Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 260132
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Airgas USA, LLC
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
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 award on the basis of lowest bid to Airgas USA, LLC in the amount of $60,000 based on estimated quantities and fixed unit pricing for specialty chemicals, industrial gases, and related items for the Institute of Forensic Sciences for the period of October 15, 2026 - October 14, 2027 with four (4) one-year renewal options (260132).
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Background and Discussion:
The Institute of Forensic Sciences (IFS) has several specialized crime laboratory equipment. IFS purchases specialty gases for the equipment in order for them to run tests for submitted evidence from law enforcement. IFS also developed protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) using specific gases.
Expected Impact:
With this contract, IFS will have a reliable vendor to provide specialized gases to continue running the crime laboratory equipment. This will ensure that IFS will be able to use its developed protocols and SOPs to timely analyze evidence. If there is an interruption to specialty gases, there will be an increase in evidence turn-around time and backlogs.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any): N/A
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Location:
Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77054
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Specialty Chemicals, Industrial Gases, and Related Items for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$60,000.00 |
$60,000.00 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$60,000.00 |
$60,000.00 |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$60,000.00 |
$60,000.00 |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 10/15/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Cristina Juarez, Finance Manager, Harris County Institute of Forensic Science; Dat Trinh, Senior Buyer, Harris County Purchasing Department
Attachments (if applicable): Letter, Bid table