Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Public Health Services
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Renewal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of an interlocal renewal option with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for Medical Director for the Holistic Alternative Response Team (HART) for Public Health Services for the period of January 23, 2027 – January 22, 2028, at a cost of $90,000, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement.
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Background and Discussion:
The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) Program launched in March 2022 as an alternative 911 response model for non-violent calls dispatched through the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC). The program deploys interdisciplinary, unarmed first responders with psychosocial and emergency medical training to respond to appropriate low-acuity incidents, allowing law enforcement resources to remain available for higher-priority public safety needs.
HART transitioned fully in-house under Public Health Services (PHS) and relaunched on January 27, 2025. On June 11, 2025, PHS was certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) First Responder Organization (FRO). As a licensed FRO, PHS is required to maintain physician medical di...
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