County Of LOS Angeles

The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (DMEC), operating as the Department of the Coroner, is a critical component of Los Angeles County's public health and criminal justice system. As one of the largest medical examiner's offices in the United States, DMEC provides essential forensic pathology and death investigation services for a population of over 10 million. The department receives federal contract and grant awards to support its operations, research initiatives, and training programs. DMEC's services include conducting autopsies, determining causes and manners of death, and providing expert testimony in legal proceedings.

DMEC has received federal contract awards to support product safety regulations and investigations. Most recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) awarded DMEC a $25,900 firm fixed-price purchase order contract to provide medical examiner reports on consumer product-related deaths. This contract, running through July 31, 2028, demonstrates DMEC's role in contributing to national product safety efforts by leveraging its forensic expertise. The contract was awarded without a set-aside designation, indicating DMEC's competitive capabilities in providing specialized forensic services to federal agencies.

Federal grant awards to DMEC have primarily focused on addressing the nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists and enhancing the department's operational capabilities. The Department of Justice, through its Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, has provided multiple grants to expand DMEC's accredited forensic pathology fellowship program. These awards, ranging from $150,000 to $175,502, have enabled DMEC to train additional forensic pathology fellows annually, utilizing the department's extensive caseload, advanced facilities, and expert staff. Additionally, DMEC received a $250,000 grant under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program to strengthen its operations and forensic medicine library. The department has also benefited from sub-grant awards through the California Office of Emergency Services, aimed at improving the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services across the state's crime laboratories, coroners, and medical examiners offices.