Specialty Laboratories, Inc. (dba Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute) provides outside clinical laboratories testing for tests that are rarely requested and require special equipment which CCRMC does not have onsite. This contract also includes COVID-19 testing which helps to serve as a backup if needed. This contractor has been providing outside clinical laboratory testing for CCRMC since January 2007.
On January 19, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #26-583-30 with Specialty Laboratories, Inc. (dba Quest Diagnostic Nichols Institute), in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000 for the provision of outside clinical laboratory services, with no change in the payment limit or term for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
On January 18, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment Agreement #26-583-31 effective May 1, 2021, to include additional outside clinical laboratory services, with no change in the payment limit of $7,000,000 or term January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
On May 24, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment Agreement #26-583-32, effective April 15, 2022, to modify the contract language to include additional third-party billing services in addition to outside clinical laboratory services, with no change in the payment limit of $7,000,000 or term January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
Approval of Contract Amendment Agreement #26-583-34 will allow the contractor to provide additional outside laboratory testing services for the Monkey Pox virus, with no change in the payment limit of $7,000,000 or term of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. Due to the urgent nature of the Monkey Pox virus outbreak the Department is requesting this contract amendment be effective August 10, 2022, as this is the date the contractor made testing available at CCRMC and Contra Costa Health Centers for the benefit of County patients.
If this amendment is not approved, the contractor will not provide additional testing services for Monkey Pox virus potentially causing the virus to spread faster through the community.