APPROVE spending authority for Emergency Purchase of Various Goods and Services related to the City's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PECK, THOMAS, POLLARD and ALCORN

This was Item 12 on the Agenda of October 21, 2020

DR4522(COVID-19) - Approve spending authority for the emergency purchase of various goods and services related to the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Specific Explanation:

The Chief Procurement Officer recommends that City Council approve spending authority in an amount not to exceed  $7,257,568.35 for the emergency purchase of various goods and services related to the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Additionally, it is also requested that authorization be given to issue purchase orders to the vendors listed on the attached spreadsheet for the provision of such goods and services. 

In response to the Mayor's initial proclamation issued on March 11, 2020 declaring a Local State of Disaster Due to a Public Health Emergency, and the indefinite extension of the declaration issued on March 17, 2020, the City has engaged numerous vendors to assist with responding to the public health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The goods and services provided by these various vendors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Various equipment and materials to be used to sample wastewater from schools located across the City to test for COVID-19, the results of which will be used by HHD to inform additional testing efforts and policy on scaling back social distancing as well as enable early detection of subsequent outbreaks; 
• Engagement of communications and outreach services to complete the Census 2020 project; 
• The provision of urgent support services for residents of the City with needed expenses such as rent, utilities, moving expenses, and cleaning expenses; 
• Office furniture to ensure compliance with the appropriate social distancing protocols now in place; 
• N95 medical face masks for first responders
• An evaluation and analysis to identify reasons why Houstonians, specifically Hispanics with the highest risk of contracting COVID-19, do or do not get tested for COVID-19; 
• Payment for the use of the FieldGlass software that provides the work order, time sheet, and invoicing for the City's temporary workers added to assist in the City's response to COIVD-19; 
• The conducting of an interim assessment to enable the City to enhance its planning, response, and recovery actions for the COVID-19 pandemic;
• The purchase of mobile hotspots devices and data plans for Houston Public Library customers to check out at three-week intervals to allow customers to connect multiple devices to the internet; 
• The purchase of residential trash bins; 
• The installation of card readers, intrusion alarm systems, and security cameras at a newly leased facility for the Houston Health Department; 
• The purchase of surface hubs for various departments to enhance the teleconferencing experience; and 
• The purchase of various computer hardware, equipment, and peripherals, including laptops, docking stations, port adapters and monitors. 

The attached spreadsheet represents emergency purchase orders that have been approved to-date by the Chief Procurement Officer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic since September 30, 2020 and have not yet come before City Council for approval.  This consolidated request for City Council approval is hereby made in an effort to streamline the procurement process and allow the City to be agile and timely in responding to the ever-changing needs of both the City's residents and the demands of the pandemic. 

This recommendation is made pursuant to section 252.022(a)(2) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that "a procurement necessary to preserve or protect the public health or safety of the municipality's residents" is exempt from the competitive bidding process.

M/WBE Participation:

These Emergency Purchase Orders have been reviewed for possible MWBE participation.   In cases where participation is possible, appropriation OBO documentation will be provided. 

Hire Houston First:

The proposed procurements are exempt from the City's Hire Houston First ordinance.  Bids/ proposals were not solicited because the departments are utilizing emergency purchase orders for these procurements.   

Disaster Note:

This item is related to the impact of COVID-19 and it is the City's intent to use other federal funding sources for eligible expenditures, namely the Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars. 

Fiscal Note:

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

$7,257,568.35

Fund 5307

Name                                              Department        Phone     

 Candice M. Gambrell                      FIN/ SPD             832.393.9129

Jerry Adams                                    FIN/ SPD             832.393.9126