DEPARTMENT: Health Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Vincent R. Nathan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with 360 Training.com, Inc., Inc. for Online Food Handler / Food Manager Certification Courses
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes 360 Training.com, Inc. to provide a State of Texas approved online food handler course and food manager exam for the San Antonio Metropolitan Heath District to comply with the City of San Antonio and City Code Chapter 13, “Food and Food Handlers” requirement. Through this contract, the vendor will collect a $15.00 food handler/food manager certification fee. This certification fee and a portion of the fee charged for each online course purchased, as outlined in the contract, will be electronically remitted to the City.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio City Code Chapter 13, “Food and Food Handlers” requires all food establishments that meet certain requirement set out in the ordinance to have all personnel who perform open handling of foods to be certified food handlers within a two month period of employment. Food handler certification is also required for at least one person performing open food handling in a mobile food establishment. Temporary food establishments over 4 days in duration must have a certified food handler if open food handling is being performed on site. Training shall be accomplished by means of a program consisting of two hours or less of classroom training or internet studies with or without an exam. The City estimates that approximately 50,000 persons will need training and certification services as a result of this requirement.
360 Training.com, Inc., the current service vendor, has been successfully providing these required service trainings and will continue said services under the authorization of a new professional services agreement.
This ordinance authorizes the execution of a single source revenue contract with 360 Training.com, Inc., an Austin based online training organization, to provide all resources necessary to deliver, administer, and support an online food handler/food manager certificate program. 360 Training.com, Inc. will charge no more than ten ($10.00) dollars for each student registration for its online food handler course and will charge no more than ninety ($90.00) dollars per student registration for its online food manager course. In addition, 360 Training.com, Inc. will charge each student who applies for a City food manager certificate a fee of fifteen ($15.00) dollars. These services facilitate the issuance of food handler and food manager certificates at no additional cost to the City.
ISSUE:
The City of San Antonio and City Code Chapter 13, “Food and Food Handlers” requires all businesses employ at least one person per shift that has a food manager certification card issued by the Department. Establishments are exempt from this provision if they sell only pre-packaged foods and/or non-potentially hazardous beverages. Training shall be accomplished by means of a program consisting of fifteen classroom hours and/or by internet studies and said program shall be accredited by the State. The City estimates that approximately 3,000 persons will need training and certification services as a result of this requirement.
Metro Health desires to facilitate training through a contract with a single vendor to provide State approved training and issue food handler and food manager certificates online. Food handler and food manager certification may also be obtained from other vendors that utilize classroom training and offer proctored certification exams but the online training and certification option creates a convenient alternative for food service personnel and reduces administrative costs associated with issuing certificates at City facilities.
ALTERNATIVES:
Without the approval of the proposed agreement, Metro Health would have to identify an alternate consultant in order to meet the requirement that all businesses employ at least one person per shift that has a food manager certification card issued by the Department as indicated by the City of San Antonio and City Code Chapter 13, “Food and Food Handlers.”
FISCAL IMPACT:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization of an agreement with 360 Training.com, Inc. to provide the required training from which successful completion earns the participant a Food Handler or Food Manager Certificate, as applicable, to comply with the City of San Antonio and City Code Chapter 13, “Food and Food Handlers” requirement. This revenue contract will facilitate the collection of a $15.00 food handler and food manager certificate. In addition, the vendor has agreed to a revenue sharing arrangement in which the vendor will remit to the City a portion of online course fees based on the number of students completing each course as outlined in the contract. All revenue generated through this ordinance will be deposited into the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance to execute a contract with 360training.com, Inc. to issue online food handler and food manager certificates and remit the appropriate certification fees and shared revenue to the City for students that successfully complete online training courses and exams approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.