DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Ratifying the Acceptance of Funds from the Department of Homeland Security for Laboratory Support
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes acceptance of funds from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for the laboratory infrastructure support of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's (Metro Health's) BioWatch Program. Host laboratories, nationwide, are required to submit an invoice no later than September 30, 2014. Funding will then be available for use on an as-needed basis for the period ending September 10, 2015. A need has been identified to make improvements to new laboratory facilities as part of overall laboratory operations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Metro Health's laboratory services branch provides analytical support for various public health programs. The laboratory is host to the BioWatch Program and provides the infrastructure support for testing activities under the Branch Laboratory Director. The laboratory as a whole is comprised of several testing areas that are designed to serve a variety of functions, customers and regulatory agencies in a 29-county region which include San Antonio and Bexar County. The laboratory structure is divided by regulatory programs and functions: consumer microbiology and testing, infectious disease surveillance, bioterrorism/influenza surveillance, rabies analysis and food surveillance.
DHS provides contract lab staff to provide capacity and capability to perform analysis to assist with public health emergency response activities. This funding opportunity will provide laboratory infrastructure support for BioWatch Program activities. A need has been identified to make improvements to new laboratory facilities as part of overall laboratory operations.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council ratification of the acceptance of funds from DHS in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support to make improvements to new laboratory facilities which will enhance the safety and efficiency of laboratory operations.
ALTERNATIVES:
If these funds are not ratified, Metro Health will forgo an opportunity to receive additional funding for improvements to offset/leverage funding to move the laboratory services branch to new facilities. Funding for this type of activity has been limited in the past.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance ratifies the acceptance of funds from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support. Host laboratories are required to submit an invoice no later than September 30, 2014. Funding will then be available for use through the period ending September 10, 2015. This grant does not require a cash or in-kind match and will have no fiscal impact on the General Fund.
In addition, DHS has authorized Metro Health to retain interest income earned with no restrictions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance ratifying the acceptance of funds from the Department of Homeland Security in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support to make improvements to new laboratory facilities as part of an overall move of laboratory operations which will enhance efficiency and operations of laboratory functions.