DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
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 Metro Health 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 $60,000.00 and execution of documents for laboratory infrastructure support of Metro Health’s BioWatch Program.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract to effectuate the acceptance of the referenced grant, 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 so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; 3) amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded to the grant; f) reimbursement increases of administrative funds for each participant served; g) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and h) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency.
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; high consequence pathogen testing, rabies analysis; and, food surveillance. These funds will provide laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch laboratory program activities. The Department of Homeland Security provides a purchase order on an annual basis for these funds. Metro Health received notification of the purchase order amount by e-mail on September 14, 2020 stating the funds would be available on September 30, 2020. Metro Health typically bills for the reimbursement of expenditures for this program one time per year during the last month of the contract period. 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 $60,000.00.
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:
Funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $60,000.00 for a period from September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2021 will fund laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch Program. There is no impact on the 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 $60,000.00 for a period from September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2021 for laboratory infrastructure support for the BioWatch Program.