DEPARTMENT: Health Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: N/A
SUBJECT:
This Ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to contract with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, Inc. (APHL) to ship residual positive syphilis laboratory specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The specimens to directly support diagnostic test development and become part of their national repository. This effort will end June 30, 2016.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents including a cooperative agreement to effectuate the acceptance of the referenced funds and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract, to include: a)carry over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b)line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract as long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the agreement; d)no cost extensions; e)amendments which will provide supplemental funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded; f) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and g) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to contract with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, Inc. (APHL) to ship residual positive syphilis laboratory specimens to the CDC.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Relative syphilis rates are seen to be rising in many metropolitan and rural areas in the U.S. San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has been working to lower/control syphilis rates in our local population for more than 50 years. The CDC is working on an initiative to develop diagnostic test methods that will aid Public Health to rapidly identify and diagnose syphilis infections and has solicited public health agencies to provide residual syphilis positive test samples to use in the testing and validation of these new test methods. The San Antonio Metro Health Laboratory has a large repository of residual test samples that meet the criteria for use in CDCs studies.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization to execute a contract for with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, Inc. (APHL) to ship residual positive syphilis laboratory specimens to the CDC.
ALTERNATIVES:
Without the proposed agreement, Metro Health would not have the funding to purchase needed replacement equipment in the syphilis serology laboratory.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The agreement is a 37 day effort with a maximum amount of $3,000.00. The 37 day project period is May 23, 2016 to June 30, 2016. There is no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing Metro Health to contract with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, Inc. (APHL) to ship residual positive syphilis laboratory specimens to the CDC.