Title
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign a new two (2) year agreement with Central Valley Toxicology in the amount of $160,000.00 for the period of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020; and
b. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign up to three (3) future amendments to the agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work, and where the amendments do not increase the contract value more than ten percent (10%) or $16,000.00, for a maximum, not to exceed amount of $176,000.00.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign a new two (2) year agreement with Central Valley Toxicology in the amount of $160,000.00 for the period of July 1, 2018 to June 30th, 2020 and;
Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign up to three (3) future amendments to the agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work, and where the amendments do not increase the contract value more than ten percent (10%) or $16,000.00, for a maximum, not to exceed amount of $176,000.00.
SUMMARY:
In Monterey County, the Office of the Sheriff and the Office of the Coroner are combined, and the elected Sheriff/Coroner oversees both operations. The Coroner function is provided by a contractor providing forensic examinations and autopsy reports. A key part of the autopsy report are the forensic biochemical and toxicology analysis findings that can provide information on a cause of death.
After death, rapid changes occur in cellular biology and drugs and poisons can redistribute themselves within the body. Blood often becomes significantly thicker, rendering standard lab equipment unable to perform testing. The main methods of analyzing biological specimens after death are enzyme immunoassay, gas chromatography, and gas or liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.
The Sheriff contracts with a specialized external laboratory for this service because forensic labs must be State certified to operate this unique testing. The certification proves that the laboratory is operating according to law enforcement standards, so that the results of the test can withstand scrutiny in court. Some of the larger Sheriff’s Offices have their own State certified lab; it is not cost effective for Monterey County to operate its own lab due to high equipment acquisition costs and staffing and equipment maintenance costs.
This contract is regularly evaluated for cost effectiveness and this vendor is the only vendor still offering a “coroner’s cap” which limits the total amount that can be charged, per autopsy, regardless of how many tests are requested. This vendor offers lower pricing than other vendors surveyed, the quality of past service has been good, and the vendor is willing to commit to a two (2) year rate freeze.
A copy of this Agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to legal form, and the Auditor/Controller has reviewed for fiscal provisions.
FINANCING:
The 4% increase in testing costs will take effect on the new contract’s start date of July 1, 2018, during FY 2018-19. The increase is included in the FY 2018-19 requested budget. This vendor has committed to a two-year freeze on rates with this new contract. There will be no increase in FY 2017-18 General Fund Contribution resulting from this Board action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This contract meets the Board’s strategic initiatives by “Promoting an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management”
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Nina Ryan, Management Analyst II, Extension #3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff/Coroner, Extension #3750
Attachment: Agreement with Central Valley Toxicology, Inc. for Forensic Toxicology Testing Services