To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Amendment to Purchase Order with Clear Labs, 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 #23886 with Clear Labs, Inc., to extend the term of September 1, 2021 through July 31, 2024 to September 1, 2021 through July 31, 2026, with no change to the payment limit of $2,000,000 to purchase testing reagents and kits for SARS-CoV-2 and other pandemic virus whole genome sequencing for the Contra Costa County Public Health Laboratory.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this action will result in expenditures of up to $2,000,000 over the five-year period and will be funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) awarded grant, COVID-19 ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion (Strategy 2: Strengthen Laboratory Testing).
BACKGROUND:
Whole genome sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in patient specimens permits determination of circulating variants within Contra Costa County. Identifying variants allows Contra Costa Health to evaluate whether certain variants are associated with increased transmission or particular patient morbidity outcomes.
On September 20, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved item C.50 to execute an amendment to purchase order #23886 with Clear Labs, Inc. to extend the term through July 31, 2024 to continue purchasing testing reagents and kits for SARS-CoV-2 and other pandemic virus whole genome sequence, with no change to the payment limit.
This vendor is the sole provider of this range of product, and on July 16, 2024, the Purchasing Agent approved the continued use of Clear Labs, Inc.
Delayed notification of the purchase order expiration caused delays in submitting this request. This update is necessary in order to provide continued utilization of COVID-19 ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion funding for COVID-19 variant surveillance in Contra Costa County. Moving forward laboratory administrative staff and management will review agreement dates more closely and reach out to vendors several months prior to ensure enough time is allotted for requests in the future.
This action will extend the term of the existing purchase order with Clear Labs, Inc. through July 31, 2026 to purchase next generation sequencing laboratory supplies (collection kits, reagents, plastic consumables) for the Contra Costa County Public Health Laboratory.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the Contra Costa Public Health Laboratory will not be able to maintain continuous and uninterrupted ordering of much needed laboratory supplies for genome sequencing.