for investments in delivery system reforms that increase access to healthcare, improve the quality of care, and enhance the health of patients and families served.
Project proposals submitted and approved in 2013 represent areas of health priority for the San Antonio community as indicated in the Community Needs Assessment and Metro Health’s strategic plan. These include diabetes prevention, children’s oral health services, HIV and Syphilis prevention, breastfeeding promotion, teen pregnancy prevention and neighborhood health promotion. One of the metrics associated with Metro Health’s STD/HIV 1115 Medicaid Waiver Project includes increasing access to HIV and Syphilis screening and treatment within high risk areas of the community and amongst high risk populations in San Antonio to prevent and control the spread of disease.
In early 2015, Metro Health and the Purchasing Division of the Finance Department developed a Request for Proposals ("RFP") for HIV and Syphilis Testing Services to assist Metro Health’s STD/HIV Program with accomplishing metrics set forth in the Waiver project. The RFP was issued on March 6, 2015. Proposals from three companies were submitted within the published timeline and were evaluated in conformance with the criteria contained in the RFP.
The evaluation of each proposal response was based on a total of 100 points: 50 points allotted for experience, background, qualifications; 30 points allotted for proposed plan; and 20 points allotted for respondent’s price schedule. A summary of the RFP scoring is attached. The HIV and Syphilis Testing Services project is federally funded, therefore Local Preference Program and Veteran Owned Small Business programs are not applicable.
Based on an evaluation by members of the review panel, the San Antonio AIDS Foundation was selected. The final recommendation was based on the panel’s assessment of the respondents’ proposed plans, experience and qualifications, and pricing schedules, in conformance with the stated criteria.
ISSUE:
In early 2015, Metro Health and the Purchasing Division of the Finance Department developed a Request for Proposals ("RFP") for HIV and Syphilis Testing Services. The San Antonio AIDS Foundation, a local non-profit agency, was selected based on their experience and qualifications which includes a history of working with high risk populations in San Antonio.
Through this agreement, SAAF will conduct 350 unduplicated individual HIV and/or Syphilis screenings amongst high risk populations and assist Metro Health achieve its goal of increasing access to screening and treatment within high risk areas of the community to prevent and control the spread of disease.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should City Council choose not to approve the agreement with SAAF, Metro Health will need to hire additional project staff to assist with reaching its goal of conducting 1,047 unduplicated individual screenings amongst high risk populations in San Antonio for Demonstration Year 5 of the STD/HIV 1115 Medicaid Waiver Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance authorizes an agreement with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation in an amount of $30,000.00 for a period beginning October 1st, 2015 through September 30, 2016 with an option to renew for one additional year in the amount of $30,000.00 for a cumulative total of $60,000.00. Funding for this agreement is budgeted and available within Metro Health’s FY2016 STD/HIV 1115 Medicaid Waiver Project budget and will have no impact on the City’s General Fund budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation in the amount of $30,000.00 for the provision of field testing services in support of Metro Health’s STD/HIV 1115 Medicaid Waiver Project to assist with achieving Demonstration Year 5 project metrics.