TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute the First Amendment, and all necessary documents, to Agreement No. 29401, with the State of California Department of Health Services for the Viral Load Testing program to add additional funds not to exceed $108,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since 1998, the State of California Department of Health Services (State) has designated the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) as a contractor in the Viral Load Testing program. Under the current agreement, the Health Department Public Health Laboratory will provide up to 1,800 HIV blood tests to AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)-eligible clients per contract year and will document and submit test results to the State Office of AIDS. Viral load tests measure the amount of HIV-1 RNA in patient blood samples and test results are used to monitor virus progression and medication effectiveness. Viral Load Testing results allow health care providers to better manage the care of HIV-infected patients. The State's Viral Load Testing program makes testing available to all ADAP and ADAPeligible clients who would otherwise be unable to afford this service. The submission of test results to the State Office of AIDS allows the State to compile epidemiological data for participating health jurisdictions. The original three-year agreement is in the amount of $540,000 for the three-year term of July 1, 2005 through July 31, 2008.
The proposed Amendment No. 1 reflects an expansion of certain Scope of Work activities for the third-year that increases the number of tests to 2,880 for an additional amount not to exceed $108,000, bringing the total grant agreement award up to a maximum of $648,000. The term of this Amendment is from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
This matter was reviewed by Chief Assistant City Attorney Heather A. Mahood on January 31, 2008 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on January 31, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDER...
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