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Adopt a resolution authorizing the District Attorney, or her designee, to submit a grant application and related documents to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement (CQ) Program in the amount of $51,893 for the term April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The District Attorney (DA) recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution authorizing the District Attorney, or her designee, to submit a grant application and related documents to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement (CQ) Program in the amount of $51,893 for the term April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The 2024 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant affords qualifying forensic laboratories in California an opportunity to improve their efficiency and effectiveness to provide forensic science services through the improvement of the quality and timeliness of forensic services, the reduction of the number of backlogged cases, facilitation of accreditation of forensic laboratories, and address emerging forensic science issues. Funds awarded through this grant will allow California’s local forensic science laboratories, medical examiners’ offices, and coroners’ offices to continue to provide support to law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies throughout the state.
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office was awarded $51,893 per the funding chart (Attachment B) for the 2024 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement (CQ) Program. The grant award period is from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The CQ grant funds can be used in one of six Program objectives, (a) implement a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of services; (b) eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic science evidence; (c) train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and investigators to eliminate backlogs; (d) address emerging forensic science issues and emerging forensic science technology; (e) education and training on appropriate protocols; and (f) facilitate accreditation.
CalOES requires written Proof of Authority that certifies the District Attorney is authorized by the governing body (e.g., County Board of Supervisors) to enter into Grant Subaward; therefore, the adoption of a Resolution (Attachment C) is required.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Submission of the grant has no General Fund impact. The Solano County District Attorney’s Office plans to use the awarded $51,893 as follows (Attachment D):
• $16,645 for travel and training expense for staff at the District Attorney’s Bureau of Forensic Services;
• $2,090 for a standard flammable storage cabinet with self-closing door (90-gallon capacity) for storage of accumulated waste from instruments that are being validated to expand testing panel of drugs in the discipline of toxicology;
• $9,660 for a dedicated benchtop HEPA hood for safe testing of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids as testing of these substances can be hazardous. This will provide an improvement in the work process of synthetic opioids by providing safety when handling of powders;
• $998 for general lab supplies; and
• $22,500 for the configuration of the laboratory information management system (LIMS), Versaterm, which will provide the following services: building custom forms to support data entry into LIMS, configuring modules for toxicology and controlled substances, training for additional LIMS administrator, instrument results upload and reporting, and configuring consumables inventory management (CIMS) database workflows.
Once the department has been awarded the funds an ATR to recognize the funds and the corresponding grant expenditures will be brought back to the Board for approval.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to accept this grant. This will prevent Solano County from receiving the funding from the California Office of Emergency Services, for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program and may affect its potential to receive future awards from these agencies.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There are no other agencies involved with this agenda item.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION