TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract with Gen-Probe Sales and Service, Inc., to purchase diagnostic test kits for one year in an amount not to exceed $250,000, with the option to extend the contract for two additional years at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), Public Health Laboratory, performs approximately 18,500 Chlamydia tests, 15,000 Gonorrhea tests, and 200 DNA mycobacteria identification tests each year. In addition to the Department’s Tuberculosis Clinic, the laboratory provides these tests for the following fee-for-service agencies: St. Mary’s Hospital Laboratory, Community Hospital of Long Beach Laboratory, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center’s Health Tech Laboratory, Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), University of California, San Diego (UCSD), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of Southern California (USC). The main purpose of Public Health Laboratories is to diagnose communicable diseases in order to support treatment of those infected, thereby reducing the spread of these diseases through the general population. In conjunction with the preventive programs conducted through the various organizations and clinics partnering with the Health Department Public Health Laboratory, the immediate testing and proper diagnosis is critical to infectious disease control because of the ever-increasing mobility of our society.
Gen-Probe is the only company that produces a molecular DNA probe test for the identification of mycobacteria. Additionally, the technology used by Gen-Probe for the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing methodology is proprietary and not available from any other manufacturer. Therefore, the attached Resolution is necessary to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract without advertising for bids.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy Cit...
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