Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Christina Corpus, Sheriff
Subject: Renew a Reagent Purchase Agreement with Life Technologies for DNA Testing Supplies for Applied BiosystemsTM instruments
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution:
A) Waiving the competitive bidding process for DNA testing supplies compatible with Applied BiosystemsTM instruments; and
B) Authorizing the Purchasing Agent to re-establish a reagent purchase agreement with Life Technologies for DNA test kits, reagents, and testing supplies that will result in a vendor agreement for a three-year term effective from the date the reagent purchase agreement has been executed by both parties, for a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 dollars; and
C) Authorizing the Purchasing Agent to add new reagents and testing supplies to the reagent purchase agreement as necessary.
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BACKGROUND:
Ordinance Code Section 2.83.050 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to waive any of the provisions of the competitive bidding process in any situation where the Board of Supervisors determines that the best interests of the County could be served without the necessity of competitive bidding.
DISCUSSION:
The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory utilizes Applied BiosystemsTM QuantifilerTM Trio DNA Quantification kits and Applied BiosystemsTM GlobalFilerTM PCR Amplification kits, which are compatible with the Applied BiosystemsTM instruments, in the analysis of evidence samples for the presence of DNA. The only source for purchasing these kits in the United States is from Life Technologies, which is a part of ThermoFisher Scientific.
In addition, the Forensic Laboratory utilizes the Applied BiosystemsTM 3500 Series Genetic Analyzers which requires buffers, conditioning reagents, plate bases, retainers, and septa that are also only available for purchase in the United States from Life Technologies.
We request the Board waive the competitive bidding process for test kits, reagents, and testing supplies that will result in a vendor agreement with a sole source vendor. We also ask the Board to authorize the Purchasing Agent to re-establish a Reagent Purchase Agreement with Life Technologies for test kits, reagents, and testing supplies that will result in a vendor agreement for a three-year term, for a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000. In addition, we request the Board authorize the Purchasing Agent to add new test kits, reagents, and testing supplies to the Reagent Purchase Agreement as necessary.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This agreement is for a three-year period, commencing upon execution of said agreement, for an amount not-to-exceed $750,000. Funding for these reagents is primarily provided through the U.S. Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program grants. The additional funding has been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 23-24 Recommended Budget. There is no additional Net County Cost.