Department: Purchasing
Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Negotiation
Project ID (if applicable): 240258
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Johnston, LLC
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 19.60%
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval on the basis of highest overall evaluation and authorize negotiations with Johnston, LLC for professional architectural and/or engineering services for the design of the Institute of Forensic Sciences Building DNA Lab relocation for the Office of the County Engineer, and the county, at its sole discretion, may discontinue negotiations and proceed to negotiate with the next ranking vendor(s) if unable to agree to an executable contract (240258), MWDBE Contracted Goal: 19.60%.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Harris County Genetics Forensics Lab (DNA Lab) is currently located in the John.P. McGovern Campus of the Texas Medical Center. This project will bring the lab into the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science’s building at 1861 Holcombe, Houston, TX, where it will occupy two, vacant floors of the building. The scope consists of design and document the new lab facility along with modifications to the evidence intake, creation of a central breakroom, wellness area and modifications to IT room, corridors, core spaces as required. This project was previously advertised for consultants in 2023 to and but no suitable consultants submitted. It was re-advertised in 2024 and Johnston, LLC is recommended for selection based on their qualifications.
It should be noted that an NIST Grant for this work was approved for funding the project. See previous court actions.
Expected Impact:
Approval of this Professional Services will provide an Architectural & Engineering team for the design of a Genetic Forensics (DNA Lab) facility that will co-locate the DNA Lab with the Morgue and other Institute of Forensic Science functions. This will increase efficiency and collaboration between the two intertwined functions as well as offering more secure and reliable chain of custody for evidence. The new lab, with greater capacity will increase the level of service for the residents of Harris County. Additionally, the monthly lease at the John P. McGovern campus at Texas Medical Center can be discontinued thereby saving a previously estimated amount of $900,000.
Alternative Options:
Should the County elect to reject the request, the DNA lab could continue to lease space at the John P. McGovern campus, but is unknown if additional, adjacent space is available for expansion. As previously mentioned, this would mean continuing to pay monthly rent on an escalating scale per the existing lease.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
X_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any): List all instances of prior Commissioners Court action that relates to this item (Original Project Award).
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
12/17/2019 |
4.i.7 |
Request for $1 M in CP funding for the IFS long-term masterplan |
|
12/17/2019 |
1.e.2 |
Authorization to negotiate with Page Southerland Page, Inc for the Masterplan Study for the IFS Building |
|
5/19/2020 |
1.g.4 |
Approval of the $86,000 for the Masterplan Study for the IFS building. |
|
12/15/2020 |
1.f.1 |
Approval of Amendment #1 for additional $31,400 for study efforts |
|
12/14/2021 |
38. |
Approval of Amendment #2for additional $38,000 for morgue expansion study to complete study efforts |
|
2/8/2022 |
166 |
Request for Approval of PIM $1,501,000 (CP) |
|
9/19/2023 |
245 |
Request for Approval to accept NIST Grant - $12,042,320 for DNA Lab |
|
8/6/2024 |
24-4846 |
Project Scheduled for Advertisement |
Location:
Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77030, Level 6 & 7 (infrastructure/building utility work will involve other areas of the building)
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: December 10, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Marcella Ferguson, RA, LEED AP, Sr. Project Manager, OCE - HPSP,
Nancy Garcia, HC Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter