DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing the acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for laboratory support
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 for laboratory infrastructure support of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's BioWatch Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's (Metro Health) 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 Services 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 the following regulatory programs and functions: consumer microbiology and testing; infectious disease surveillance; bioterrorism/influenza surveillance; rabies analysis; and, food surveillance.
Since 2012, Metro Health has received funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch laboratory program activities. The current year funds will be used to support the laboratory's BioWatch activities including purchasing lab equipment, supplies, computer equipment, renovations, and office furniture to support laboratory operations.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified Metro Health of these funds on September 18, 2017. In order to receive the funds, Metro Health will submit an invoice to the Department of Homeland Security by the end of the next federal fiscal year, by September 30, 2018.
ISSUE:
In order to cont...
Click here for full text