DATE: March 9, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Evaluation Services for The Lodge Innovation Pilot Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances as California State University, Fresno Foundation is a government agency with unique knowledge and experience working with the County’s homeless population; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation for evaluation services for The Lodge Innovation pilot program, effective upon execution, not to exceed two years and nine months, which includes a two-year three-month base contract and one optional six-month extension, total not to exceed $150,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will suspend the competitive bidding process and allow the Department of Behavioral Health to contract with California State University (CSU), Fresno Foundation for evaluation of short-term lodging driven by peer support services in The Lodge Innovation (INN) pilot program. These services will be funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) INN funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item pertains to a location in District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department will not receive an evaluation for The Lodge INN pilot program from this organization and the Department will need to start a request for proposals process to seek these specialized evaluation services. The Department would also be at risk of not completing all evaluation requirements per MHSA-INN regulations in the allotted time. The evaluation is vital to determine if the pilot program is viable, sustainable or should be eliminated.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 as CSU, Fresno Foundation’s Social Research Institute (SRI) has several decades of experience in providing evaluation services for government and community groups in the Central Valley. Much of SRI’s academic research has been focused primarily on culture and social changes, specifically the homeless population in Fresno. SRI has the knowledge and experience in performing these types of studies and evaluations and has conducted similar projects recently for other government agencies. Based on this information, a letter of interest was not necessary. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division concurs with the Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The FY 2020-21 maximum compensation is $21,447; $150,000 for the term, funded with MHSA-INN for pilot program evaluation services. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
MHSA-INN’s component provides California counties the opportunity to develop, test, pilot, adapt, and research new or unproven mental health models. Each county’s MHSA budget sets aside 5% for INN programs. Legislation requires counties to revert funds to the State that have not been spent within the required three-year period for the primary MHSA programs. Due to lack of guidance on amounts subject to reversion and a process to those revert funds, a one-time legislation, Assembly Bill 114 (AB 114), (Chapter 38, Statutes of 2017) was passed on July 10, 2017, allowing counties to submit a plan by July 1, 2018, to expend their respective funds that are subject to reversion by June 30, 2020.
On September 25, 2018, your Board approved of the Department’s MHSA AB 114 Plan to Spend.
On June 18, 2019, your Board approved of the Department’s MHSA Annual Update (FY 2018-19), which allocated up to $4,200,000 of INN funding to be used for executing The Lodge INN pilot program over a three-year period. Of these funds, $150,000 was allocated for evaluation on short-term lodging driven by peer support services to individuals who have a severe mental illness (SMI), are currently homeless, or at-risk of homelessness, are eligible for Department services, and have not previously engaged in ongoing outpatient behavioral health services.
On December 15, 2020, your Board approved of the Department’s Agreement with RH Community Builders for The Lodge INN pilot program. The program will provide services to individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have an early onset of a SMI or a chronic mental illness, who are in a pre-contemplation stage of change.
The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission regulations require all INN plans to have an evaluation component to assist in analyzing effectiveness and program feasibility. SRI will develop evaluation tools, gather and analyze data, advise on data collection, provide organized reports and assist in communication of findings. In addition, the evaluation will focus on two program outcomes: Did the program increase individuals served engagement in care services? Did the program change attitudes among stakeholders and participants about the role of peer as program facilitators?
Should the evaluation prove the pilot program to be effective, the Department would evaluate options and make future program decisions based on data and information yielded from the program and evaluation.
Upon approval by your Board, the pilot program evaluation services will be effective upon execution through December 31, 2023. The recommended agreement can be terminated without cause by County, Contractor or Department Director, or designee, upon 30 days advance written notice of an intention to terminate the agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #56, December 15, 2020
BAI #36, June 18, 2019
BAI #36, September 25, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CSU, Fresno Foundation
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa