DATE: October 21, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with BluePath Health, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Under Administrative Policy No. 34 for competitive bid or requests for proposal (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 BluePath Health, Inc., a State-designated vendor who has provided technical assistance on the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Justice-Involved Initiative to the Probation Department; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with BluePath Health, Inc. for consultation and implementation support services to the Probation Department on the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Justice-Involved Initiative, effective November 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, total not to exceed $314,370.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow BluePath Health, Inc. (BluePath) to continue to support the Probation Department’s Correctional Facility Readiness Assessment under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Justice-Involved (JI) Initiative, which provides services to Medi-Cal-eligible individuals up to 90 days pre-release to ensure continuity of care. To meet California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) requirements, the Department must demonstrate readiness by March 31, 2026. The cost of the recommended agreement will be fully funded through the CalAIM JI Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity Building Program grant. This item applies countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the Probation Department (Department) will be unable to retain BluePath, which may result in noncompliance with CalAIM JI Initiative requirements and delay the Department’s readiness efforts.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department requests your Board find that under Administrative Policy No. 34 an exception to the requirements for competitive bids or requests for proposals is satisfied due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, as BluePath is the only State-designated consulting provider with the expertise and availability to immediately support the Department’s Readiness Assessment. Continuing with BluePath builds on prior work already completed, ensuring continuity and timely compliance with CalAIM JI Initiative requirements. The General Services Department - Purchasing concurs with Probation’s request to find an exception to the competitive bidding process is satisfied.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum compensation for the recommended agreement is $314,370 and is fully funded by CalAIM PATH grant funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues have been included in Probation’s Org 3440 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
California is the first state to offer Medi-Cal services to youth and adults in correctional settings up to 90 days before release, expanding access beyond the traditional post-release model. Through a federal Medicaid 1115 waiver, DHCS is establishing a coordinated reentry process to connect individuals with needed health care services upon release.
DHCS’ CalAIM PATH JI Funding was distributed in three rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 supported correctional agencies in planning with county social services to prepare for pre-release services. Round 3 funded staffing, capacity, and IT upgrades to implement those services. On November 7, 2023, the Board approved retroactive submission and acceptance of Round 3 funding for the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator, Probation Department, and Department of Behavioral Health.
BluePath was designated by DHCS to provide technical assistance through the PATH Technical Assistance Marketplace, supporting government and community agencies in implementing CalAIM initiatives, including Enhanced Care Management (ECM), Community Supports, and JI services. In January 2025, BluePath began assisting the Department under Agreement No. D-25-131, which expires October 31, 2025. DHCS has since refocused PATH Marketplace funding to prioritize capacity-building for ECM and Community Supports.
If approved, the recommended agreement will allow BluePath to continuing providing consultation and implementation support, including policy development, readiness assessment, stakeholder engagement, and technical integration, to assist the Department in fulfilling the CalAIM JI mandate at the Juvenile Justice Campus.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #44, November 7, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement with BluePath Health, Inc.
On file with Clerk - Digital Signature Certificate
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai