DATE: September 10, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
David Luchini, Director, Department of Public Health
Susan Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
James Kus, County Clerk/Registrar of Voters
Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
Steven White, Director, Department of Public Works and Planning
Melissa Cregan, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer,
Oralia Gomez, Executive Director, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority
SUBJECT: First Amendment to Agreement No. 20-240 with United Language Group
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Sitting as the Fresno County Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute First Amendment to Agreement with United Language Group to update contact information and add a new minimum fee for written translation services, with no change to the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025, or compensation maximum of $3,739,845.
Sitting as the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Governing Board:
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute First Amendment to Agreement with United Language Group to update contact information and add a new minimum fee for written translation services, with no change to the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025, or compensation maximum of $3,739,845.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with approval of the recommended action, which will allow the County to continue to deliver mandated access to government services for clients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) by providing translation and interpretation services through the current partner United Language Group. The amendment will allow a minimum fee of $54 on translation requests with a word count of 250 words or less. United Language Group is a valued partner and being heavily relied on to meet the needs of LEP clients. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board choose not to approve the recommended action, each Department on this agreement may face delays in receiving written translations with a word count of 250 or less, which will greatly impact client services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If approved, the maximum cost of the five-year Agreement ($3,739,845) will be offset with State and Federal revenues; Health, Mental Health and Social Services Realignment; Mental Health Services Act funds; Grants and Fees; and budgeted Net County Cost. Sufficient appropriations and revenues are included in the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget for the participating departments and will be included in subsequent FY budgets.
DISCUSSION:
On June 23, 2020, your Board approved an agreement with United Language Group for translation and interpretation services. The County Departments of Social Services, Public Health, Behavioral Health, County Clerk/Registrar of Voters, Probation, Public Works and Planning, Agriculture, and the IHSS Public Authority use written translation and telephonic interpretation to ensure individuals with LEP have access to government services and ensure communication between County employees, contracted providers, patients, and clients in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166. The Departments’ current telephonic interpretation and written translation services contract expires June 30, 2025.
An amendment was requested on March 27, 2024 by United Language Group. The changes include a new organization address, person of contact and a new minimum written translation fee. The new fee will be $54 per language for source language word counts of 250 words or less for written translation services. United Language Group requested this fee due to the low volume of translation requests during the past fiscal year. This minimum fee covers all aspects of the service, including Project Management, Desktop Publishing, and Quality Review. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain unchanged and in full force and effect, except to the extent modified by this Amendment.
Upon approval, the recommended Agreement will be effective upon execution through June 30, 2025.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #40, June 23, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk- Amendment to the Agreement with United Language Group
On file with Clerk - Electronic Signature Verification
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander