Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton - Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): FY25_EHSNET
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Department of Health and Human Services
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Funding Source
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Original award did not have indirect costs.
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by Public Health Services for approval to accept from the Department of Health and Human Services grant funds in the amount of $176,000, with no required match, and extend the grant end date and two positions to September 29, 2026 for the Environmental Health Specialists Network grant.
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Background and Discussion:
Since 2015, Harris County has been one of only eight jurisdictions nationwide funded through Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net), advancing food safety research alongside FDA, USDA, and other states. The current 2020-25 cycle delivered community reporting tools, updated complaint investigation protocols, and Active Managerial Control workshops for restaurants. With CDC approval, accepting funds in the amount of $176,000 in FY2026 allows Harris County to finish remaining priorities: retaining two research staff, piloting a standardized environmental and food sampling procedure during FBI/FBO investigations, and expanding bilingual food safety resources. This extension protects the County's investment in national food safety leadership and embodies Harris County Public Health's mission...
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