REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: ALMA G. TORRES, Interim Director Animal Center Department BY: MAIRA AGUILAR, Business Manager Animal Center Department SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to RFP 12401385 for Emergency Veterinary Services: 1. Approve a nineteen (19) month Service Agreement with 24/7 Pet Vets for an amount not to exceed $300,000 for emergency veterinary services. 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Service Agreement and sign all related documents on behalf of the City. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council award a nineteen (19) month service agreement with 24/7 Pet Vets in the amount not to exceed $300,000 to provide emergency and/or after-hours veterinary medical care as required by Penal Code 597.1 (c)(1) to injured dogs and cats found without their owner in the City of Fresno and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Service Agreement and sign all related documents on behalf of the City. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Animal Center Department initiated a request for proposal (RFP) for emergency and/or after-hours veterinary care and RFP 12401385 was published in Planet Bids on December 8, 2023. Due to a lack of response during the open period, the bid was extended to January 12, 2024, at which time two proposals were received, one bidder withdrew after receiving clarification on the scope of services by the Animal Center's veterinarian and staff, leaving 24/7 Pet Vets as the only bidder. BACKGROUND As the Department responsible for the state mandated animal control, the Animal Center is required by Penal Code 597.1 (c)(1) for any peace officer, humane society officer or animal control officer to provide emergency veterinary care to all of the injured cats and dogs found without their owners in a public place directly to a veterinarian known by the officer to be a veterinarian who ordinarily treats dogs and cats for a determination of whether the animal shall be immediately and humanely euthanized or shall be hospitalized under proper care and given emergency treatment. To provide this mandated service, the Animal Center initiated a request for proposal (RFP) that was published on PlanetBids on December 8, 2023. The City did not receive any bidders during the initial open period and the bid was extended by an additional two weeks to January 12, 2024. A total of two bids were submitted, and a meeting was scheduled concurrently for bidders to receive clarification on the scope of services. One bidder withdrew from consideration leaving 24/7 Pet Vets as the only responder to the bid. Approval of this agreement will allow for animals that are injured on City of Fresno jurisdiction to be received by the service provider during the times that the Fresno Animal Center is not open to the public, evaluated and provided with a humane outcome or stabilized and kept comfortable until they are transferred to the Fresno Animal Center for further care. Historically, 24/7 Pet Vets has provided emergency veterinary care to the previous animal control operators and this nineteen (19) month agreement will allow the Animal Center to continue to provide for the veterinary care of injured dogs and cats. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements. LOCAL PREFERENCE 24/7 Pet Vets is located in the City of Fresno. FISCAL IMPACT Sufficient appropriations exist in the Animal Center Department's Budget. Attachment: Service Agreement