M2019-0631 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH (UTMB) for Professional Partnership Development Recruitment and Training Services for the Houston Health Department - $82,483.48 - Grant Fund

S85-E29233 - Approve the purchase of professional partnership development, recruitment and training services through the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in an amount not to exceed $82,483.48 for the Houston Health Department.

Specific Explanation:

The Director of the Houston Health Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve the purchase of professional partnership development, recruitment and training services through the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in an amount not to exceed $82,483.48 and that authorization be given to issue purchase orders for the Houston Health Department (HHD).

The scope of work requires UTMB to work with HHD to develop partnerships with one (1) or more middle and high schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). UTMB will recruit 1-2 existing teachers per middle and high school to implement the Fourth-R curriculum as an individual-level strategy to reach students located in the target zip codes (77035, 77072, 77051, 77053, 77088). 

The Fourth-R initiative is a rigorous classroom-based curriculum that consists of peer and school components. The course was designed to reduce youth dating and violence by addressing bullying, unsafe sexual behavior, and substance abuse. The curriculum is a 27-lesson program that teachers will implement with complete lesson plans, role-play, rubrics, and handouts. Also, UTMB services will include, but are not limited to: 

• The recruitment of HISD Schools and Cooperative Agreements.
• The recruitment and training of HISD teachers.
• Identify, coordinate, and set-up of each training site.
• Provide all audio-visual equipment (i.e., projector, microphone, laptop, etc.) for training.
• Train the recruited teachers on the Fourth-R curriculum that involves extensive skill using a graduated practice between youth and peers.
• Submit course evaluations.
• Provide trained teachers with technical assistance, access to online resources, and access to the listserv application (email list software), so teachers can share/communicate with one another.
• UTMB will continue to provide technical assistance to schools/teachers in target zip codes (77051 and 77072) from year 1, 2, and 3. 
• Provide HHD with monthly milestone achievements and status reports.

This recommendation is made pursuant to Chapter 252, Section 252.022 (a) (12) (D) "under an interlocal contractor for cooperative purchasing administered by a regional planning commission established under Chapter 391” of the Texas Local Government Code for exempted procurements.

MWBE Participation:

This procurement is exempt from the MWBE, subcontracting goal participation as the total project expenditures does not exceed the City's $100,000.00 threshold. 

Hire Houston First:
Hire Houston First does not apply to this procurement, because it involves the use of the federal funds and is subject to specific procurement rules of the federal government.

Fiscal Note: 
This is a grant funded item; therefore, no Fiscal Note is required. 

$82,483.48

Federal Government Fund

Fund 5000