DATE: June 10, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Master Agreement for Youth Placement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Under Administrative Policy No. 34 for competitive bids or requests for proposals (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 the Master Agreement given the non-competitive nature of Master Agreements; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Master Agreement with licensed youth residential facilities for Youth Placement, effective July 1, 2025, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $1,500,000.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which will allow the Department to contract with licensed residential facilities certified to provide Youth Placement services. These facilities are licensed to provide specialized residential services sufficient to support needs for seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) youth. The need for these services has been increasing annually and it is necessary for the Department to expand its network to meet these needs. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should the recommended actions not be approved, the Department will be unable to place persons at licensed facilities certified to provide placement and specialized residential services for SED youth with severe and persistent mental health conditions. Existing individuals served by the expiring contract will experience a gap in services and the Department will be left without a contracted provider to provide these services and can lead to inappropriate placement and care for Fresno County youth at eith...
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