Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis
Secondary Department: Public Health Services
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
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):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
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 that the County Judge execute an interlocal agreement with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in the amount of $90,000 for medical director for the Holistic Alternative Response Team (HART) for Public Health Services for the period of January 23, 2025 - January 22, 2026 with four (4) one-year renewal options, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) Program launched in March 2022 as an alternative 911 response model for non-violent calls to Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) emergency dispatch (EDC). The program utilizes interdisciplinary, unarmed first responders with psychosocial and medical assistance training to handle non-violent incidents, allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
- On June 4, 2024, Commissioners Court directed the Office of County Administration (OCA) to collaborate with Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and other relevant departments to develop a proposal for integrating the HART Program into a Harris County department or agency. This proposal, due by July 15, 2024, detailed the framework, timeline, activities, and costs for transitioning HART operations in-house under HCPH.
- On August 6, 2024, Commissioners Court provided direction to transition the software and facility management to HCPH while the county pursued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new third-party vendor.
- December 10, 2024, Commissioners Court rejected the proposal(s) for Holistic Assistance Response Team Services for Public Health Services and that the project will not be readvertised at a later date, and to transition HART fully in-house.
The HART Medical Director (MD) is a critical position critical in applying for a First Responder Organization (FRO) license with the State of Texas. Additionally, the MD has oversight of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and all aspects of operations, policy and protocol development, implementation, and training, management, and audit of care services germane to HART. Entering into an interlocal agreement (ILA) with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) will enable Harris County to expedite the hiring of the MD and accelerate operations of HART in-house.
Expected Impact:
Bringing the HART program operations in-house will give HCPH greater operational oversight and offer more flexibility to the County. Additionally, HCPH believes that managing this program internally (rather than through a third-party vendor) will enhance collaboration with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, EMS agencies, other HCPH divisions, and other partners. Executing the ILA with UT Health will reduce the lag in fully transitioning program operations, expedite the FRO application, and enable HCPH to provide medical services consistent with the current HART model.
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): 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 |
Location: N/A
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Medical Director for the Holistic Alternative Response Team (HART) for Harris County Public Health Services |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$59,940 |
$59,940 |
$90,000 |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$59,940 |
$59,940 |
$90,000 |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$59,940 |
$59,940 |
$90,000 |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/23/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Lupe Washington, Director of Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division, Public Health Services; Gisselle Zapata, Contract Manager, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter