DATE: August 22, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Fresno Economic
Opportunities Commission to provide a construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders effective September 1, 2023, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, with an annual maximum compensation of $258,720, not to exceed a contract maximum compensation of $1,293,600.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will approve the new agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC), to provide a construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders. All costs for the recommended agreement are fully offset with the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109) funding. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the Department will not be able to provide a construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders, as Fresno EOC was the only vendor who provided a proposal to the Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-031.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Funding for this agreement is fully offset with AB 109 funds. The maximum annual compensation for this agreement is $258,720, with a maximum compensation for the potential five-year term totaling $1,293,600. Appropriations and estimated revenues are included in Probation’s FY 2023-24 recommended Org 3430 Budget. Funding for subsequent years of the recommended agreement will be included in the Department’s Recommended Budget for each respective fiscal year.
DISCUSSION:
On May 15, 2017, the Fresno County’s Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee (CCP) was initially presented a construction apprenticeship program that would be appropriate for adult offenders and has since approved and allocated funds for the intended program. On March 20, 2018, the Board approved a five-year agreement for the services to provide a construction apprenticeship program. On April 11, 2023, your Board approved an additional four-month extension to the agreement. The five-year and four-month agreement is set to expire on August 31, 2023. The CCP recommended that these services be continued through the issuance of a Letter of Interest (LOI) and RFP.
On January 3, 2023, the County issued LOI #23-018, which solicited interest from qualified vendors to provide construction apprenticeship services. Three responses were received, which led to an RFP of a construction apprenticeship program. On April 3, 2023, the County released RFP #23-031 with a closing date of May 3, 2023; an Addendum No.1 was released on April 19, 2023. One proposal was received during the RFP period, from the Fresno EOC, and was reviewed by a review committee of three, composed of members from the Probation Department and the Sheriff’s Department. The review committee concluded the proposal submitted by Fresno EOC was comprehensive and sufficient, and recommended to award services to Fresno EOC. The Department concurred with the recommendation.
Approval of the recommended action will allow Fresno EOC to provide a construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders. Fresno EOC will provide a construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders through their Valley Apprenticeship Connections (VAC) program. VAC is a 12-week construction apprenticeship program for adult offenders that was developed using input from various trade unions and evidence-based material, with the aim that the participants will meet entry-level job readiness, develop work ethic expectations, and meet the standards of the Construction Industry. The 12-week curriculum involves discipline, skill building, earning multiple professional certificates, and giving back to the community, and utilizes a cognitive behavioral program to build positive productive work habits designed to change negative behavior.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, April 11, 2023
BAI #40, March 20, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Fresno EOC
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai