REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 25, 2020
FROM
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with National Medical Services, Inc. for Forensic Toxicology Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 16-705 with National Medical Services, Inc., replacing the current Forensic Toxicology Fee Schedule - Attachment A (Sections A and B), with a new Forensic Toxicology Fee Schedule - Attachment A (Sections A, B, and C), and exercising the final option to extend the contract term by one year, for a new total contract period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2021, with no increase to the total contract amount of $1,600,000, for the provision of forensic toxicology services.
(Presenter: John Ades, Captain, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost of forensic toxicology services, in the amount not to exceed $598,500 for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, will be funded within the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) existing budget allocation. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Department’s 2020-21 budget (4430001000) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department’s Coroner Division uses forensic toxicology services to provide toxicology data in conjunction with autopsy findings to formulate a medical conclusion as to the cause of death of a decedent. The Department does not have the necessary personnel or equipment to perform toxicology analysis in-house, thus requiring the services of an outside laboratory.
Approval of this amendment will extend the contract term by one year to September 30, 2021, and replace the current Forensic Toxicology Fee Schedule - Attachment A (Sections A and B), with a new Forensic Toxicology Fee Schedule - Attachment A (Sections A, B and C).
PROCUREMENT
On September 13, 2016 (Item No. 76), as a result of a competitive process, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 16-705 with National Medical Services, Inc. (NMS) for the period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2019, with the option to extend the term for two additional one-year periods.
The Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract 16-705 with NMS on July 23, 2019 (Item No. 43), extending the contract by one year, for a total contract term of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2020, and increasing the total contract by $400,000, for an aggregate not to exceed amount of $1,600,000.
The proposed amendment will allow for the continuation of forensic toxicology services, exercising the final option to extend the contract term by an additional one-year period through September 30, 2021. The Contract may be terminated by either party upon a thirty (30) days’ advance written notice of termination for all, or part, of the services described therein.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 17, 2020; Purchasing Department (Michael Candelaria, Lead Buyer, 387-2060) on July 13, 2020; Finance (Carolina Mendoza, Administrative Analyst, 387-0294) on July 22, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on July 29, 2020.