In FY 16, a contract with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for Current Population Statistics (CPS) – Laboratory Response Network (LRN) - Public Health and Preparedness (PHEP) (DSHS Contract No. 2016-001159-00) for a grant amount of $242,418.00 for a period from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 was signed. A cash match contribution of $57,140.00.00 was required. The grantor allowed the match to be met with an in-kind value.
Because the total grant award for this contract, as amended and restated to cover both FY 16 and FY 17, now exceeds more than $400,000 and thus requires city council approval, the Houston Health Department (HHD) requests Council approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the amended and restated contract with DSHS for CPS –LRN - PHEP (DSHS Contract No. 2016-001159-01) to extend the term of the above contract for the period from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 and add additional funding to the contract for FY 17 in the amount of $242,418.00. A cash match contribution of $57,140.00.00 is required. The grantor allows the match to be met with an in-kind value.
HHD requests City Council to authorize the Director of HHD to accept the grant funding of the contract and expend approved funding as soon as awarded, and to apply for and accept subsequent awards, if any. Furthermore, HHD requests City Council to authorize the Mayor to sign future contracts, amendments, extensions offered by DSHS for future project periods in connection with this grant, not to exceed five years, if applicable, with approval of the City Attorney.
Funding from DSHS will enable HHD to continue preparedness activities for response to biological agents, outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health threats and emergencies as well as support PHEP activities for the Laboratory Response Network. The purpose of the grant is to: 1) enable HHD to maintain a confirmatory biological agents terrorism testing laboratory with staff trained and proficient in CDC (Center for Disease Control) LRN; 2)maintain extensive collaboration with local law enforcement, and emergency responders; 3) enable HHD to develop and maintain a LRN surge capability plan; 4) allow HHD to test samples for biological agents and toxins; and 5)enable HHD to report to DSHS’s Public Health Laboratory Information Management System.