DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Extension of Online Food Handler/Food Manager Certification Program Contract
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract extension with 360training.com, Inc. to provide a State of Texas approved online food handler course and food manager exam for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) for a two-year term beginning February 1, 2014 and ending January 31, 2016. Through this contract extension, the vendor will continue to collect the $15.00 food handler/food manager certification fee. This certification fee and a portion of the fee charged for each online course purchased will be electronically remitted to the City.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In May 2008, City Council passed changes to the City Code requiring food establishments receiving a certain threshold of demerits, a suspension, or repeat critical violations to train all food handlers in food safety within a two month period, hire only certified food handlers within this period and maintain certification for all current or new employees for a period of six months. Additionally, all licensed food establishments must have a certified food manager on duty during all hours of operation.
To facilitate compliance with these new requirements, Metro Health contracted with four accredited web-based training organizations to offer online food handler training and certification through a pilot program launched in November 2009. In an effort to expand on the initial success of this online certificate program, Metro Health executed a contract with 360training.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.
Through this contract, 360training.com, Inc. provides both accredited food handler and food manager training along with a State certified food manager exam on a single web-based platform. These services facilitate the issuance of food handler and food manager certificates at no additional cost to the City.
ISSUE:
Since January 1, 2010, the local code requires employees in certain food establishments to be certified in food handling and have a food manager onsite during all hours of operation. This contract extension will allow Metro Health to continue to facilitate training through a single vendor in order to provide State approved training and issue food handler and food manager certificates online.
ALTERNATIVES:
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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This revenue contract will facilitate the collection of a $15.00 food handler and food manager certificate fee totaling approximately $5,250.00 in FY 2014 and $6,000.00 in FY 2015. In addition, the vendor has agreed to a revenue sharing arrangement in which the City will receive $1.00 for each online food handler course purchased and $9.00 for each online food manager exam administered. Shared revenue rates double for each certificate issued after the initial 500 certificates. Estimated revenue sharing is $350.00 in FY 2014 and $400.00 in FY 2015. The total projected revenue generated through this two year contract extension is $12,000.00. All revenue generated through this ordinance will be deposited into the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing a contract extension 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 which are approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.