DATE: August 6, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement for Technical Assistance for Fresno County CRDP Evolutions Innovation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Under Administrative Policy No. 34 for competitive bids or requests for proposals (AP 34), determine that an exception to the competitive bidding requirement under AP 34 is satisfied and a suspension of competition is warranted due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, and that the best interests of the County would be served by entering into an agreement with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. as it has the unique ability to provide technical assistance to the Fresno County Innovation Plan-California Reducing Disparities Projects (CRDPs); and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. for technical assistance for the three existing CRDPs to maximize billing capabilities and alignment with California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (Cal-AIM) initiative, and sustainability plans, effective upon execution through August 31, 2025, total not to exceed $550,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will suspend the competitive bidding process and allow the Department of Behavioral Health to contract with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. (Third Sector) for the technical assistance for the CRDPs. The technical assistance provided to the three organizations will review programs and create sustainability plans under the new Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). These services will be funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation (INN) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would be unable to provide technical assistance and sustainability plans for the CRDP INN plan and the programs would not be able to be sustained with BHSA funding. The Department would be unable to move forward with a sustainability plan and funds could be subject to reversion.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
It is requested that the County find under AP 34 that an exception to the competitive bidding requirement is satisfied, and a suspension of competition is warranted due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, as Third Sector is a uniquely qualified vendor as the one currently contracted with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and acquainted with both the Mental Health Services Act and the County’s system of care. Third Sector’s unique ability to incorporate stakeholder needs and priorities into the work for counties will be an invaluable asset in assisting the CRDPs in adapting to new regulations and ensuring program sustainability, while simultaneously maintaining the community-driven nature of the program. The team that will be assigned to this project also have extensive experience with Fresno County’s populations and culturally responsive services, which are the primary focus of these community-defined evidence programs. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing concurs with the Department’s assessment that this satisfies the exception to the competitive bidding process required by AP 34.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum amount of the agreement ($550,000) will be fully funded with MHSA INN funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
MHSA INN component provides California counties the opportunity to develop, test, pilot, adapt, and research new or unproven mental health models with the potential to become tomorrow’s best practices. The CRDP INN plan’s primary purpose was to achieve an increase in access, quality, interagency and community collaborations related to mental health services, supports or outcomes.
On January 18, 2022, your Board approved the Department’s CRDP INN plan that examined three Fresno County programs (Hmong Helping Hands, Sweet Potato Project, and Atencion Plena and Platicas) and how these programs could be adapted to support culturally specific populations in a manner that will align with MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funding criteria and outcome measures.
In March of 2024, California voters passed Proposition 1, which transformed the MHSA into the BHSA, eliminating the prevention category from local plans and requiring further adapting the requirements to which these community defined evidence programs will need to adhere.
On June 18, 2024, your Board approved Amendment I to the agreement approved on January 18, 2022, to extend the terms of each CRDP by two years to further evaluate effectiveness and sustainability under the new BHSA. The amendment also allocated additional funding to bring on an agency for technical assistance. Third Sector will be providing this technical assistance to maximize billing capabilities and align with the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. This technical assistance will work in collaboration with three CRDPs (The Fresno Center, West Fresno Family Resource Center and Integral Community Services Institute) to include a plan that will be used to support other Fresno County organizations in the transition to sustainable, fee-for-service operations.
Upon approval by your Board, Third Sector will begin services to the CRDPs to meet all deliverables by the end of agreement term of August 31, 2025.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #41, June 18, 2024
BAI #18, January 18, 2022
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Third Sector
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander