DATE: June 23, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Suspension of Competition and Agreement with Circles of Support and Accountability - Fresno, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances as Circles of Support and Accountability - Fresno, Inc. (COSA) is the only known local vendor that provides victim and offender reconciliation services; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with COSA to provide mediation services between offenders and victims effective July 1, 2020, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $660,000.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which will provide for the continuation of victim and offender mediation/reconciliation services to the Probation Department through June 30, 2025. Community Justice Conferencing (CJC) is a program operated by COSA, which brings the victim and offender together to develop a mutually agreed upon plan for restitution. The Probation Department has received CJC program services, formerly known as the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP), since 1997. A suspension of competition is being requested because of the specialized and unique services provided by CJC, and because there is no other known local vendor providing these services. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended agreement is not approved, these services would not be provided when the current agreement expires on June 30, 2020. COSA is the only known local provider of these services.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION:
Probation is recommending your Board suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrativ...
Click here for full text