Title
Crime Laboratory Supplies and Equipment
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of consumables and equipment by the sole source exemption,
B. Approve a contract with QIAgen, LLC for the purchase of laboratory supplies, and instruments for an initial term of one year, and
C. Authorize the City Manager to renew the contract for up to three, one-year terms with possible price adjustments and to amend the contract consistent with the purpose for which the contract was approved.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Johnny Jennings, Police
Matthew Mathis, Police
Sole Source Exemption
§ NC General Statute Section 143-129(e)(6) provides that formal bidding requirements do not apply when:
- Performance or price competition are not available;
- A needed product is available from only one source or supply; or
- Standardization or compatibility is the overriding consideration.
§ Sole sourcing is necessary for this contract for standardization and compatibility.
§ City Council approval is required for any purchases made under the sole source exception.
Explanation
§ The Crime Laboratory of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department requires certain laboratory supplies and equipment to operate instruments that allow DNA extraction from shell casings and biological samples.
§ DNA extraction processes rely on laboratory supplies and equipment that are only available from QIAgen, LLC.
§ These laboratory supplies and equipment are required to operate the specialized instruments used for the extraction, processing, and analysis of DNA samples.
§ At renewal, potential price adjustments may be considered based on legitimate and justified increases in the cost of doing business. The ability to consider price adjustments also allows the city to accept decreases, if warranted.
§ Annual expenditures are estimated to be $250,000.
Charlotte Business INClusion
This contract is exempt from MWSBE goal setting under the CBI program as it qualifies as a sole source procurement per North Carolina State statute. The specific laboratory supplies and equipment required for this contract are highly specialized and proprietary in nature, with no other vendors capable of providing equivalent products. The vendor has exclusive rights to distribute these supplies, which are essential for the continuity and accuracy of our laboratory operations. Due to the lack of alternative sources and the necessity of maintaining compatibility with our existing equipment, the establishment of MWSBE goals is not feasible in this instance.
Fiscal Note
Funding: General Grants Fund and Police Operating Budget