DATE: July 7, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: FY 2020-21 Retroactive Agreement with the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it 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 the solicitation of services to promote and market the resources and economy of Fresno County; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive sole source Agreement with the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County to promote and market the resources and economy of Fresno County, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 ($38,000).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will ensure that Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County (EDC) provides businesses with technical assistance to encourage the location of new industry and the retention and expansion of existing businesses within the cities and unincorporated communities of Fresno County. The agreement term is July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, with the recommended agreement maximum compensation set at $38,000, which is no increase from FY 2019-20. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may opt not to approve the recommended action. However, the recommended action is consistent with the Board’s ongoing assignment of the County’s current economic development responsibilities, including the revision of the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), to the EDC. At the drafting of this Board Item, it is expected your Board will adopt funding as proposed in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
It is requested that the County waive the competitive bidding process under Administrative Policy No. 34 under “unusual or extraordinary circumstances” exception, as the EDC is the only vendor suited, equipped and authorized to perform economic development tasks and activity for Fresno County as provided above. The recommended action is consistent with the Board’s ongoing assignment of the County’s current economic development responsibilities, including the revision of the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), to the EDC. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing concurs with the Department’s request to waive the competitive bidding process.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
This agreement is retroactive as the agreement was finalized and received from the vendor on June 25, 2020, and is being brought to your Board on the first available Board date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is an additional $38,000 in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations will be included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget in Org 2540 Interest and Miscellaneous Expenditures, Account 7845 - Support of Organizations ($38,000). Payments will be remitted after each FY 2020-21 quarter; EDC is required to submit quarterly activity reports along with invoices within 30 days after the end of each quarter.
DISCUSSION:
Through the recommended agreement, the EDC agrees to continue providing overall expertise and assistance in achieving the objectives of Fresno County’s CEDS. These objectives include job creation, diversification of economic base, and preparation of the labor force. The recommended agreement allocates funds ($38,000) to the EDC based on goals designed to target specific economic development tasks and activities, including:
1. Business Technical Assistance: In an effort to encourage the location of new industry within the cities and unincorporated communities of Fresno County, and to retain and expand those businesses on a one-to-one basis, assistance can include location of product packaging, identifying financing options, screening for eligible tax incentive programs, and making referrals to partner agencies for additional services, such as employee recruitment, marketing, business plan development, and energy efficiency assessments.
2. Economic Development Objectives: The EDC will maintain, monitor, and draft any required revisions of the County’s CEDS for the County’s approval, and help the County achieve its economic development objectives as set forth in the CEDS.
During 2019-20, EDC requested new projects and priorities as part of the CEDS update that has been conducted, which will be submitted as a separate Board item.
Copies of the EDC “Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention Report” covering the first three quarters in FY 2019-20 are included for your Board’s review.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, July 9, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Sole Source Acquisition Request
EDC FY 2020 Quarter 1 Activity Report
EDC FY 2020 Quarter 2 Activity Report
EDC FY 2020 Quarter 3 Activity Report
On file with Clerk - Agreement with EDC
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander