DR-4505 - COVID19 - Approve an award in an amount not to exceed $231,329.00 to Software House International (SHI) for the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation Program (ETHAN²) Microsoft software licenses thru the Texas Department of Information Resources.
Specific Explanation:
The Director of the Health and Human Services Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an award in an amount not to exceed $231,329.00 to Software House International (SHI) for the new ETHAN² Program Microsoft software licenses thru the Texas Department of Information Resources.
The Strategic Procurement Division issued an emergency purchase order (EPO) to SHI on April 3, 2020 for the ETHAN² program Microsoft software licenses thru the Texas Department of Information Resources. With the enhancement to the ETHAN² program and in order to eliminate compatibility issues, it is necessary that the software be moved from the current Cisco Jabber platform to a Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office 365 platform. This solution will provide scalability, security and reduced dependence on the City of Houston network infrastructure.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Houston Fire Department and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have been overburdened by additional calls for service. By updating the ETHAN² software, this new program will allow alternative service delivery models that are not limited solely to transports.
Specifically, this program will allow EMS personnel to connect patients to doctors via telehealth using the ETHAN² software installed on tablet devices carried by EMT's. This program will also allow HFD to have a greater amount of available resources for emergency calls for service. This enhanced ETHAN² model is developed to effectively scale-up to support other EMS agencies throughout the state and/or nationally.
This recommendation is made pursuant to Chapter 252, Subsections 252.022 (a) (7) (A) " a procurement necessary to preserve or protect the public safety health or safety of the municipality's residents" of the Texas Local Government Code for exempt procurement.
MWBE Participation:
OBO approves this waiver of the M/WBE goal on this purchase because, as per Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinance, a waiver is appropriate when a public or administrative emergency exists which requires the goods or services to be provided with unusual immediacy.
Hire Houston First:
The proposed procurement may be funded by a federal grant, and is therefore exempt form the "Hire Houston First" (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston Businesses and supports job creation.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
__________________________________ _____________________________________
Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer Department Approval Authority Signature
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division