Agenda

Return

C. 48

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	August 1, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Rescind Prior Board Action for Purchase Order with Polymedco, Inc.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 08/01/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Karin Stryker, (925) 370-5141

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 1, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RESCIND Board action of September 20, 2022 (C.60), which authorized the Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Health Services Department, to purchase $1,200,000 in reagents and supplies from Polymedco, Inc; and

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Health Services Director, a blanket purchase order with Polymedco Cancer Diagnostic Products LLC in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000, and a related reagent agreement for the purchase of reagents and supplies to perform immunochemical fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) for the Clinical Laboratory at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) for the period from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2026.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Approval of this action will result in expenditures of up to $1,200,000 over a three-year period and will be funded by the Hospital Enterprise Fund I revenues.

BACKGROUND:

Polymedco Cancer Diagnostic Products LLC's OC-Auto Sensor Diana with FOBT-CHECK is an automated immunochemical fecal occult blood testing system that detects human red cells only with no interferences from red meat, turnips, melons, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin C. This improvement directs many more of the “right” patients to colonoscopy leading to the earlier detection of polyps and colorectal cancer. The increased sensitivity and specifics of this test over the current method is expected to improve detection of early-stage colon cancer, which currently is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. at 30%. The increased specificity results in fewer false positives, allowing the correct identification of patients needing expensive colonoscopy procedures. Replacing the sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy with this lab test for cancer screening will significantly reduce the overall cost to CCRMC.

Since the department relies heavily on the utilization of the OC-Auto Sensor Diana analyzer for not only all the hospital testing needs, but the annual birthday mailers that are sent to our community members under the health plan, it is necessary to procure large amounts of reagents and supplies for the OC-Diana to continue performing immunochemical fecal occult blood testing at the CCRMC Clinical Laboratory.

On August 6, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved agenda item C.77 to execute a purchase order with Polymedco, Inc., in the amount of $600,000 for the purchase of reagents and supplies for the period October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2022. On June 21, 2022, an amendment to increase the payment limit by $150,000 for a new total of $750,000 was approved by the Board of Supervisors on agenda item C.97 with no change in the original term dates.

On September 20, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved agenda item C.60 to execute a purchase order with Polymedco, Inc. in the amount of $1,200,000 for the purchase of reagents and supplies for the period of October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2025. On September 23, 2022 a purchase order requisition was created to issue a purchase order along with a vendor reagent agreement needing Counsel review and approval.

On November 10, 2022, purchase order #26474 was executed with Polymedco, Inc. in the amount of $120,000 for the purchase of reagents and supplies for the period of September 30, 2022 through January 30, 2023 to allow time for Counsel to review the agreement.

Approval of this action will allow the CCRMC Clinical Laboratory to procure reagents, supplies to perform immunochemical FOBT through January 31, 2026.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, the Clinical Lab will not have the ability to procure the necessary supplies and reagents from Polymedco Cancer Diagnostic Products LLC. and unable to support testing needs for the hospital. This will have a significant negative impact on patient care, as early detection is a key tool for patients to identify potential issues, allowing them to seek treatment earlier, helping to maintain their overall good health. Further, the lab would need to send patient samples out to reference laboratories, which will result in an increase in the cost per test and additional courier fees.