AMEND MOTION #2016-0081, passed 2/24/2016 TO INCREASE spending authority from $676,457.50 to $1,731,457.50, awarded to GEN-PROBE SALES & SERVICE, INC for Detection Assays and Instrumentation for Houston Health Department - $1,055,000.00 - General, Grant and Other Funds

S21-S25578-A1 - Amend Council Motion No. 2016-0081, passed February 24, 2016, to increase the spending authority from $676,457.50 to $1,731,457.50 for the purchase of diagnostic systems, detection assays and instrumentation for the Houston Health Department.

Specific Explanation:

The Director of the Houston Health Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council amend Council Motion No. 2016-0081 to increase the spending authority of the award to Gen-Probe Sales & Service, Inc. from $676,457.50 to $1,731,457.50 for the purchase of diagnostic systems, detection assays and instrumentation for the Houston Health Department (HHD).

There has been a large increase in the performance of assays due to the implementation of the Pre-exposure prophylasis (PrEP) program in the Bureau of HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis in 2019.  At the time of the award, the HHD had not been awarded funds to participate in the PrEP program. Until recently, the State of Texas ordered the supplies on behalf of the HHD and had them shipped directly to the City. Recently, however, the State of Texas changed its procedures and funded the HHD to order the same supplies themselves.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a pre-infection treatment program aimed at preventing HIV infection. Participants are administered the drug Truvada. Participants are clients that are at high risk for contracting HIV infection that are currently negative for HIV infection. Administration of Truvada to clients that have HIV infection can potentially have adverse health effects, so it is imperative that diagnostic tests be performed to confirm that participants are not infected before being administered the drug. The HIV NAAT test is the only definitive test that can determine if the client has a recent infection (acute infection) but has not yet begun to develop antibodies that would normally be detected by the conventional screening assay, the HIV EIA Combo.

The requested test kits are critical reagents to confirm recent infection with HIV and HCV viruses. The inability to obtain these test reagents will prevent the HIV NAAT from being performed on the high-risk clients, subsequently leading to potential adverse health effects of program participants.  

This award began March 1, 2016 for a 36-month period with two one-year options in the amount not to exceed $676,457.50.  Expenditures as of October 31, 2019 totaled $675,611.50. All other terms and conditions shall remain as previously approved by City Council.

MWBE Participation:

Zero-percent goal document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.      

Hire Houston First:

This procurement is exempt from the City's Hire Houston First Ordinance.  Bids/proposals were not solicited because the department is utilizing a sole source contractor for this purchase.

Fiscal Note:

Funding for this item is included in the FY20 Adopted Budget.  Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies. No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

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Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer              Department Approval Authority Signature

Finance/Strategic Procurement Division