DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes an agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to provide evaluation services for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's (Metro Health's) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sodium Reduction in Communities grant for an amount not to exceed $52,613. The term of the proposed agreement begins August 1, 2015 through September 29, 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Metro Health was awarded funds from the CDC beginning September 2013 to work with worksite cafeterias and congregate meal programs to reduce the amount of sodium in the meals served and increase the amount of meals that meet established dietary standards. The grant is for three years and the Department is currently in its second year. Since August 2014, Metro Health has contracted with UTSA to conduct an evaluation of Metro Health's sodium reduction efforts and determine the success in achieving sodium reduction in meals. This ordinance will allow evaluation to continue through the remainder of Metro Health's Sodium Reduction in Communities project period.
Because the majority of sodium that people consume is already present in foods before purchase or preparation, reducing sodium intake may require increased availability and accessibility of lower sodium items. The grant expects to achieve at least two of the following outcomes by the end of the project period:
· Increased availability of lower sodium food products (i.e., presence of lower sodium foods in the environment)
· Increased accessibility of lower sodium food products (i.e., presence of lower sodium foods available in a form, location, price and time that facilitates their consumption)
· Increased selection of lower sodium food products
Metro Health's Chronic Disease Program has received funding from the CDC since 2013 through the Sodium Reduction in Communities grant which was approved by City Council on September 5, 2013.
In April 2015, Metro Health in coordination with the Finance Department's Purchasing Division issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional consulting services to evaluate program outcomes of the CDC Sodium Reduction in Communities grant project. The evaluation committee recommended UTSA.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization of an agreement with UTSA for evaluation services for Metro Health's CDC Sodium Reduction in Communities grant for an amount not to exceed $52,613. Authorization of the agreement will fulfill the grant requirement to allocate 15% of funds for evaluation activities and maintain a continuity of evaluation activities in order to provide the CDC with a final report summarizing evaluation status and results over the three year project period.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the contract not be approved, Metro Health will forgo the use of grant funds to meet the specified grant evaluation deliverable. These grant funds support the Chronic Disease Program's community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake and decrease the risk of high blood pressure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance authorizes the execution of an agreement with UTSA for grant evaluation services for Metro Health's Chronic Disease Program for an amount not to exceed $52,613.00 for the period August 1, 2015 to September 29, 2016. This agreement will be funded by Metro Health's CDC Sodium Reduction in Communities grant and there will be no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing an agreement with UTSA for evaluation services for Metro Health's CDC Sodium Reduction in Communities grant for an amount not to exceed $52,613. Authorization of this agreement will allow Metro Health to meet CDC grant deliverables.