Title:
Title
Suspend Competitive Bidding for the Purchase of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Supplies with Zoetis Petcare (Two-Thirds Vote Required)
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01179
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution: 1) suspending competitive bidding, in the best interests of the City, to allow the Community Development Department, Front Street Animal Shelter (Shelter) to purchase veterinary pharmaceuticals and supplies through the Zoetis shelter discount program; and 2) authorize a purchase order with Zoetis in an amount not-to-exceed $175,000 annually through Fiscal Year 2022/23.
Contact: Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-8333; Jennifer Chikasawa, Administrative Analyst, (916) 808-5851, Community Development Department
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Annual Intake and Outcome Statistics
3-Zoetis Shelter Pricing List
4-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Shelter is classified as a depositary for living animals and therefore bound by California Civil Code. California Civil Code § 1834 states: “A depositary of living animals shall provide the animals with necessary and prompt veterinary care, nutrition, and shelter, and treat them kindly. Any depositary that fails to perform these duties may be liable for civil damages as provided by law”. Every animal that enters the shelter must be treated with a round of essential vaccines, this includes privately owned animals that are bought in as loose or strays and returned to their owner. If an animal enters the shelter and is sick or injured it must be treated.
The Shelter needs to purchase veterinary pharmaceuticals and supplies from Zoites to maintain their current level of service. This year the Shelter has maintained the same high volume and 86% save rate as the previous two years. It is anticipated that the 2019 intake and adoption rates will remain at this high rate or exceed last year’s numbers. All current and archived shelter statistics can be found on the shelter’s website <http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Animal-Care/About-Us/The-Numbers>. In addition to the animals treated at the Shelter, staff will continue to provide additional veterinary services to the homeless. This includes preventative treatment (vaccines) and treatment for injuries and illnesses.
Policy Considerations: City Code Section 3.56.230(c) authorizes the City Council to suspend competitive bidding for the purchase of supplies when upon a two-thirds vote, the City Council determines it is in the best interests of the City to do so. Section 3.56.090 requires Council approval to authorize the City Manager to bind the City by contract for purchases that are $100,000 or more. The recommendations in this report are consistent with Sacramento City Code Section 3.56.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: Not applicable. This is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3).)
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Zoetis - formerly Pfizer’s animal health business - is the largest global animal health company, is the sole manufacturer for many of the drugs, vaccines and supplies that are used at the Shelter. For some products they are also the sole distributor (see Attachment 3 - Zoetis Shelter Pricing List, for a comprehensive list of pharmaceutical and supply status). Being the world’s largest producer of medicine and vaccines for pets, Zoetis Inc. does not respond to bids or request for proposals (RFPs). Zoetis offers all validated shelters access to products on their comprehensive pricelist. This price list is updated annually and only available to shelters recognized by Zoetis.
Veterinary supplies and pharmaceuticals from Zoetis, Inc., are crucial to continue the Shelter’s current level of veterinary services and life-saving mission. Zoetis, Inc. is the primary supplier for veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
City Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Rinaldo has provided a detailed list of three Zoetis manufactured medications used regularly at the shelter:
Cerenia (Maropitant Citrate): A drug developed by Zoetis for motion sickness and vomiting in dogs. It was later approved by the FDA for use in both dogs and cats. Shelter veterinary staff use this injectable drug primarily on the hundreds of dogs with Parvovirus treated each year. It is also used to treat cats and dogs vomiting for unknown reasons.
Clavamox (amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium): Antibiotic drops used as a broad-spectrum antibiotic on small dogs and cats. The generic form of this medication is difficult to dose. It is also believed that the bioavailability of the generic medication is different than the Clavamox brand medication making the generic formulation less effective.
Convenia (cefovecin sodium) is an injectable antibiotic for which there currently is no generic substitute available. The coverage of the antibiotic lasts for approximately 14 days for a single injection. All Parvovirus dogs receive this medication as well as cats with an upper respiratory infection (many cats that enter the shelter are treated for raspatory infections). Cats are typically hard to medicate orally so an injectable antibiotic is the only suitable form of medication.
Financial Considerations: There is sufficient funding available in the FY2019/20 Community Development Department’s Operating Budget and the F.O.C.A.S. (Friends of the City Animal Shelter) Multi-year Operating Project (I13000400) for the purchase of veterinary supplies and pharmaceuticals. Purchase orders for future fiscal years will be subject to available funding in the applicable fiscal year.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Zoetis, Inc. is not an LBE. The minimum LBE participation requirement was waived by the Director of Community Development as staff has determined the waiver is in the City’s best interest because of the limited number of local suppliers and subcontractors that are impractical and not financially beneficial to the City.