REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Chief of Police
Police Department/Office of the Chief
BY: MARK SALAZAR, Deputy Police Chief
Police Department/Investigative Division
SUBJECT
Title
Award a Requirements Contract for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024 "Testing of Partially Tested Kits" in an amount not to exceed $525,600 for three years with no extension options to DNA Labs International. (RFP File No. 12600269).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement with DNA Labs International in an amount not to exceed $525,600 for three years with no extension options. This agreement would be to perform DNA analysis of sexual assault kits.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On August 22, 2025, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP #12600269) requesting proposals for a Requirements Contract for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant 2024 "Testing of Partially Tested Kits". The RFP received three responses and an evaluation committee comprised of Fresno Police Department (FPD) personnel within the Sex Crimes Unit of the Family Justice Bureau and two individuals outside of city the evaluation committee unanimously recommends that DNA Labs International be awarded the contract not to exceed $525,600 for a three-year contract period. Funding for this contract is available with grant funding from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) 2024 grant and the new contract would begin December 18, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The FPD has conducted prior sexual assault kit (SAK) testing under previous SAKI grants. However, the allocated SAK testing grant funds were exhausted, which left FPD with 64 victim SAK cases that need further testing. In addition to this immediate need, the FPD identified that the prior forensic laboratory testing from SAK cases between the years 2020 - 2024 also require further forensic review. A criminalist was hired under this FY2024 SAKI grant initiative, and her duties include reviewing prior testing results...
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