Title
Combating COVID-19 Efforts (Ordinance S-48321)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to amend current contracts and execute new contracts as necessary to obtain at-home COVID-19 tests, personal protective equipment, emergency and community outreach services, and other expenses related to COVID-19. This request will provide funding to enhance and expand services supporting the City's COVID-19 response including community testing, vaccination services and distribution of masks and at-home test kits. Further request the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. This item will have an aggregate amount of $25 million. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available through the City's allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) received from the federal government.
Report
Summary
The City Council declared a local emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 20, 2020. Staff continues to work with healthcare providers to ensure that community testing and vaccination efforts for residents are available throughout the duration of the public health emergency.
Currently, the Public Works Department coordinates community testing and vaccination services for the general public at community testing healthcare events. With support and authorization from the Mayor and City Council, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allowed the Public Works Department to partner with medical providers to administer 78,038 COVID-19 tests, 11,271 vaccines, and 596 gift cards through the Vaccine Incentive Program at 406 events Citywide. To date, the City has expended $5 million in ARPA funding to advance community testing and vaccine efforts.
On Jan. 5, 2022, City Council approved contract amendments and additional expenditures for continued community testing and vaccination services through June 30, 2022, and to purchase at-home test kits for distribution to Phoenix residents. The Finance Department has received close to 25,000 at-home test kits that will be distributed to the general public through the medical partners who provide community testing and vaccination events.
During the City Council Work Study Session on Jan. 11, 2022, City Council discussed including funding for these efforts in the upcoming American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Strategic Plan. In response to City Council discussion and the current COVID surge, staff requests funding for an enhanced and expanded strategy with additional hours and events. The expanded services will also include free at-home test kits and KN95 masks for distribution to Phoenix residents. Staff recommends allocating $15 million to support community testing and vaccination services and $10 million to purchase at-home tests, high quality masks, and informational materials to be distributed to Phoenix residents as Combating COVID Kits. The kits will include at-home rapid antigen tests, supportive resources for positive tests, information about COVID-19 vaccines, KN95 masks, and testing and vaccination schedules with promotional materials on the City’s vaccine efforts.
With the continued COVID-19 surge, Public Works and Finance staff have developed a phased approach for expansion of community testing and vaccination events including distribution of the Combating COVID Kits as outlined. The phased approach will ensure an efficient and equitable implementation of the program based on access to an adequate supply of the test kits and masks. Staff will closely monitor and evaluate the availability of test kits and masks before recommending progression between each phase of the program as noted.
Phase One
- Add the distribution of at-home rapid tests and KN95 masks to the City’s current community partners.
- This distribution will be in coordination with current testing and vaccination efforts through the Mobile Units and at the Static Sites. The distribution of the kits will be data-driven and focused on the communities throughout the City with the highest spread of COVID-19.
Phase Two
- Expand distribution of the Combating COVID Kits, including at-home rapid tests and KN95 masks, to school districts and to senior centers located throughout the City of Phoenix.
- Coordinate with the City Manager’s Youth and Education Office to ensure an equitable distribution of the Kits similar to the City’s previous PPE for Schools effort.
Phase Three
- Expand distribution of the Combating COVID Kits to City of Phoenix facilities throughout the community focusing on areas of the City with the highest spread of COVID-19.
- This expansion will include City of Phoenix libraries, community centers, senior centers, housing sites and other locations identified throughout the City. These locations will include an analysis of the spread of the virus and other factors including access to vaccinations, testing and other critical resources.
The federal government has recently implemented new resources intended to increase access to at-home COVID-19 tests. This includes launch of the covidtests.gov website, providing the opportunity for every household in the U.S. to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. As a result, staff will initially use $5 million of the proposed $10 million allocation for the Combating COVID Kits to launch the initial phases of the program. The new federal government resources may reduce demand for the City's Combating COVID Kits. Staff will evaluate the demand for the City's Combating COVID Kits before using the remaining $5 million allocation.
Contract Term
The existing agreements began on July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022. Staff is requesting two additional six-month extensions on existing contracts, for a contract term ending June 30, 2023.
Financial Impact
With the proposed funding, the ARPA Second Tranche Strategic Plan will include an allocation of $15 million for community testing and vaccine services through June 30, 2023 in addition to $10 million to purchase at-home tests, high quality masks and informational materials to be distributed to Phoenix residents. City staff is tracking all expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic separately and will continue regularly reporting these expenses to the City Council.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council approved:
- Agreement 152430 (S-46775) with Equality Health Foundation on June 17, 2020;
- Agreement 152654 (S-46848) with Family Tree Health Care LLC on July 1, 2020;
- Agreement 152825 (S-46849) with Vincere Physicians Group on July 1, 2020;
- Agreements: 152430 with Equality Health Foundation, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC, and Equality Care Center; 152654 with Family Tree Health Care LLC; and 152825 with Vincere Physicians Group - Amendments (S-47158) on Dec. 2, 2020;
- Agreement 153733 with Premier Lab Solutions (S-47219) on Jan. 6, 2021;
- ARPA Strategic Plan for Allocation 1 on June 8, 2021;
- Agreements: 152430 with Equality Health Foundation, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC, and Equality Care Center; 152654 with Family Tree Health Care LLC; 152825 with Vincere Physicians Group; and 153733 with Premier Lab Solutions - Amendments (S-47827) on July 1, 2021 extending through June 30, 2022; ARPA Strategic Plan Update on Sept. 21, 2021; and
- Agreements: 152430 with Equality Health Foundation, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC, and Equality Care Center; 152654 with Family Tree Health Care LLC; 152825 with Vincere Physicians Group; and153733 with Premier Lab Solutions - Amendments (S-48162) on Dec. 1, 2021.
- Agreements: 152430 with Equality Health Foundation, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC, and Equality Care Center; 152654 with Family Tree Health Care LLC; 152825 with Vincere Physicians Group; and 153733 with Premier Lab Solutions - Amendments (S-48260) on Jan. 5, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Jeffrey Barton, Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Finance and Public Works departments.