HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0152) M&C 20-0967City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 12/15/20 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 20-0967
LOG NAME: 35DNA OUTSOURCING AMENDMENT
SUBJECT
(ALL) Authorize Execution of an Amendment to Increase the Professional Services Agreements, City Secretary Contract No. 50326 and 50556,
with DNA Labs International and Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. for DNA Outsourcing by $707,099.00 for a New Annual Amount of $1,101,019.00
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the execution of a second amendment to the Professional Services Agreements with DNA Labs
International and Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. to increase compensation by $707,099.00 for a new annual amount of $1,101,019.00 for the
Police Department.
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department utilizes vendor laboratories to supplement the work performed by the Fort Worth Police Department Crime Lab. Currently,
the Crime Lab has professional service contracts with two laboratories, DNA Labs International and Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. Both vendors
are accredited to ISO-17025 standards, adhere to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA
Testing Laboratories, and employ personnel which are licensed by the Texas Forensic Science Commission.
The vendor laboratories perform biological evidence examinations and DNA testing services on Fort Worth Police Department cases which are
outsourced by the Crime Lab. Examples of services offered include serological analysis, male screening of sexual assault kits, short tandem
repeat (STR) testing, and Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) testing. Outsourcing is beneficial to the City of Fort Worth because it helps
decrease the existing backlog of cases that require DNA processing, including violent offenses such as sexual assaults and homicides. Much of
Crime Lab's DNA outsourcing is made possible through funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance Capacity Enhancement and Backlog
Reduction grants which have been awarded to the Crime Lab each year since 2013.
In September 2020, Police Department staff brought forth, and City council approved, Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) 20-0728 which
authorized the first amendment to City Secretary Contract No. 50326 with DNA Labs International and City Secretary Contract No. 50556 with
Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. to increase the agreements by $293,920.00. The increased amount was requested due to the receipt of two grant
awards in the amount of $148,044.00 and $145,876.00. After Council approved M&C 20-0728, the City was awarded two additional grants in the
amount of $392,394.00 and $200,000.00 for DNA Outsourcing. Additionally, staff requests budget modifications to previous DNA services related
grants from fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020 in the amounts of $22,875.00, $25,350.00, and $26,480.00, respectively. The requested
modification will move funds previously allocated as travel funds to the above mentioned contracts for additional DNA outsourcing. Finally, staff
requests an additional allocation of $40,000.00 in funds previously marked for Property Connect Improvements to be re -allocated for additional
DNA Outsourcing under these contracts. In total, the City is requesting Council authorize the execution of a second amendment to increase the
Contracts by $707,099.00 for a new annual amount of $1,101,019.00 for DNA outsourcing.
The agreements may be renewed for four additional one-year terms. The renewal action will not require City Council approval provided that the
City Council has appropriated sufficient funds to satisfy the City's obligations during the renewal terms.
The DNA outsourcing serves ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that funds are available in the current operating budget, as previously appropriated, in the Grants Operating
Federal Fund to support the approval of the above recommendation and execution of the amendment. Prior to any expenditure being incurred, the
Police Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for City Manager's Office by. Jay Chapa 5804
Originating Business Unit Head: Ed Kraus 4231
Additional Information Contact: Ed Kraus 4231