To: Board of Supervisors
From: Beth Ward, Animal Services Director
Report Title: Contract Amendment with Sage Veterinary Centers
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RATIFY the Animal Services Director’s execution of a contract amendment with Sage Veterinary Centers, L.P., dba Veterinary Services, to increase the payment limit by $450,000 to a new payment limit of $600,000 for continued veterinary services and extend the term through June 30, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Projected contract costs through FY 2023/24 are estimated up to $600,000 (100% County General Fund).
BACKGROUND:
The Department will be amending the County and Sage Veterinary Centers, L.P., dba Veterinary Services contract with the original contract term of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The ratified amendment has an effective date of July 1, 2023, and extends the contract through June 30, 2024. The contract process took longer than estimated. All pending invoices will be processed upon Board ratification of the contract amendment.
Sage Veterinary Centers, L.P., dba Veterinary Services provides 24-hour emergency veterinary support which is necessary for sick or injured, stray, abandoned, or neglected animals brought to the Contractor’s clinics for appropriate care. The proposed amendment will add $450,000 to the contract for additional medical services the contractor provides, necessitated by higher numbers of animals served. The Contractor works closely with the Department Director and Chief of Shelter Medicine to facilitate approved care for sick and injured animals. Sage’s 24-hour service availability and ability to provide care for the volume of animals from County intake warrants sole-source justification, as approved by the County Purchasing Agent in November 2023.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve this amendment will result in the loss of critically required and mandated medical services of 24-Hour care and put sick and injured animals at risk.