Chair Schulman on EMSL Analytical contract and lab testing roles
Schulman questions the $1.5 million contract awarded to New Jersey-based EMSL Analytical, asking why an out-of-state vendor was chosen and what role they play. Schiff clarifies EMSL handles routine samples while the public health lab handles cluster samples, and has a New York branch.
The reason I'm asking is because it's clear that if we get to it early, the patient will do a lot better the earlier that we get to it.
Absolutely, and that's why our most urgent message to the public is to monitor for symptoms and to present to a clinician promptly if they have symptoms suggestive of Legionnaire's disease.
Don't wait, don't try to think it's allergies, don't try to self-treat, but see a provider who can provide that medical care.
Okay.
Earlier this year, DOHMH announced its intention to award EMSL Analytical Inc., a New Jersey-based environmental testing firm, a $1.5 million contract for Legionella environmental testing, including PCR and culture testing,
through July 31, 2032.
DOHMH awarded this contract to EMSL on August 21.
Does the public health laboratory conduct any Legionella environmental testing?
You said they did.
If not, why not?
I'm going to hand it to Corinne Shea from that.
The lab does do our testing, and as we just testified, during a cluster, we will send the cooling tower samples to the lab.
For our routine work, when we take samples, we send them to a commercial lab.
Why was an out-of-state vendor chosen for this contract?
Are there any New York City or New York State-based firms that could have fulfilled these responsibilities?
We went through the procurement process.
What role will ESM-L play in the testing process?
Will they be responsible for collecting samples?
Will they test the samples in their own labs?
Or will they outsource to other labs?
This is the lab that we will use for our routine samples.
Okay, so you've used it before.
Okay.
I don't know.
I don't know that we've used them before.
We have an agreement with a contract with a commercial lab for our routine samples.
For our cluster samples, we send to our own lab.
So the procurement process, if you can, I mean, I know you don't have that on hand, but if we can know what the procurement process was to select the lab, that would be helpful.
Are turnaround times on testing results guaranteed as part of your contract with the MSL?
I'm sorry, would you say that again?
Turnaround times on testing results guaranteed as part of your contract.
We do have provisions about turnaround times, and I will also add that EMSL does have a New York branch.
Okay.