Professional Services (S38-E32454) - Approve an ordinance awarding a professional services agreement to William Marsh Rice University in the amount not to exceed $2,317,562.00 for COVID-19, influenza A and B and Monkeypox wastewater testing services for the Houston Health Department.
Specific Explanation:
The Director of the Houston Health Department and the Interim Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an ordinance awarding a professional services agreement in the amount not to exceed $2,317,562.00 between the City of Houston and William Marsh Rice University for COVID-19, influenza A and B and monkeypox wastewater testing services. This Agreement is effective on Countersignature Date, and shall remain in effect until May 31, 2024 (“Initial Term”), unless sooner terminated under the provisions of this Agreement.
COVID-19 goes undetected in a large percentage of the population because many people are asymptomatic or experience only mild symptoms. Undiagnosed, infected individuals are contagious and play a role in the rapid transmission of the virus. Confirmed clinical cases of COVID-19 are a significant underestimate of the total number of COVID-19 cases, particularly in areas with limited testing capabilities. Wastewater surveillance represents an additional tool to monitor COVID-19 infection dynamics at a community scale to inform the allocation of healthcare resources and social distancing policies. We will leverage the existing SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program implemented in Houston and expand to monitor for the COVID, monkeypox virus and analyzing schools for influenzas A and B. This will help inform public health response by tracking citywide levels and identify COVID and monkeypox in neighborhoods and facilities with high-risk populations and will help inform public health response at schools and understand and disentangle infections of influenza and SARS-Cov-2 in school environments.
In collaboration with Houston Health and Houston Water, Rice University will collect, process, and analyze samples to perform SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance to provide insight into the presence of COVID-19, influenza A and B and monkeypox including variants, in Houston’s communities.
This recommendation is made pursuant to subsection 252.022(a)(4) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that " a procurement for personal, professional, or planning services" is exempt from the competitive requirements for purchases.
M/WBE Participation:
Zero-percent goal documentation approved by the Office of Business Opportunity
Hire Houston First:
This procurement is exempt from the City’s Hire Houston First ordinance. It does not apply to this procurement, because it involves the use of federal funds and is subject to specific procurement rules of the federal government.
Fiscal Note:
- Funding for this item is not included in the FY2023 Adopted Budget. Therefore, a fiscal note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
- No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
____________________________________ ____________________________
Jedediah Greenfield, Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A
Interim Chief Procurement Officer Director - Houston Health Department
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division
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Estimated Fiscal Operating Impact
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Recurring or One-Time
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One-time
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Fund Name
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FY2023
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Out Year
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Total
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Houston Health Department – General Fund
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$500,000.00
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$0.00
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$500,000.00
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|
Total
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$500,000.00
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$0.00 |
$500,000.00 |