To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Request for Supplemental Budget in the Amount of $121,250 to Purchase Equipment for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Attached Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 in the amount of $121,250 for the Department of Health & Human Services -Public Health Branch, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program to purchase Public Health Laboratory equipment and local healthcare emergency response equipment (4/5 Vote Required); and
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to establish fixed asset account 1175455-8986 in Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 1002- Remove barriers to quality healthcare
DISCUSSION:
Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) - Public Health Branch is requesting a supplemental budget in the Public Health Fund (1175) Public Health Preparedness & Response Budget Unit (455). This supplemental budget is to fund purchasing new equipment for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Lab and PHEP Base programs. The PHEP Laboratory program is seeking to purchase laboratory testing equipment. The PHEP Base program is seeking to purchasing two tents.
The Humboldt County PHEP Lab Program is requesting to purchase a Qiagen EZ2 MDx and a three-year service agreement. The current nucleic acid extractors used in the HCPHL for downstream application, such as diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), is the Qiagen EZ1. The EZ1 is scheduled for retirement by the vendor in the next few years, and the purchase of this instrument will allow for HCPHL to have the most current equipment which would be purchased primarily by braided grant funds. The purchase of the EZ2 instrument will allow the Public Health Laboratory to continue to perform high quality molecular diagnostic testing to support the diagnosis of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vaccine preventable disease, while also supporting outbreak investigations. This will directly support the objective of supporting molecular detection, as well as analysis and reporting of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens of public health importance.
The PHEP Base program helps hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations prepare and respond to emergencies. PHEP Base is seeking to purchase two ASAP 12 Rapid Shelters. Each shelter is 12 feet x 18 feet and are designed to be set-up in up to 60 seconds by two trained people. Humboldt County Public Health already owns a DLX ASAP-12, and it was used during the 2025 county employee vaccination clinic. Prior to the event, DLX staff visited Humboldt County to train DHHS - Public Health and Facilities staff on how to rapidly set-up and tear down their shelter.
Additionally, the acquisition of two DLX ASAP-12 units will enhance Public Health’s modular infrastructure by ensuring a professional presence is maintained, sensitive equipment is protected in climate-controlled environments, and operational continuity in the event a unit becomes compromised. The additional two shelters will also allow Public Health to increase the operational capacity for multiple sites, if needed.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175-455) Public Health Preparedness & Response Budget Unit (455)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1175, 455) |
FY25-26 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$121,250 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$121,250 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1175, 455)FY25-26 |
|
|
State/Federal Funds |
$121,250 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$121,250 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Approval of the Supplemental Budget will allow DHHS - Public Health to seek reimbursement for $121,250 in Fund 1175, Budget Unit 455.
The purchase of the EZ2 laboratory equipment will cost an estimated $104,500, of which $77,725 would be funded by the State of California Future of Public Health Grant, $26,775 would be funded by the PHEP Laboratory Grant. The purchase of the Rapid Shelters will cost an estimated $16,750 and would be funded by the PHEP Base Grant. All expenditures will be paid in FY 2025-26.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may decide to not approve the supplemental budget for the purchase of equipment. However, it is not recommended as the HCPHL would not be able to replace equipment essential to basic operations.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1175-455 Supplemental Budget
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A