DATE: August 23, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: 2nd Amendment to Agreement with VMS Family Counseling Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Second Amendment to Agreement with VMS Family Counseling Services, Professional Corporation, for Psychological Services for Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator Personnel to increase rates due and duration of counseling sessions, and change the no-show policy to reduce costs to the County, effective upon execution with no change to the term of July 2, 2020 through July 1, 2025 and increasing the maximum by $10,000 to a total of $410,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will increase the rates for counseling sessions an average of 22% and the duration of the counseling sessions from 45 minutes to 50 minutes, increasing the maximum compensation amount of the agreement by $10,000 for the remainder term of the agreement, as requested by VMS Family Counseling Services, Professional Corporation (VMS) due to rising inflation, operating and labor cost increases. The recommended second amendment will also change the no-show policy, for individuals failing to appear for counseling services, to reduce costs to the County. The recommended action will allow VMS to keep care with current patients consistent. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, VMS will not be able to cover increasing costs to maintain the best and brightest therapists, as it is vital that they can competitively pay their employees.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended Second Amendment will increase the rates for counseling sessions an average of 22% increasing the maximum compensation by $10,000, to a total of $410,000 based on the average cost, estimated to cover the remaining term of the agreement. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the additional costs are included in the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s FY 2022-23 Org 3111 Recommended Budget and will be included in future recommended budgets. There are currently no pending invoices.
DISCUSSION:
VMS provides psychological services for Sheriff’s Office employees and their families. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office employs over 1,200 employees in both law enforcement and non-sworn civilian positions. All visits for counseling services are confidential in nature, and no reports or files are provided to the Sheriff’s Office or the County.
The Sheriff’s Office currently has an established relationship with VMS since July 2015 after a Purchasing Agreement was executed through a Request for Quotation (RFQ) to provide professional services to Sheriff’s Office personnel and their families. This Purchasing Agreement was converted to a Board Agreement due to an increase of psychological services and approved by your Board on June 5, 2018.
On June 23, 2020, your Board approved Agreement No. 20-232 with VMS, so that VMS could continue to provide psychological services to Sheriff’s Office personnel over a five-year period, with a Suspension of Competition/Sole Source contract. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division concurred with the request to wave the competitive bidding process.
On June 8, 2021, your Board approved First Amendment to Agreement with VMS, increasing the agreement maximum to account for the increased demand for counseling services due to past and current incidents that have affected the Sheriff’s Office.
The recommended Second Amendment will allow VMS to continue to provide psychological services to the Sheriff’s Office employees and their families with the coverage of rising costs. Approval of the Amendment will increase the duration of the counseling sessions from 45 to 50 minutes. It will also change the no-show policy to reduce costs to the County, due to a high frequency of individuals failing to show for counseling sessions. The Sheriff’s Office will only be charged for the first two no-show appointments by a client, and after that, the client will be required to pay the no-show fee, and the Sheriff’s Office will not be charged the fee.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #22, June 8, 2021
BAI #28, June 23, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - 2nd Amendment to Agreement with VMS Counseling
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck