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AI- 48040

Commissioners Court

Meeting Date:	03/02/2020
Bid Packet for Specification of Forensic Testing
Submitted For:	Greg Willis	Submitted By:	Debbie Harrison
Department:	District Attorney
Request Type:	CONSENT	Agenda Area:	Advertisement

Information

Department Action

On November 18, 2019, this Court approved the application for the “District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant FY2020” offered through the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. My office is currently waiting to hear whether this grant has been awarded and if so, in what amount. If awarded, the grant funds would be used to fund quantitative THC testing for seized cannabis samples. The grant would help eliminate the backlog of untested cannabis cases, created by the new testing requirements in recently passed legislation (HB1325).

I am asking this court to approve the specification for Forensic Testing of Physical Evidence, (the bid packet) prior to the grant approval, due to the short period of time allocated for this grant. If funds are awarded, my office will only have about six months to submit evidence for testing, before the grant expires. In order to maximize the benefit of any funds received, we need the bid process to be completed, with the vendors/labs approved and ready to begin testing. Even if the grant is not approved, this bid process is still needed as my office would entertain funding forensic testing from alternate sources.

Purchasing Department Action

Request Commissioners Court consideration and any action regarding approval of specifications for IFB NO. 2020-151 Forensic Testing of Physical Evidence and authorize advertisement of same. sh

HR and/or IT Action

Budget Department Action

The FY2020 "District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant" has yet to be awarded. If grant is not approved, the District Attorney will fund using their State Forfeiture Special Revenue Fund (1037). Request Commissioners Court approval of specifications for IFB NO. 2020-151.

Auditor's Office Action

Funds available in the District Attorney State Forfeiture Fund.

Commissioners Court

Forensic Testing of Physical Evidence (IFB No. 2020-151), District Attorney.

Budget Information

Information about available funds

Budgeted:

Funds Available:

Adjustment:

Amount Available:

Unbudgeted:

Funds NOT Available:

Amendment:

Account Code(s) for Available Funds
1:	See Below

Fund Transfers

Remarks:

Requested a Grant in the amount of $87,000 for forensic testing. Even if we do not receive the grant, we will entertain using these vendors for forensic testing from alternate funding sources.

Remarks:

If the grant is not awarded, the DA will fund using their State Forfeiture fund 1037.

Attachments
Court Order
Memo
Legal Notice
Bid Packet