DATE: November 14, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment to Agreement with California Department of Social Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute retroactive Amendment I to Agreement No. A-15-459 with the California Department of Social Services for access to TALX Corporation’s Work Number Express Service Online Employment Verification System, effective September 30, 2017 and remaining in effect until terminated by either party with no change to the compensation ($0).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to maintain ongoing access to the TALX Corporation’s (TALX) Work Number Express Service Online Employment Verification System (System). The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has an agreement with California counties to access the System at no cost to the counties.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could direct the Department to contract directly with TALX and forego the financial assistance provided by CDSS. In doing so, the Department would experience a lapse in service and would assume responsibility for an annual cost exceeding $100,000.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The Department received the recommended Amendment I from CDSS on September 18, 2017 and the Agreement expired on September 30, 2017.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. CDSS is funding access to the System at no cost to counties in California, with no exchange of funds between CDSS and the Department.
DISCUSSION:
On September 22, 2015, your Board provided advance approval of an Agreement between the Department and CDSS to provide access to the TALX System at no cost. The resulting Agreement was signed by the Chairman of your Board on April 7, 2016 and became effective upon execution by CDSS on May 12, 2016 through September 30, 2017. Prior to that Agreement, the Department contracted directly with TALX at an annual cost of $102,396.
The Department accesses the TALX System on a daily basis to verify employment and income information for public assistance programs. This information is used for the effective management of funds by preventing overpayments, identifying overpayments, and determining eligibility. The recommended Amendment deviates from your Board’s preferred contract term, as it has no effective end date. The recommended Amendment also obligates the Department to adhere to the terms of any subsequent agreements between CDSS and TALX. However, the contract language allows either party to terminate without cause upon 30 days written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #69, September 22, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to A-15-459 with CDSS
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander