DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
DHS - QI Learning Kits - Lakeshore Learning Materials
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Lakeshore Equipment Company d/b/a Lakeshore Learning Materials to purchase 193 Learning Kits in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects, art consumables and early education materials for the Department of Human Services. The estimated cost of this contract is $2,000,000.00, funded with the Child Care Block Grant with Federal Matching Funds in 2014 calendar year.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
For over 20 years, the City of San Antonio has managed the Child Care Services (CCS) program in the 12 county Alamo Workforce Development Area. The program provides subsidized childcare for working families meeting income and work/school criteria. Families receiving public assistance may also qualify. The program serves an average of 8,100 children on a daily basis with over 3,200 children on a waitlist to receive subsidized childcare.
The Child Care Subsidies Program is a $47 million dollar federal grant funded through the Department of Health and Human Services. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the State's subsidized childcare program through funding received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Child Care Block Grant. TWC determines the allocation for childcare services based on federal appropriations and local needs and contracts with Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the local workforce development board, to implement the program. WSA contracts with the City of San Antonio to operate the CCS program in San Antonio, Bexar County and 11 surrounding rural counties.
WSA approved a budget allocation of $2,000,000.00 from the Child Care Block Grant for a quality initiative purchase using the child care federal match funds from 2014 calendar year. WSA recommended that the City of San Antonio use funds to purchase educational kits for CCS providers.
The educational kits will be procured from Lakeshore Equipment Company d/b/a Lakeshore Learning Materials through a BuyBoard cooperative contract #407-12. The Texas BuyBoard cooperative is administered by the Texas Municipal League. All products and services that are part of this cooperative have been competitively bid and awarded by the Cooperative's Board of Trustees based on the State of Texas Statues.
ISSUE:
This ordinance awards a contract, utilizing the BuyBoard cooperative agreement, with Lakeshore Equipment Company d/b/a Lakeshore Learning Materials to purchase 193 Learning Kits for the Department of Human Services. These educational tools consist of a variety of kits in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects, art consumables and early education materials. These kits will go to 93 Texas Rising Star Day Care Centers and 100 Day Care Centers that have the largest number of CCS children enrolled.
The Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of qualified SMWBE's available to provide the goods and services.
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 purchase not be approved, it would unfavorably impact the level of care provided by Child Care Services providers. These kits will serve to improve the quality of care for Child Care Service providers. The Child Care Block Grant would leave unused federal match funds in the amount of $2,000,000.00 if this proposal is not approved.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated value of this contract is $2,000,000.00 which will be funded utilizing the Child Care Block Grant with Federal Matching Funds in 2014 calendar year. There is no fiscal impact to the City of San Antonio General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this purchase with Lakeshore Equipment Company d/b/a Lakeshore Learning Materials for a total estimated cost of $2,000,000.00.
This contract was procured on the basis of cooperative purchasing and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.