DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Vincent Nathan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing 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 $20,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s (Metro Health’s) BioWatch Program. Funding will be available beginning September 12, 2015 through September 11, 2016 and will be applied towards 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 includes San Antonio and Bexar County. The laboratory structure is divided by the following 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 additional laboratory infrastructure support for BioWatch Program activities. Specifically, funds will be applied towards improvements to a new laboratory facility that has been identified at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease (TCID) Campus.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council to authorize the acceptance of funds from DHS in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support to make improvements to new laboratory facilities. These improvements will enhance the overall safety and efficiency of laboratory operations.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the acceptance of funds is not authorized, Metro Health will forgo an opportunity to receive additional funding for improvements to offset/leverage funding to move the laboratory services branch to a new facility and will have to identify alternative grant or general fund support for this activity.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance ratifies the acceptance of funds from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support. Funds will be available for use beginning September 12, 2015 through September 11, 2016. This grant does not require a cash or in-kind match and will have no fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund.
In addition, DHS has authorized Metro Health to retain interest income earned with no restrictions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance the acceptance of funds from the Department of Homeland Security in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support to make improvements to new laboratory facilities.