COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Sheriff’s Office

DATE:

June 24, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 13, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Greg Munks, Office of Emergency Services Area Coordinator

SUBJECT:

Purchase of a GeneXpert 4 Module for the San Mateo County Public Health Laboratory.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

A.

Waiving the Request for Proposal process; and

B.

Authorizing the Purchasing Agent to purchase a GeneXpert 4 Module with bio threat calibration from Cepheid in the amount of $121,000.

BACKGROUND:

In 2009, the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services was awarded funding through the FY09 State Homeland Security Grant Program. This grant program allows continued expansion and enhancement through four basic areas: planning, equipment, training and exercises.

A portion of the grant funding was allocated towards the purchase of a GeneXpert 4 Module from Cepheid for the Public Health Laboratory.

DISCUSSION:

With the growing threat of bioterrorism it is imperative that the Public Health Laboratory be capable of identifying all forms of potential agents that may pose a risk to the public. Unknown biological agents using conventional methods can take hours or days to identify.

Purchasing the GeneXpert 4 Module with bio threat calibration manufactured by Cepheid will allow for quick analysis of potential life threatening agents in minutes with minimal exposure for Public Health Laboratory Technicians. Rapid identification of potential bio threats or pandemic diseases such as H1N1 and tuberculosis is crucial in protecting the public’s health.

Waiving the Request for Proposal process and purchasing the GeneXpert 4 Module from Cepheid is being requested since the Public Health Laboratory currently uses a similar GeneXpert unit which allows for compatibility of existing supplies and training.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.

This purchase aligns with the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by rapidly identifying and responding to potential bio-terrorism threats as well as communicable diseases to protect the citizens and visitors in the County.

PERFORMANCE MEASURE:

Measure

FY 2009-10
Actual

FY 2010-11
Projected

Number of lab tests completed

50,000

55,000

FISCAL IMPACT:

The cost of the GeneXpert Module 4 from Cepheid is $121,000 and is funded through the FY09 State Homeland Security Grant. The cost of this purchase has been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2010-11 Adopted Budget. There is no Net County Cost.