DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jennifer Herriott, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing the acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for laboratory support.
SUMMARY:
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.
This Ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00 and execution of grant documents for laboratory infrastructure support of Metro Health’s BioWatch Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Metro Health’s laboratory services branch provides analytical support for various public health programs. 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 regulatory programs and functions: consumer microbiology and testing; infectious disease surveillance; bioterrorism/influenza surveillance; rabies analysis; and, food surveillance. These funds will provide laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch laboratory program activities. Metro Health has received these funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since 2012.
ISSUE:
In order to continue to provide laboratory infrastructure support for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s BioWatch program, Metro Health requests City Council authorize the acceptance of funds from DHS in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the acceptance of funds is not authorized, Metro Health will forgo an opportunity to receive additional funding for continued laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch program and will need to identify alternative grant or general fund support for the activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in an amount not to exceed $35,000 for laboratory infrastructure support of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s BioWatch program beginning September 18, 2019 through September 17, 2020. There is no impact to the City’s General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval for the acceptance of the funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00 for a period from September 18, 2019 through September 17, 2020 for laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch Program.