FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP H ANDY,
Chairman
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T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
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Members
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SALLY B RADSHAW
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LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
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CHARLES PATRIC K G ARCÍA
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JULIA L. JOHNSON
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WILLIAM L. PROCTOR , PH.D.
May 9, 2003
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
Wayne Pierson via Dr. David Morris
FROM:
Ronnie H. McCallister via Charlie Hood
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
RE:
Renewal of Contract for Drug and Alcohol Testing Services
In April of this year we solicited input from all district superintendents on their interest in
renewal of the Department’s open contract with the third party administrator of drug and alcohol
testing services (see CFO 03-53, attached). Sixty-four of sixty-seven school districts returned a
survey to the Department indicating their plans to continue to purchase from the current vendor
if the option were available to them.
The other three districts responded that they are not
currently using the contract vendor.
This is called a “contract;" however, due to the nature of the services provided, which are
classified as medical services, no bid is statutorily required (Sec. 287.057, F.S.).
In 1994, the
Department issued a Request for Information to determine the level of services which could be
provided from the drug and alcohol testing industry and the cost of those services for school
districts wishing to purchase from the successful vendor.
Based on a district and Department
task force review of the responses, FirstLab was approved as a statewide vendor at a guaranteed
cost per drug or alcohol test for a period of three years.
There was a renewal clause in the original agreement. We are approaching the conclusion of the
second renewal period and are requesting approval for an additional three year renewal with a
modest price increase, as referenced in CFO Memorandum #03-53.
CHARLIEHOOD
DIRECTOR, SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
325 W. GAINES STREET • ROOM 1114 •TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 •(850) 488-4405 • www.fldoe.org
SUNCOM 278-4405 • FAX (850) 487-8608 • CHARLIE.HOOD@FLDOE.ORG
Mr. Pierson
May 9, 2003
Page Two
The vendor has agreed to renew the contract for this additional period ending August 31, 2006.
Based on the above, we respectfully request your approval of the attached letter to FirstLab
confirming the renewal agreement and the attached CFO Memorandum to notify Superintendents
of the availability of the contract throughout the renewal period.
RHM
Attachments:
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FirstLab Renewal Confirmation
CFO Memorandum to Superintendents
cc:
Gwen Rittman
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
€
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP H ANDY,
Chairman
€
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
€
Members
€
SALLY B RADSHAW
€
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
€
CHARLES PATRICK G ARCÍA
€
JULIA L. JOHNSON
€
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR , PH.D.
May 12, 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
€
SUNCOM:
278-4405
€
CFO:
€
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Wayne V. Pierson
SUBJECT:
Commercial Driver Drug and Alcohol Testing Contract
The Department of Education has renewed its contract with FirstLab for federally required Drug
and Alcohol Testing Program services for commercial drivers, including school bus drivers.
District use of this particular provider’s services to ensure compliance with the requirements with
the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act (OTETA) is strictly voluntary.
All terms and conditions of the current contract with FirstLab will remain in effect until August
31, 2006. The following per-test price increases have been approved in the renewal agreement.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) drug tests increase from the current $34.00 to
$34.25; breath alcohol testing increases from the current $30.00 to $30.50; and, “non-DOT” drug
tests increase from the current $26.50 to $27.00.
Individual districts may elect to continue to purchase drug and alcohol third party administration
services from FirstLab, via purchase orders submitted directly to FirstLab, or may purchase these
federally required services from other suppliers.
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
Commercial Driver Drug and Alcohol Testing Contract
€
May 12, 2003
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Page Two
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If you or your Drug Testing Program Manager have any questions about the contract, please
direct them to Dennis Bennett, Chief Operating Officer, FirstLab, at (800) 732-3784, or call
Ronnie H. McCallister in our School Transportation office at (850) 488-4405, Suncom 278-
4405, or e-mail Ronnie.McCallister@fldoe.org.
WVP/rhm
cc:
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Drug Program Managers
Finance Officers
Transportation Directors
Dennis J. Bennett
Gwen Rittman
