REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 9, 2024
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Riverside County to Provide Reciprocal Emergency Laboratory Testing Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement with Riverside County to provide reciprocal emergency laboratory testing services, for a total amount not to exceed $90,000 annually or $450,000 for the total five-year term, for the period of July 13, 2024 through July 12, 2029.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute any future non-substantive amendments, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit all amendments in relation to the Professional Services Agreement with Riverside County to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
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 Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended Professional Services Agreement (Agreement) will allow the Department of Public Health (DPH) and Riverside County to mutually perform testing services, invoice, and receive reimbursement for any costs related to those testing services, not to exceed $90,000 annually, or $450,000 over the five-year term. The fees charged and collected will be paid based on established rates, which are determined by each county’s Board of Supervisors approved fee schedule. Payment for services provided by Riverside County will be funded by 1991 Realignment funds. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the DPH 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the terms of the recommended Agreement, DPH will enter into a reciprocal agreement with Riverside County to provide emergency laboratory testing services. Either agency may encounter special circumstances, or in the event of an emergency requiring assistance from another laboratory. The Agreement delineates roles, procedures, and fiscal provisions regarding these testing services, which are mutually beneficial to both parties. Emergency laboratory testing services may include, but are not limited to, tests that are not routinely performed; support in the event of a local emergency or surge in testing demand which exceeds the capacity of the laboratory, testing which requires expedited results, and/or coverage during temporary laboratory closures.
DPH operates a laboratory that provides a broad range of reference, clinical, and environmental testing services. The recommended Agreement allows Riverside County to provide similar laboratory testing services for DPH on an as needed basis.
San Bernardino and Riverside County have collaborated to provide emergency mutually beneficial laboratory testing services since 2017 via a reciprocal Agreement. Approval of Recommendation No. 1 continues this collaboration for emergency contingencies and aligns with the County's goals and objectives by working with other government agencies to meet the needs of individuals requiring laboratory testing services. Recommendation No. 2 authorizes the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of DPH to execute any future non-substantive amendments, such as minor adjustments to the scope of work, subject to review by County Counsel.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 15, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on June 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 8, 2024.