DATE: November 4, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan L. Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Master Agreement for Locum Tenens Psychiatric Services
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 as the identified vendors are the only agencies that are able and willing to provide licensed psychiatric professionals available to provide services to individuals in Fresno County on a non-permanent employment basis; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Master Agreement with various vendors to provide locum tenens psychiatric services, effective January 1, 2026, which includes a six month and two-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $60,000,000.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended actions allow the Department of Behavioral Health to place non-permanent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners within County-operated facilities to provide psychiatric services to individuals with behavioral health needs. The agreement will ensure that the service population will have timely and appropriate access to psychiatric care until permanent psychiatric professionals can be recruited, hired, and onboarded. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board does not approve the recommended actions, individuals living in Fresno County who currently receive psychiatric care will experience delays in essential services and access to needed medication. Furthermore, the Department will be noncompliant with Federal and State mandated requirements for access to psychiatric services. The Department would be severely inadequately staffed with licensed psy...
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