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Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Make findings in accordance with Chapter 3.13, Section 3.13.030 County Ordinance, that it is more economical and feasible to continue contracting out forensic toxicology testing services with National Medical Services, Inc. as previously contracted in Agreement 214-S1710;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 3326 with National Medical Services, Inc., for forensic analysis and toxicology services in the amount of $190,000 for the term November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 3326, 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
National Medical Services, Inc., 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 have confirmed that there is not a bargaining unit concern with these services.
There are no plans for the Sheriff’s Office to take on laboratory testing in the near future. Even after the Sheriff's Office moves into the new Public Safety Facility and opens the Morgue Building, we will still need to have these services provided by an outside vendor.
National Medical Services Inc. 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 National Medical Services to be efficient, secure and thorough with the service...
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