SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZATION TO PROCURE SPECIFICALLY-NAMED PROPRIETARY MOSQUITO LARVICIDE PRODUCTS THROUGH SINGLE SOURCE EXCEPTION UNDER BOARD POLICY A-87 AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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OVERVIEW
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Vector Control Program (VCP) is responsible for mosquito control throughout the San Diego region to protect public health from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), Zika virus, and dengue. WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. WNV is transmitted to people through mosquito bites and has been detected at concerning rates in the San Diego region since 2003. Mosquito control measures are key to minimizing the impacts of WNV on San Diego County residents and visitors. Specifically, application of larvicides to bodies of water where mosquitoes breed significantly reduces both mosquito populations and the transmission of WNV. The larvicides used primarily consist of organic-registered, naturally occurring bacteria that targets mosquito larvae and prevents them from developing into biting adults and do not harm people, pets, plants, or wildlife when used per label instructions by trained staff within the program.
On July 24, 2019 (8), the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized single source procurement of mosquito larvicides to conduct aerial and ground-based mosquito control applications. As a result of this Board action, the Department of Purchasing and Contracting (DPC) awarded two single source contracts for five years through June 30, 2024, with the option to extend for six additional months to December 31, 2024. The products that were approved through this Board action and are currently being used by DEHQ to control mosquitos are trademarked VectoMax and VectoBac larvicides, manufactured by Valent BioSciences, and the trademarked Natular larvicides, manufactured by Clarke Mosquito Control. Since the contracts for these products will expire by December 31, 2024, new contracts are required to procure larvicides in order to support existing levels of service to control mosquito breeding and reduce the risk to public health from mosquito-borne diseases. If approved, the single source authorization to purchase specifically-named products would ensure continuity of effective mosquito control in the region. The products that DPC will name in the procurement(s) are larvicides that VCP currently uses as previously approved by the Board.
Today’s action requests that the Board authorize DPC to specify three specifically-named larvicide products for procurement under Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, section 1.D (including examples one, five, and six) due to there being a single manufacturer or distributor who can provide the required goods, as well as section 3 due to the procurements being in the County’s best interest. The larvicides included in this request are used by other vector agencies throughout the country and have been successfully used for mosquito control purposes in the San Diego region for over a decade. Since these products are currently used for DEHQ’s large-scale mosquito control, these larvicides would support continuity of DEHQ’s regionwide mosquito abatement efforts. The use of alternative products that do not use these proprietary formulations that have been found to be effective in the local environment could result in increased mosquito activity and public health impacts from mosquito-borne disease transmission.
DEHQ anticipates that the contracts will be in the amount of $2,000,000 per year for a one-year initial term, plus four one-year options and an additional six months, for a total not to exceed $11,000,000. DPC’s procurement of these specified larvicides will ensure that the County is receiving a fair and reasonable price for the preferred product. The funding source is the Vector Control Benefit Assessment, paid annually by property owners throughout the region.
If the recommended actions are not approved, then VCP would not be able to procure these larvicides that support existing levels of service to control mosquito breeding and reduce the risk to public health from mosquito-borne diseases. This would result in a significant increase of mosquito activity, including at the largest mosquito breeding sites in the County, and could result in a higher abundance of mosquitoes capable of transmitting mosquito-borne diseases in the San Diego region.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and is, therefore, not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.
2. In accordance with Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, find that VectoMax and VectoBac larvicide products (manufactured by Valent BioSciences) and Natular larvicide products (manufactured by Clarke Mosquito Control) are single source products for the purposes of mosquito abatement in the region and authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, upon successful negotiations and determination of fair and reasonable price, to award contract(s) for a one-year initial term, plus four one-year options and an additional six months, from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030, and to amend any contract(s) to reflect changes in services and funding.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) anticipates this action will result in continued protection of public health from the risks of vector-borne diseases throughout the San Diego region. These products will be used for the continued implementation of an integrated vector management approach, which incorporates the most effective strategies to reduce mosquitoes and protect public health with the least negative impact to the environment. This approach also empowers the public to take preventive measures to protect themselves, their family, and their community through educational community engagement and outreach, which includes multi-lingual media campaigns with a focus on underserved communities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions contribute to the County of San Diego's (County) Sustainability Goals: protect health and wellbeing; protect ecosystems habitats, and biodiversity; and provide just and equitable access to County services. The proposed actions contribute to the County Sustainability Goal No. 4 the health and wellbeing of the residents and visitors of the entire region, including underserved communities, and benefits individuals as well as the community at large. Implementation of an integrated vector management approach to mosquito and vector control services contributes to the County Sustainability Goal No. 6 by protecting public health from diseases transmitted by vectors and protects the ecosystems, habitat, and biodiversity of the region. The proposed actions also contribute to the County Sustainability Goal No. 2 of providing just and equitable access to County services by involving stakeholders in a community needs assessment to expand the reach of services and utilizing available resources to improve access to services and positive outcomes.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for these recommendations are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Operational Plan for the Department of Environmental Health and Quality. If approved, this request is anticipated to result in costs and revenue of an estimated amount of $2,000,000 per year from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029, for a total not to exceed $10,000,000 and an additional six months if needed for $1,000,000 following the final option year from January 1, 2030 through June 30, 2030, for a total not to exceed of $11,000,000. The funding source is the Vector Control Benefit Assessment, paid annually by property owners throughout the region. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years. Funding for the subsequent years’ costs will be included in future years’ Operational Plans based on revenue from the Vector Control Benefit Assessment.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Vector Control Program (VCP) protects residents and visitors from health risks associated with vectors, such as mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks, that transmit diseases including West Nile virus (WNV), Zika, dengue, plague, hantavirus, Lyme disease, and tularemia. To that end, VCP conducts mosquito abatement throughout the San Diego region, performs surveillance and testing of vectors that can cause human disease, and educates the public on actions to prevent and protect themselves from mosquitoes and other vectors. Each year DEHQ strives to ensure that the incidence of locally-acquired WNV remains below 1 case per 100,000 persons. In calendar year 2023, DEHQ achieved this goal with zero known locally-acquired cases.
WNV is a disease that primarily impacts wild birds. Mosquitoes can transmit WNV after they feed on infected birds that have high levels of WNV in their blood and then feed on other animals or people. Since its discovery in 1937, WNV has been commonly reported to cause symptomatic infection and fevers in people in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Locally-acquired infections in the Western Hemisphere were first reported in New York in 1999 and then moved westwards across the United States, arriving in San Diego in 2003. Since then, positive WNV detections in the San Diego region have been found in over 150 people (leading to several deaths), over 1,600 dead birds, and over 200 batches of mosquitoes.
To reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases like WNV, VCP conducts as-needed aerial and ground-based applications of mosquito larvicides to over 1,600 mosquito breeding sources in the region to reduce mosquito activity. VCP conducts aerial applications by helicopter every three to four weeks, typically from Spring through Fall. These aerial applications cover approximately 50 mosquito breeding sites over 1,000 acres. VCP conducts ground-based applications at other sites an as-needed basis, based on mosquito surveillance data. By preventing mosquito larvae from maturing into biting adults, VCP reduces the risk of WNV transmission, as well as transmission of other mosquito-borne diseases such as St. Louis Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis, malaria, Zika, and dengue.
On July 24, 2019(8), the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized single source procurement of mosquito larvicides to conduct aerial and ground-based mosquito control applications. As a result of this Board action, the Department of Purchasing and Contracting (DPC) awarded two single source contracts for five years through June 30, 2024, with the option to extend for six additional months to December 31, 2024. Since the contracts for these products will expire by December 31, 2024, new contracts are required to procure larvicides in order to support existing levels of service to control mosquito breeding and reduce the risk to public health from mosquito-borne diseases.
If approved, the single source authorization to purchase specifically-named products would ensure continuity of effective mosquito control in the region. The products that DPC will name in the procurement(s) are larvicides that VCP currently uses as previously approved by the Board. The larvicides used primarily consist of organic-registered, naturally-occurring bacteria that targets mosquito larvae and prevents them from developing into biting adults and do not harm people, pets, plants, or wildlife when used per label instructions by trained staff within the program. The products included in this request are used by other vector agencies throughout the country and have been successfully used for mosquito control purposes in the San Diego region for over a decade.
Reason for Single Source Procurement
To continue providing preventative measures to protect public health against the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, today’s Board action requests authority to procure single source larvicide products. These specific larvicide products were the subject of an earlier single source Board action on July 24, 2019(8) and are currently in use by VCP. They are the trademarked VectoMax and VectoBac larvicides, manufactured by Valent BioSciences, and the trademarked Natular larvicides, manufactured by Clarke Mosquito Control. These larvicide products qualify for single source exemption under Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, section 1.D (including examples one, five, and six) due to there being a single manufacturer or distributor who can provide the required goods, as well as section 3 due to the procurements being in the County’s best interest. These specific products, with proprietary formulations that are a trademarked mix of ingredients, have proven track records for effective mosquito control in the region and their procurement is in the County’s best interest to support standardization and continuity of efforts to protect public health from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and dengue. Since these products are currently used for large scale mosquito control, including sites treated by aerial application due to their size, the use of alternative products without these proprietary formulations that have been found to be effective in the local environment could result in increased mosquito activity and public health impacts from mosquito-borne disease transmission. Specifically, VCP has experienced less effective mosquito control results when using alternate products that do not consist of these requested proprietary formulations.
On July 24, 2019 (8), the Board authorized procurement of these larvicide products through two single source vendor contracts for five years through June 30, 2024, with the option to extend for six additional months. Today’s action requests that the Board authorize DPC to procure the specific brand name larvicide products discussed above, to ensure maximum efficacy and continuity of efforts to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The contracts are anticipated to be in the amount of $2,000,000 per year and each subsequent option year for a total not to exceed $10,000,000 from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029, plus an additional six months if needed (for an additional $1,000,000 following the final option year from January 1, 2030 through June 30, 2030). The funding source is the Vector Control Benefit Assessment, paid annually by property owners throughout the region.
If the recommended actions are not approved, then VCP would not be able to procure these larvicides that support existing levels of service to control mosquito breeding and reduce the risk to public health from mosquito-borne diseases. This would result in a significant increase of mosquito activity, including at the largest mosquito breeding sites in the County, and could result in a higher abundance of mosquitoes capable of transmitting mosquito-borne diseases in the San Diego region.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Because this project can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, it is exempt from CEQA.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Equity and Community Strategic Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. The County’s Strategic Plan includes a Sustainable Environments Initiative, with an objective to protect and promote natural resources, diverse habitats, and sensitive species, and a Community Quality of Life Initiative, that enhances communities through increasing the well-being of residents and environments. Procurement of mosquito larvicides helps fulfill these initiatives by minimizing the public’s exposure to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus while protecting the environment through an integrated vector management approach.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Harbert
Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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