From
Cindy Mendez, Environmental Quality Manager
Title
Ratify a contract for vaccination services with TopCare Medical as an exigency purchase for a cost not to exceed $164,800
Presenter
Cindy Mendez, Environmental Quality Manager
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
COVID-19 Vaccines moved from the FDA request for approval to Emergency Use Authorization quickly. Entities like the City had to pre-order our vaccines for our EMS and Critical Infrastructure employees as quickly as possible with a Texas Department of State Health Services registered medical provider specific to COVID-19 vaccines. Given the time frame of mere weeks, bidding out the provider costs was not possible. Although the vaccine is being provided for free by the federal government, the administrative fees will still need to be funded. Staff selected TopCare Medical/Mi Doctor for two reasons: 1) Mi Doctor operates a medical clinic in Grand Prairie and currently serves our community and 2) we have an established testing relationship with Mi Doctor. Since the vaccine is new a cost had not been established by TopCare Medical. This vaccine requires special handling, storage, and tracking that current vaccines do not require. The city has agreed to pay in one of three ways: up to $50 per dose (two doses are required) by direct pay, a cost established as a most favored rate, or if more cost effective for the city, the insurance rate. Currently, our EMS will be paid direct pay, but when all costs are evaluated, the City may switch to insurance.
Exigency purchases are exempt from bidding requirements as stated in Section 252.022 of the Local Government Code. State law clarifies exigency as:
1. A procurement made because of public calamity that requires the immediate appropriation of money to relieve the necessity of the municipality’s residents or to preserve the property of the municipality;
2. A procurement necessary to preserve or protect the public health or safety of t...
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