Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Make findings in accordance with Chapter 3.13, Section 3.13.030(b) County Ordinance, that the work requires specialty skills and qualifications not expressly identified in County classifications, in order to continue contracting out forensic toxicology testing services with National Medical Services, Inc; (NMS)
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 6850 with NMS for forensic analysis and toxicology services in the amount of $190,000 for the term November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2025; and
3) Authorize the Undersheriff to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 6850, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
NMS provides advanced forensic toxicology, endocrinology and criminalist laboratory services that are paramount to verifying the cause of death in Coroner cases. Currently, El Dorado County does not have the equipment, tools or qualified staff to provide these services. It is more economical and feasible to continue to contract out these services. Human Resources is being contacted through FENIX to confirm that there is not a bargaining unit concern with these services.
There are currently no plans for the Sheriff’s Office to take on laboratory testing in the near future even with the addition of the morgue at the new Public Safety Facility.
NMS has been providing selected forensic analyses and toxicology services for the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner's Division for many years. There are other vendors that provide forensic toxicology services in the market, but we have found NMS to be efficient, secure and thorough with the services they provide. The pricing we receive in this contract is competitive compared to what other Counties in the State are paying for similar services. While NMS did inform of us of the need to increase their prices in this new contract by 10% to cover their rising costs, we were successful in negotiating small, incremental increases of 3% each year for the first and second years of this contract, and a 4% increase in the third and final year.
On November 15, 2016, your Board approved entering into Agreement #214-S1710 with NMS, with a term of November 1, 2016, through October 31, 2017, with a not to exceed amount of $95,000.
On October 24, 2017, Amendment I to Agreement #214-S1710 with NMS. was brought to your Board to increase the not to exceed amount to $190,000 and extend the term for an additional year from November 1, 2017, through October 31, 2018.
On October 30, 2018, your Board approved Agreement #3326 with a term of November 1, 2018, through October 31, 2020, with a not to exceed amount of $190,000.
Finally, on February 23, 2021, Item #20-1177, your Board approved Agreement #5094 with a term of November 1, 2020, through October 31, 2022, with a not to exceed amount of $190,000.
This request is to approve a new Agreement #6850 in order to continue receiving advanced forensic toxicology, endocrinology and criminalist laboratory services with a three-year term beginning on November 1, 2022, for $190,000.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
November 15, 2016, #16-0981
October 24, 2017, #16-0981
October 30, 2018, # 18-1630
February 23, 2021, #20-1177
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No change to Net County Cost. This expense is budgeted in the Sheriff’s annual operating budget, and will continue to be budgeted in following years.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please return one fully executed Agreement to the Sheriff’s Office for distribution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Leveraging resources to support the Sheriff’s Office increases public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz