Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis Arturo Sanchez, M.D.
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Qiagen, LLC
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of a sole source exemption from the competitive bid requirements for Qiagen, LLC in the amount of $400,000 for Qiagen investigation kits reagents and related supplies for QIAsymphony SP Automated Extraction Platform for the Institute of Forensic Sciences for the period of November 13, 2025 - December 31, 2026, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source.
end
Background and Discussion: The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science investigates many crimes each year and uses Qiagen LLC, DNA and Investigation Technology such as the QIAsymphony SP Automated Extraction Platform. In order to facilitate the proper maintenance of these machines, Lab supplies and maintenance are required to keep the machines running. It has been discovered that Qiagen LLC is the only organization that supplies the parts need for this machine to operate, and no domestic redistribution exists for the support of these machines.
Expected Impact: By approving this sole source verification, The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science will be able to maintain and operate the QIAsymphony SP Automated Extraction Platform.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: Choose an item.
County Strategic Plan Objective: Choose an item.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
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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Anticipated Court Date: 11/13/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 11/13/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Cristina Juarez, Administration, Harris County Institute of Forensic Science, Scott Elliott, Buyer, Harris County Purchasing Department
Attachments (if applicable): Letter