Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Forensic Analytical Consulting Services to Provide Respirator Fit Test Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Forensic Analytical Consulting Services to provide respirator fit test services, for the term of February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031, in an amount not to exceed $500,000.
body
BACKGROUND:
The fit testing service ensures that San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) is compliant with
CAL/OSHA and OSHA requirements regarding Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) and the Respiratory Protection Program. The primary goal is to protect healthcare team members and improve their safety and effectiveness while providing care to patients with aerosol-transmissible and airborne diseases. In October 2025, SMMC completed a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Respirator Fit Testing Services.
DISCUSSION:
Forensic Analytical Consulting Services (FACS) was elevated due to their experience with occupational health, expertise in providing respiratory fit-testing services in healthcare settings and meeting all applicable Cal/OSHA and regulatory requirements. FACS has the operational capacity to support large-scale, multiple fit-testing events and has a proven performance history with SMMC. Although FACS was the sole respondent to the RFP, the proposal was evaluated and determined to be responsive, competitive, and aligned with SMMC’s technical, operational, and compliance requirements.
The proposed agreement was competitively procured following publication of an RFP to provide respirator fit testing services.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that FACS will record fit test results in real time using SMMC’s electronic system with 100% accuracy.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Percentage of accuracy FACS will record fit test results in real time using SMMC’s electronic system |
100% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
FACS fit testing services will positively impact and directly support employees’ safety at SMMC, a public safety net hospital, by ensuring staff are properly protected against ATD. A well-protected workforce sustains safe, uninterrupted care delivery for a diverse patient population. This service strengthens SMMC’s capacity to meet community health needs while advancing equity, safety, and public trust. SMMC’s patients span a wide spectrum of races, ethnicities, gender, and gender-identities. Within the past 18 months, the largest cohorts of specialty care patients at SMMC were female (52%), Hispanic or Latino (63%), and primarily Spanish-speaking (55%).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2031. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $500,000 for the five-year term. Funds in the amount of $41,667 are included in the SMMC FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $100,000 will be included in the SMMC FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
The payment provisions and levels of services in this contract differ from those of the previous contract due to an increase in the needed number of full-day test sessions, administrative support, and additional service of quantitative fit tests. The annual fees of the new contract represent a 58% increase compared to the previous contract. The new agreement includes a 21% increase in full-day test sessions to improve access for staff across all shifts. This investment supports higher compliance rates, reduces operational delays related to missed testing, and strengthens employee protection against ATDs (e.g., Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Measles, Varicella, COVID-19). The agreement also adds a new service of quantitative fit testing to meet ADA accommodation requirements, ensuring regulatory compliance and continuity of workforce readiness. Moreover, the rates in the new contract are higher by 26% due to SMMC’s requirement for administrative support staffing during tests that were not in the prior agreement.
Expenses at SMMC are covered by fees for services or third-party payors whenever possible. The portion of expenses for services provided to the medically indigent or to those covered by programs that do not meet the full costs of care is covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC and is within the existing annual appropriation.
Attachment:
RFP Matrix