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 direction in accordance with Texas Administrative Code, 25 TAC §157.14. The Medical Director provides clinical oversight of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and is responsible for medical direction of HART operations, including clinical policies and protocols, quality assurance and improvement, training, case review, and ongoing compliance with applicable EMS standards.
Renewing the interlocal agreement (ILA) with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) will ensure the continued provision of physician medical direction required to maintain the County's EMS First Responder Organization licensure and support uninterrupted HART operations. Continued medical oversight is essential to maintaining regulatory compliance, ensuring high-quality patient care, and advancing HART's mission to provide safe, effective, and integrated alternative emergency response services to Harris County residents.
Expected Impact:
Renewal of the interlocal agreement will enable Public Health Services (PHS) to maintain compliance with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requirements for its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) First Responder Organization licensure and ensure uninterrupted physician medical oversight of the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART). Continued medical direction will allow HART to operate as Harris County's fourth public safety response model, responding exclusively to appropriate non-violent, non-threatening calls dispatched through the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC). This renewal supports the continued delivery of timely, clinically appropriate, and community-centered emergency response services while allowing law enforcement resources to remain focused on higher-priority public safety incidents.
Alternative Options:
Approval of this renewal is the recommended course of action. If Commissioners Court does not approve the renewal, Public Health Services (PHS) will be unable to maintain compliance with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requirements for its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) First Responder Organization (FRO) licensure, including the required provision of physician medical direction. Failure to maintain compliance could jeopardize HART's ability to provide medical services and continue operating as Harris County's alternative response program for appropriate non-violent, non-threatening calls dispatched through the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Emergency Dispatch Center.
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): B1: Increase the use of effective and efficient deflection responses using non-criminal justice resources for non-violent behaviors, particularly those primarily related to substance use, mental health, poverty, and homelessness.B1
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):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
12/10/2024 |
227 |
Approval of HART In-House Transition Plan |
|
01/23/2025 |
131 |
Request to execute an interlocal agreement |
|
10/30/2025 |
169 |
Renewal Approved |
Location: N/A
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
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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: 9/17/2026
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: Lupe M. Washington, Director, CHVPS, PHS; Dr. Larry D. Brown Jr., Assoc. Director, CHVPS, PHS; Roberto Torres, Buyer, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter