To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Amendment to Purchase Order with Beckman Coulter, Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Health Services Director, an amendment to Purchase Order #28568 with Beckman Coulter, Inc. to increase the payment limit by $916,000 to a new amount not to exceed $9,416,000 for the purchase of additional reagents and supplies for the clinical laboratory at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) with no change to the term ending November 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this action will result in additional expenditures of up to $916,000 and will be funded by Hospital Enterprise Fund I revenues.
BACKGROUND:
The CCRMC Clinical Laboratory utilizes Beckman Coulter, Inc. for reagents and supplies to perform routine and STAT (urgent) diagnostic testing, ensuring accurate and timely results that support patient treatment protocols. Beckman Coulter, Inc. has been one of the laboratory's primary suppliers for the Chemistry and Special Chemistry Departments since 2013 and currently provides over 85% of the laboratory's diagnostic testing capacity. The laboratory received a DxA automated track system with components at no charge to the County, with a six-year extension under agreement 50557US for Special Chemistry and a three-year extension under agreement 61457US for Hematology; additional funding was required for both contracts due to these extensions.
The agreements signed by CCRMC and Beckman Coulter are effective from the installation date of the equipment; however, the purchase order end date did not align with the agreements. During the prior amendment process to correct this discrepancy, the Clinical Laboratory initiated a six-month advanced meter billing cycle for the Beckman instruments as a precautionary measure to ensure uninterrupted supply availability. To process the resulting invoice and ensure product availability through the remaining term of the purchase order, the laboratory is requesting an increase in funds, while CCRMC works with the vendor, County Counsel, and Contra Costa Health's procurement team to develop a new long-term agreement.
On August 1, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an agenda item to execute purchase order #28568 with Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the amount of $6,000,000 to purchase reagents and supplies for the Clinical Laboratory CCRMC for the period from May 15, 2023 through May 14, 2026.
On October 29, 2025, the Purchasing Agent approved the continued use of Beckman Coulter, Inc.
On December 9, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved an agenda item to execute an amendment to purchase order #28568 with Beckman Coulter, Inc. to increase the payment limit by $2,500,000 to a new amount not to exceed $8,500,000 with no change to the original term.
On May 19, 2026, the Board of Supervisors approved an agenda item to execute an amendment to purchase order #28568 with Beckman Coulter, Inc. to extend the term through November 30, 2026 with no change to the payment limit.
The equipment contract was not reviewed by County Counsel when the equipment was ordered in 2020. The prior board action extended the term only and additional funds are now necessary. Approval of this action will allow the Clinical Laboratory to continue purchasing chemistry, serology, and immunology testing reagents and supplies from this vendor through November 30, 2026, while CCRMC works with the vendor, County Counsel and Contra Costa Health’s procurement team to develop a new agreement.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this amendment is not approved, it will negatively impact the Clinical Laboratory’s standing with Beckman Coulter as one of its main suppliers and the laboratory’s ability to procure essential supplies for laboratory testing and treatment of CCRMC’s patients.