Capital Projects - Public Health Laboratory-Study

CEO Capital Projects

County Spending Category
3.4 Capital Projects
Federal Expenditure Category
Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, Schools, Child care facilities, etc.)
Project Launch Date
03/01/2023
Anticipated End Date
05/31/2024

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Execute contract.
    1
  • Develop scope of work for the study.
    1
  • Issue notice to proceed with study.
    1
  • Complete existing conditions report.
    1
  • Complete operational assessment and program report.
    1
  • Complete and present recommended Master Plan.
    1
  • Complete final report and accompanying presentation.
    1
  • Facilitate site planning workshop to guide development of master plan options.
    1

Target Populations

  • People with Disabilities
  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • People Experiencing Homelessness

Project Description

The COVID-19 pandemic placed public health systems everywhere under tremendous strain. In Los Angeles County, for example, existing public health laboratory operations already exceeded available space prior to the pandemic, as per the 2016 DPH Lab Consolidation Project. For emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical community relies on the public health laboratory for testing. This is especially true for rare diseases and new emerging diseases. Historically, for swine flu, Zika virus, COVID-19, and monkeypox, the public health laboratory was the only diagnostic laboratory able to provide testing until commercial laboratories were able to implement diagnostics. As a result of the pandemic, the Department of Public Health (DPH) has identified the need to increase laboratory space and consolidate existing testing programs to expand capacity and maximize efficiency. The project consists of a study to determine the feasibility and best approach for consolidating all DPH testing programs countywide by modernizing the existing laboratory to incorporate new testing equipment and technology. The DPH Consolidated Laboratory Study will help improve services provided to more than 100 hospitals and 14 public health clinics that currently lack the capability to fully identify of the vast array of diseases with public health significance, ranging from COVID-19, monkeypox, West Nile, or botulism to sexually transmitted infections. The study will also consider the capabilities needed to respond to human-triggered public health threats ranging from bioterrorism to sewage spills. Examples of resulting recommendations could include: • centralizing services to improve and accelerate receipt and analysis of specimens • improving security measures to comply with State and federal protocols and to mitigate vandalism issues • upgrading electrical, mechanical and network systems • increasing or reducing workspace for particular functions based on pandemic-related operational changes • expanding administrative staff space and laboratory areas for non-genome specimens. Ultimately, the study will provide DPH with guidance on buildout approach, space allocations, performance requirements for building systems and components, infrastructure recommendations, and conceptual site and floor plans.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description By May 31, 2024, conduct a study of the Public Health Laboratory to analyze current and future needs regarding program workflows, lab testing, and consolidation of programs, and provide facility recommendations on how to best meet these needs.

Objective Description Develop recommendations for new space and/or re-locate the public health laboratory operations to better serve the community based on current needs, and 25- and 50-year solutions.

Activity Description Identify and contract with experienced entity to conduct the study.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
20 Performance Execute contract. 1.00
21 Performance Develop scope of work for the study. 1.00
22 Service Delivery Issue notice to proceed with study. 1.00

Activity Description Identify and analyze the current physical attributes and operational parameters of the Public Health Lab.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
23 Service Delivery Complete existing conditions report. 1.00

Activity Description Analyze current and future operations and space programming of the Public Health Lab.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
2 Service Delivery Complete operational assessment and program report. 1.00

Activity Description Assess options for a master plan, including rough order of magnitude costs and refined options with updated phased costs.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
3 Service Delivery Complete and present recommended Master Plan. 1.00
5 Service Delivery Facilitate site planning workshop to guide development of master plan options. 1.00

Activity Description Analyze and make recommendations for Public Health Laboratory programs and operations, and provide findings in a Final Report.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
4 Service Delivery Complete final report and accompanying presentation. 1.00

Outcome Description Receive actionable recommendations, endorsed by Public Heath Lab Director and peer reviewed by industry expert(s), for opportunities to expand and/or modernize the Public Health Laboratory to provide more efficient and effective testing services and reduce transmission and morbidity of infectious diseases, especially for underserved communities and thereby increases public health safety.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
4 Service Delivery Complete final report and accompanying presentation. 1.00