Primary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis A. Sanchez, MD, Executive Director & Chief Medical Examiner
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
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 to use general funds to pay for the 2025 assessment activities and annual fees for the Crime Laboratory ($17,100) and Evidence Intake accreditations ($2,300) for a total of $19,400 to ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the accrediting body for the HCIFS Crime Laboratory.
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Background and Discussion:
The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is the accrediting body for the HCIFS Crime Laboratory. The program requires yearly assessments and annual fees. ANAB conducted an offsite surveillance assessment of the Crime Laboratory and Evidence Intake division September 12-30, 2025. The purpose of these assessments was to verify the Institute’s continued compliance with the ANAB ISO/IEC 17025 and AR 3181 accreditation programs.
In addition to the assessment activities, the annual ANAB accreditation maintenance fees are due. The fee amounts are based on a “share cost,” calculated using the number of personnel in each laboratory.
Expected Impact:
To continue to maintain the crime laboratory’s accreditation since 1999.
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): N/A
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):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77054
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Total Existing Budget |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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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: 3/19/2026
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, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Michal Pierce, Senior Director, Quality Management, Institute of Forensic Sciences
Attachments (if applicable): Invoice Copies (2)