Title
Award of Contract for Collection and Laboratory Technical and Professional Services to Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services (B)
This item involves a request for the City Commission to approve the selection of Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services as the provider for Collection and Clinical Laboratory Services.
Explanation
The City of Gainesville administers various pre-employment, random, and post accident drug testing programs. In addition to the drug testing programs, the City of Gainesville has offered low cost access to certain diagnostic testing to its employees and retirees through a contracted arrangement with an outside provider. Recently, the City initiated a competitive bid process to award the contract for Collection and Clinical Laboratory Technical and Professional Services. Through the Purchasing Division, the
Request for Proposals (RFP) was distributed via Demand Star. In addition, each local laboratory was contacted notifying them of the RFP. The nature of this service requires that a local collection site is available for both, normal working hours and after hours for drug testing purposes. The City received two proposals, one of which did not address collection services.
The proposal, received from Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services, was reviewed by staff and determined to meet all the qualification specified in the RFP. In addition to meeting all the criteria in the RFP, the lab test pricing was approximately $30,000 less than the pricing in the other proposal. Based on that review, staff recommends awarding the Contract to Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services.
Fiscal Note
Funds of approximately $70,000 have been included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2007 General Insurance Fund and Employee Health and Accident Benefits Fund operating budgets.
Recommendation
The City Commission authorize: 1) the Award of the Contract for Collection and Clinical Laboratory Technical and Professional Services to Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services for a period of three years beginning October 1, 2006; 2) the issuance of a Purchase Order in an amount sufficient to cover the applicable charges for collection and laboratory services; and, 3) the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute, subject to the approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality, a contract with Jagers Enterprises DBA Elite Services.
Alternative Recommendation:
The Federal Transit Administration requires that random drug testing be conducted during all normal hours of operation. The Regional Transit System currently provides services until the early morning hours. In addition, the City's Drug Free Workplace Program's post-accident testing may also require after hour drug testing to fully comply with State Law and the City's collective bargaining agreements. The inability to comply with the above standards could put the City's FTA grants at risk and have an adverse effect on future Regional Transit Systems operating and capital grant funding. With this being the case, there is no alternative at this time. Staff spent considerable time attempting to find qualified local collection sites for this service. The current vendor cited the after hours drug testing requirement as the reason for not submitting a proposal during this recent process.