DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Janus Auto Pipettor / Liquid Handling System
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of Janus Auto pipettor /Liquid handling system and accessories from PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. to increase surveillance of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) by increasing local testing capability and capacity in the San Antonio Metro area. The purchase of a PerkinElmer Janus system will permit a significant increase in T -Spot TB testing throughput, capacity, and quality by replacing manual pipetting methods in the amount not to exceed $80,890.96. This purchase will be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TXMAS) contract, TXMAS-8-66030. Funding is available from the FY 2014 Health Services Region 8-TB Waiver Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On June 19, 2014, City Council authorized acceptance of grant funding for the San Antonio Metro Health Department received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Health Services Region 8-TB Waiver Project Contract # 2014-045668 to purchase a PerkinElmer Janus Autopipettor/liquid handling system in order to increase local testing capability and capacity in the San Antonio Metro area for latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI).
The Janus Autopipettor/Liquid handling system will be used in conjunction with an existing Mindray BC-3200 hematology analyzer, Bio-Tek platewasher, along with a CTL Immunospot reading instrument to increase T-Spot TB testing capability, capacity, and quality as an integral part of an 1115 Medicaid Waiver grant effort to increase latent tuberculosis detection in the San Antonio Metro area.
The Janus Autopipettor/Liquid handling system has been validated by the T-Spot TB test manufacturer (Oxford Immunotec) to accurately and simultaneously pipette all required solutions for 96 T-Spot specimens into a 96-well microtiter plate with elispot membranes without rupturing the membranes and without error. This system is designed for a high throughput loading and pipetting capacity.
This Purchase is made in accordance with the state cooperative program passed on resolution No.91-39-53 dated 9/12/1991.
ISSUE:
The contract will provide San Antonio Metro Health District a Janus Auto pipettor /Liquid handling system and accessories. The purchase of a Janus Autopipettor/liquid handling system will permit a significant increase in T-Spot TB testing throughput, capacity, and quality by replacing manual pipetting methods.
This contract is within the scope of the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Program. However, due to the type of commodities/services being procured and value of the contract, no SBEDA tool is available.
This contract is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be approved, the San Antonio Metro Health Department would continue utilizing manual pipetting methods. This acquisition is targeted to specifically replace manual pipetting in order to increase testing throughput capacity while increasing quality and consistency of testing.
The lack of contract for automated pipetting will prevent an increase in testing throughput capacity, consistency, and quality of testing. Authorized grantor funding will be returned and target capabilities will not be met.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding is available from the FY 2014 Health Services Region 8-TB Waiver Project in the amount not to exceed $80,890.96.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the contract with PerkinElmer LAS, Inc., through the State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TXMAS) contract, TXMAS-8-66030.
This contract was procured on the basis of cooperative purchasing and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.