DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Professional Exchange Service Corporation for After Hours and Answering Service
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Professional Exchange Service Corporation doing business as The Exchange for after hours, weekend, and County holiday Child Protection Hotline and Adult Protective Services Careline answering services, effective upon execution, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $994,615.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will allow the Department to continue to provide mandatory after hours, weekend, and County holiday child protection hotline and adult protective services careline answering services. These carelines accept referrals of alleged child, elder or dependent adult abuse or maltreatment. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, it will result in a lapse in after hours and answering services for emergency hotlines for Adult Services and Child Protective Hotline. Such an action will put the Department in this agreement out of compliance with mandated access to government services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If approved, the maximum cost ($994,615) of the agreement will be offset with State, Federal and realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget for the Department of Social Services Org 5610 and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Department and Public Works and Planning have a Purchasing agreement with McGhee and Associates, LLC for after hours after hours, weekend, and County holiday child protection hotline and adult protective services careline answering services. The contract period is from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2025 with two optional one-year extensions. Before utilizing the first optional extension period, the Department identified service gaps and decided to overhaul the operation of the answering services.
The Department developed a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for release through the General Services Department’s (GSD) Public Purchase. On August 1, 2025, RFQ number 26-010 was issued with a closing date of September 2, 2025. Four responsive and complete bid submissions were received from McGhee and Associates, LLC ($405,600), Direct Interactions, Inc. ($470,300), Professional Exchange Service Corporation ($602,500) and MAP Communications ($750,980).
Following Department review, the Professional Exchange Service Corporation was selected as they met all the RFQ requirements, did not take exceptions to any requirements for after hours answering services, have a local on-site service location, provided a Service Management Plan, and was a previous service provider to the Department. This contract excludes Molestation Liability.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Professional Exchange Service Corporation
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander