DATE: October 17, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner
SUBJECT: Ratify 2016 Coverdell Forensic Science Grant Acceptance
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Ratify changes requested by California Office of Emergency Services, (CalOES), to the 2016 Coverdell Forensic Sciences Grant previously approved by your Board and submitted to CalOES.
REPORT
CalOES requested changes to the 2016 Coverdell Forensic Science Grant subsequent to your Board’s approval date of March 7, 2017. Changes requested are related to formatting and non-material in nature with no change in the dollar amount of the award and no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. The grant has been submitted and accepted, the work has been performed for the grant, a claim for reimbursement has been made, and the County has since been reimbursed by the granting agency CalOES.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with this action. The dollar amount of the original grant submission was $4,105; this amount has not changed. The County has since been reimbursed this amount for work performed under the grant agreement.
DISCUSSION:
On January 13, 2017 the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office was notified by the California Office of Emergency Services, (CalOES), of the Request for Application for the 2016 Coverdell Forensic Science Grant for the period effective January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The Sheriff Coroner’s Office utilizes this grant to expand the training of the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Forensic Services staff. The application was submitted to CalOES on January 24, 2017 to meet their deadline of February 6, 2017. On March 7, 2017, your Board retroactively approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner’s prior submittal of the 2016 Coverdell Forensic Grant application to CalOES. Feedback from CalOES regarding the application submittal was not received prior to the March 7, 2017 Board date. The grant award was contingent upon your Board’s approval and the subsequent award notification by CalOES. On March 13, 2017, the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office was notified by CalOES of several minor changes they required to the grant award face sheet of the application along with several additional sections. On March 17, 2017, due to scheduled Forensic staff training classes selected to fulfill the objectives of this grant, and grant award approval timelines, Sheriff-Corners’ Office forwarded required changes to CalOES. On April 20, 2017, CalOES subsequently replied with the approved grant agreement. On July 13, 2017, the Sheriff-Coroner had fulfilled the grant performance requirements and a final claim for reimbursement was made in the amount of $4,105.
Summary of the changes made or requested by CalOES include;
On the Grant Award Face Sheet; Disaster/Program Title is changed from “2016 Coverdell Program” to “Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program”. The grant amount of $4,105 was moved from the “State” to the “Federal” column of the form.
Project Service Area Information page was changed and corrected for the U.S. Congressional Districts, State Assembly Districts, and State Senate Districts served. CalOES also required three additional sections; Certification as to External Investigations, Certification of Lab Accreditation, and, 2016 Coverdell Program Baseline Data Sheet.
Additional penciled in notations were made by CalOES throughout the approved award document.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 25, March 7, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Exhibit “A”- Notification of Application Approval- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program.
On file with Clerk - Exhibit “B” - 2016 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program Application - as approved by BOS March 7, 2017
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa