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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Health Services Agency
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DATE:
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August 6, 2004
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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August 31, 2004
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Charlene Silva, Director of Health Services
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Brian Zamora, Director of Public Health and Environmental Protection
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Scott Morrow, M.D., M.P.H., Health Officer
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SUBJECT:
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Emergency Preparedness Brochure
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Recommendation
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with Worldways.
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Background
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On January 24, 2004, your Board approved the Health Services Agency’s application to the State Department of Health Services for Bioterrorism Preparedness. The State Department of Health Services has funded this application. Using this funding, the Health Services Agency has undertaken a number of activities to improve public health infrastructure and our ability to respond to a terrorist threat. One of these activities is to improve our capacity to communicate with San Mateo County residents about bioterrorism emergencies, both before and during an event.
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Discussion
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In order to improve our ability to communicate with San Mateo County residents in the event of an emergency, Health Services recommends that the County produce and distribute an emergency preparedness guide (the “Pocket Guide”) to all San Mateo County residents. The purpose of this brochure is to:
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• explain San Mateo County Health Services Agency’s leadership role in the event of a bioterrorist attack, a pandemic, or an infectious disease outbreak;
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• introduce the NETVAC (Neighborhood Emergency Triage, Vaccination & Antibiotic Center) concept to the residents of San Mateo County.
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The Pocket Guide is being developed primarily to inform the public about issues of bioterrorism. However, the County will leverage the project funding to accomplish other related public health and safety objectives. The guide also will be used to inform, educate and encourage preparation for natural disasters such as earthquake, fire and flood. This education about natural disasters will make the Pocket Guide more immediately useful to the public and will improve the retention of the guide.
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Health Services conducted an abbreviated RFP process to select Worldways, a social marketing firm. After communicating with individuals within San Mateo County as well as outside the county to identify possible service providers, Health Services sent a letter requesting proposals to three known companies who provide this type of service. Upon receiving proposals from all three companies, Health Services went through a deliberative process to select the contract. Worldways was selected for the following three reasons: 1) they were the most responsive to the request letter; and 2) they were highly recommended by Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center, who contracted with them for similar services.
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Vision Alignment
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This agreement keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 7: maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.
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Fiscal Impact
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The total fiscal impact of this agreement shall not exceed $179,906. The total amount to be paid to the Contractor shall not exceed $166,195. Since the Contractor is located out of state, the County is responsible for paying sales tax directly to the state of California; the tax is $13,711. Funding for this agreement and sales tax shall come from Bioterrorism grant funds. The term of this contract is September 1, 2004-December 31, 2004. This expenditure has been included in Public Health’s Recommended FY2004-05 budget. There is no net county cost.
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