DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Davis
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing two veterinarian services contracts.
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing a contract amendment to the spay/neuter services contract with Dr. Courtney Bridgeman by increasing the scope and total compensation from $49,500.00 up to $100,000.00. This action also authorizes a new contract with the Animal Emergency Room (AER) in an amount up to $100,000.00 for the provision of emergency veterinarian services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Sterilizing pets through spay/neuter surgeries is key in controlling the stray and roaming animal population in San Antonio. Nearly 60,000 spay/neuter surgeries are performed annually through the collaboration of many community partners including the City’s Animal Care Services - who performs 25,500 of these surgeries. Dr. Bridgeman and Animal Emergency Room (AER) are vital partners in managing San Antonio community stray pet population.
In April 2015, a contract in the amount of $49,500.00 with Dr. Bridgeman was authorized to perform spay/neuter surgeries and specialized surgeries such as amputations and hip replacements on a scheduled basis. Dr. Bridgeman has the proven ability to perform high-volume surgeries that results in expediting the number of pets leaving the shelter. By retaining the services of this high-volume surgery provider, it will allow ACS to maintain maximum daily operations while the Department continues to recruit and hire a qualified high-volume Staff Veterinarian to fill the existing vacancy.
Animal Emergency Room (AER) would provide emergency veterinarian services support to ACS during evenings and overnight hours. AER is located in close proximity to the City’s ACS facility allowing for a quick response to emergency needs as well as convenient follow up treatment of pets when needed. In addition, AER is the only emergency veterinary hospital that has the capacity and expertise to treat wildlife animals. For this contact, the SBEDA Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of qualified SMWBE’s available to provide the goods and services.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes two veterinary services agreements. An amendment to the spay/neuter services contract with Dr. Courtney Bridgeman by increasing the scope of work and total compensation from $49,500.00 up to $100,000.00. This action also authorizes a new contract with the Animal Emergency Room (AER) in an amount up to $100,000.00 for the provision of emergency veterinarian services. The Animal Care Services Director is authorized to adjust surgery rates to accommodate for specialized surgeries or additional medical services provided the total compensation does not exceed the total approved within this ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES:
These veterinarian contracts are needed to manage the stray pet population in San Antonio. If these contracts are not approved the numbers of strays would increase in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds in the amount of $150,000.00 are available in the Animal Care Services General Fund FY 2016 Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the amendment to the spay/neuter services contract with Dr. Courtney Bridgeman and an emergency veterinarian services contract with Animal Emergency Room.