Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a sole source contract with the Dane County Humane Society for services in 2027. The total contract cost is estimated to be $913,000 in 2027. The contract provides the same services and pricing as 2026 but adds two new categories of fees for situations involving surrender without arrangement and after-hours drop-offs. These new fees are expected to account for $13,000 of the total estimated costs. Funding for the contract is included in the 2027 executive operating budget for Public Health. No additional appropriation required.
Title
Authorizing the Director of Public Health to sign a Sole Source Contract for Purchase of Services with the Dane County Humane Society for 2027 (2026 C RES -005)
Body
WHEREAS, Public Health Madison & Dane County (Public Health) through its Animal Control Officers has the authority and obligation to enforce several Wisconsin Statutes, Dane County and Madison ordinances related to crimes against animals, animal control, and animal care; and
WHEREAS, since approximately 2018, Public Health has held a contract with the Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) to provide care, treatment, and humane disposal of stray, abandoned, and impounded companion, livestock and exotic animals within the geographic limits of Dane County and the City of Madison; voluntarily surrendered animals when initiated by Public Health, rabies related services for stray, abandoned, impounded, and wild animals known to have bitten a person or believed to be afflicted by or exposed to the rabies virus, and related services; and
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Agreement creating the joint city-county health department requires Public Health to follow City of Madison purchasing and fiscal rules when purchasing services for the joint department, and the Board of Health for Madison and Dane County endorsed that process by Board resolution in 2008; and
WHEREAS, the City’s purchasing rules are in Section 4.26 of the Madison General Ordinances. Under MGO 4.26(4)(a) a service contract over $75,000 that was not competitively selected must be approved by the Common Council and must meet one of the exceptions in MGO 4.26(4)(b); and
WHEREAS, while DCHS was selected through an RFB issued by City Purchasing in 2024, the pricing has changed such that it can no longer be said that the 2027 contract was negotiated through that competitive process; and
WHEREAS, Public Health, City and County staff have negotiated a 2027 Contract with DCHS to continue these services January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, for the same services and pricing as 2026, and adding two new categories of fees for situations that do not occur often. Highlights of the new pricing include a new fee of $50 per cat and $100 per dog/livestock animal for voluntary surrender without arrangement and completed documentation (based on 2 -year program averages, this is an estimated increase of $9,000). New pricing also includes an after-hours large group fee, for drop-offs made by Public Health after hours for a single incident/property involving more than five animals, as follows:
• 6-10 Animals: $500
• 11-20 Animals: $1000
• 21-30: $1500
• 31-40: $2000
• 41-50: $2500
For every ten (10) animals thereafter, an additional fee of $500 shall be imposed (based on a 2-year average, this is an estimated $4,000 increase in cost for services); and
WHEREAS, Public Health estimates the total contract cost for all services, with this new pricing for 2027, to be approximately $913,000 based on 2-years average; and
WHEREAS, for the reasons stated on the attached Non-Competitive Selection Request Form, Dane County Humane Society is the only contractor in the area that can currently provide the combination of necessary services described above, thereby meeting the exception of MGO 4.26(4)(b)2., “the service required is available from only one person or firm”.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council hereby authorizes the Director of Public Health, or their designee to sign a sole source contract for purchase of services with the Dane County Humane Society for the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, for the purpose and at the price described above.