DATE: September 10, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: CalFresh Employment and Training Services Agreements
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with America Works of California, Inc. for CalFresh Employment and Training Services effective October 1, 2024, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $2,200,000; and,
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Reading and Beyond for CalFresh Employment and Training Services effective October 1, 2024, not to exceed three consecutive years, which includes a one-year base contract with two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $1,398,246.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow America Works of California, Inc. (AWCA) and Reading and Beyond (RaB) to provide CalFresh Employment and Training (CFET) services to Non-Assistance CalFresh (NACF) recipients residing in Fresno County. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended actions, the Department will be unable to offer CFET services to residents of Fresno County and the funding will be returned to the State.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum amount of the agreement between both agencies ($3,598,246) will be offset with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and a cash match provided by both agencies. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
CFET services are intended to assist eligible participants in increasing their employment prospects by providing participants with the support needed to obtain skills and access to basic education, work experience, training, and job search assistance. The goal of the program is to reduce participants’ reliance on public assistance and attain self-sufficiency.
Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24-034 for CalFresh Employment and Training services was issued on January 31, 2024. The RFP was sent to twenty-three community-based organizations and two proposals were received and deemed responsive by the Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division. The proposals were evaluated by a review committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Social Services, the City of Fresno, and a member of the community. The review committee unanimously ranked AWCA as their top choice for providing CFET services. After reviewing the recommendation made by the review committee, the Department determined that there was sufficient funding to award both agencies with agreements.
The Department originally partnered with AWCA to administer CFET services in 2019. AWCA has provided sufficient CFET services throughout the lifetime of the agreement to CalFresh recipients who are also receiving or have applied for General Relief. The Department has selected AWCA to continue providing CFET services to the General Relief population of CalFresh recipients. Services in the new agreement will continue to be funded through the annual SNAP E&T funds. In addition to E&T services, the CFET program requires a 50% match of ancillary expenditures provided to clients, which will be met by AWCA.
The Department has entered into agreements with RaB for limited time-periods based upon the approval of the reallocated funds. As the funding is time limited and expires in September each year, the Department is required to enter into a new agreement to be effective the first of the month following receipt of the funding notification and terminating in September of each year. RaB has utilized these funds to provide CFET services to NACF clients who meet the Work-Registration criteria only, a separate population from the CFET services provided by AWCA. The Department has selected RaB through this RFP to expand their services into a year-round program and continue providing CFET services to the NACF population. Each vendor selected through the RFP will serve targeted populations of eligible clients with different needs.
The year-round agreement with RaB will utilize the annual SNAP E&T funds, as well as funds from the Administrative Federal Allocation which requires a 50% cash match of non-federal funds from RaB to allow services beyond the limited time-period of the reallocated funds. The Department will also continue to request and award the reallocated annual SNAP E&T funds to supplement services for the time-period in which the funds are available for use. By utilizing the multiple funding sources, the Department ensures uninterrupted services for the full Federal Fiscal Year. In addition to E&T services, RaB will also meet the 50% cash match requirement for ancillary expenditures provided to clients.
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the County to continue providing CFET services to eligible participants. The recommended agreements will take effect October 1, 2024 with the RaB agreement expiring September 30, 2027, including two (2) optional 12-month extensions, and the AWCA agreement expiring September 30, 2029, which includes two (2) optional 12-month extensions. The agreements may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing thirty (30) days advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #62, April 9, 2024
BAI #37, September 5, 2023
BAI #52, March 26, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with AWCA for CFET Services
On file with Clerk - Agreement with RaB for CFET Services
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander