FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
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T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
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Members
SALLY B RADSHAW
LINDA J. E ADS, ED.D.
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CHARLES PATRICK G ARCÍA
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JULIA L. JOHNSON
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WILLIAM L. P ROCTOR, PH.D.
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April 22, 2003
MEMORANDUM
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
CONTACT PERSON
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NAME:
Ronnie H. McCallister
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PHONE:
(850) 488-4405
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SUNCOM:
278-4405
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CFO:
03-53
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TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Wayne V. Pierson
SUBJECT:
Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Drivers
The federal and state regulations for drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers, including
school bus drivers, have been in effect for over eight years. Florida’s school districts have done
an exemplary job of implementing and maintaining the requirements of this program.
This
success is due in large part to the commitment of superintendents to form a voluntary statewide
consortium to purchase third party administrator drug and alcohol testing services. The resulting
program covers random employee selection, local collection services, laboratory analysis,
medical officer review, employee education, and many other aspects of the regulations adopted
pursuant to the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act. (OTETA).
A network of collection sites in all 67 districts was established by the current third party
administrator, FirstLab, utilizing existing medical lab services or providing itinerant collectors.
Both alcohol and drug testing programs have continued in operation with minimal interruption of
services reported to the Department for the estimated 25,000 school bus drivers and other
employees required to be tested.
WAYNE V. PIERSON
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
325 W. GAINES STREET • ROOM 1214 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 488-6539 • www.fldoe.org
SUNCOM 278-6539 • FAX (850) 922-9620 • WAYNE.PIERSON@FLDOE.ORG
CFO 03-53
April 22, 2003
Page 2
The current contract with FirstLab, which has been renewed twice since its inception in 1994,
expires August 31, 2003.
Recently, the Department sought an expression of interest from FirstLab in continuing the
contract under existing terms, conditions, and prices (or with a proposed inflationary price
increase, as determined by FirstLab), with the final determination of acceptance to be made at
the Department’s discretion. FirstLab responded that they would like to continue the service, but
would require the following price increases: a) on DOT drug tests from the current $34 to
$34.25; b) the “non-DOT” drug tests would increase from $26.50 to $27.50; and, c) the breath
alcohol test would remain $30.50.
In order to help the Department determine the advisability of renewing the contract for an
additional 36 months, we are requesting that each district voluntarily respond on the attached
survey form by May 2, 2003. The survey is designed to assess your district’s satisfaction with
the current contract (if you are using FirstLab) by asking whether you would participate in the
state consortium for purchase of drug and alcohol testing services from the same supplier
(FirstLab) under the same terms and conditions with revised pricing, as proposed by FirstLab.
You may wish to discuss this decision with your drug and alcohol program manager and/or
director or supervisor of transportation. The survey form also solicits any comments you may
have regarding your satisfaction (or lack thereof) with the services provided under the contract.
Please note that there are other suppliers of commercial driver drug and alcohol testing services.
The use of any particular supplier’s drug and alcohol testing services is voluntary and will
remain a local school district decision. The Department is neither condoning, nor recommending
against, the purchase of these services from a particular supplier.
If you have any questions, please contact Ronnie McCallister, Director of Student Transportation
Operations, at Ronnie.McCallister@FLDOE.org or (850) 488-4405.
WP/rhm
Enclosure:
Intent to Purchase Survey
cc:
?
Drug Program Managers
Transportation Directors
Intent to Purchase
Drug and Alcohol Testing Services
From the State Contract for Service with FirstLab
NOTE: This survey is to determine school districts’ current plans and in no way obligates you to
purchase drug and alcohol testing services from the current vendor now or in the future.
School District (please print or type):_________________________________
?
?
We anticipate continuing to purchase third party administrator services for
drug and alcohol testing from the statewide consortium with FirstLab if the
contract is renewed under the existing terms and conditions and revised
prices available on September 1, 2003.
?
?
We do NOT anticipate participating in the statewide consortium with
FirstLab if it is renewed as of September 1, 2003.
Comments:
_________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Signed:________________________________
Superintendent or Designee
Date:_______________________
Please mail or fax this form
by May 2, 2003,
to:
School Transportation Management Section
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Attention: Ronnie H. McCallister
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Department of Education
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325 West Gaines Street, #1114
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Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
Fax: (850) 487-8608
