DATE: April 9, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with Hinds Hospice for Local Outreach to Suicide
Survivors (LOSS) Team
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that is in the best interest of the County to waive the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances for a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors Team in Fresno County; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Hinds Hospice for a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors Team, effective upon execution, not to exceed approximately five years, which includes a three-year and three-month base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $1,837,864.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will waive the competitive bidding process and allow the Department’s contracted provider to provide a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) team in Fresno County to provide information, support, warm linkage, and resources to newly bereaved suicide survivors. This service will be funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, newly bereaved suicide survivors in the Fresno County might not be linked to timely supports and resources; therefore, suicide survivors would be subject to negative consequences and possibly putting themselves at suicide risk.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 as Hinds Hospice is the only vendor that provides outreach and support specific to suicide. Hinds Hospice’s current functions, resources, and connection with the local authorities and other local community partners allows them to easily implement the LOSS team in Fresno County. Based on this information, a letter of interest was not necessary. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing concurs with the Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum compensation of the agreement is $1,837,864 and will be fully funded with MHSA PEI funds as approved in the MHSA FY 2017-18 Annual Update for the Suicide Prevention/Stigma Reduction program. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in Department’s Org 5630 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget and will be requested in subsequent fiscal year budgets for the duration of the contract term.
DISCUSSION:
On November 6, 2018, your Board approved Fresno County’s MHSA FY 2017-18 Annual Update, which includes a Suicide Prevention/Stigma Reduction plan that was identified as a needed service according to community stakeholder input and the Community Program Planning Process. In January 2017, the Department of Behavioral Health contracted with three suicide prevention consultants through Purchasing Agreement P-17-223-T to develop a comprehensive, community-based, strategic suicide prevention and stigma reduction plan for Fresno County. On March 6, 2018, your Board approved an amendment to ensure the delivery of a completed suicide prevention plan for Fresno County. The strategic plan was finalized in September 2018 with the LOSS Team being one of various recommended programs for Fresno County to implement.
The principle of a LOSS Team is essentially one of providing hope through connecting with survivors at the time of the loss. The LOSS Team consists of trained professionals and volunteers to bring immediate support to survivors of suicide. The LOSS Team is activated by first response officials when a suicide occurs to provide resources, support, and hope to suicide survivors. The LOSS Team provide immediate assistance to survivors to help them cope with the trauma of their loss, provide follow-up contact with the survivors, and coordinate the utilization of services and support groups within the community.
One of the goals of this program is to provide timely support and resources to the newly bereaved. Suicide loss can be stigmatizing and survivors of loss can be discouraged from engagement in supportive services for fear of further stigmatization. Statistics indicate the average length of time for a survivor to seek support who has received the interventions of a LOSS Team is less than 60 days. Without a LOSS Team, it could take up to 4.5 years. Another goal of the program is to reduce the number of suicides in Fresno County. Currently, Fresno County is experiencing 2.4 deaths by suicide per week. It is estimated that six (6) individuals are deeply impacted by each suicide death, roughly accounting for 749 individuals in our community annually. It is estimated that suicide loss survivors are three times (3x) more likely to die by suicide themselves and seven times (7x) more likely to attempt suicide.
The term for the proposed agreement is five years and three months. The additional three months are requested for ramp up time, which will allow the vendor to hire staff, conduct trainings, and start services July 1, 2019 to coincide with the County’s fiscal years. Upon approval by your Board, the recommended agreement will become effective upon execution through June 30, 2022, and may be extended for two (2) additional twelve month terms under the same terms and conditions upon written approval of both parties executed no later than thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the next twelve-month extension period. The Department Director or designee is authorized to execute such written approval on behalf of the County based on the Contractor’s satisfactory performance.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Behavioral Health Board was informed of the recommended agreement at its February 20, 2019 meeting.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #27, November 6, 2018
BAI #31, March 6, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
PD-048 Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander