DATE: August 4, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation
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 data analysis and detail program evaluation for the Probation Department; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation for data analysis and detailed evaluation of the Adult Reentry Planning Program, effective upon execution not to exceed three consecutive years, total not to exceed $156,846.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Board of State Department of Corrections (BSCC) awarded the Probation Department the competitive Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to develop the Adult Reentry Planning Program (ARPP) and facilitate successful reentry into the community for the targeted population. BSCC requires an assessment of the Program’s effectiveness and strongly encourages public agencies to use outside evaluators for objective and impartial evaluations. Specifically, public agencies are encouraged to partner with state universities or community colleges for evaluations. California State University, Fresno is the largest university and research institution in the Central San Joaquin Valley. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the Probation Department will not meet the Grant Agreement’s data collection and evaluation requirements.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
BSCC requires data analysis and program evaluation be conducted and strongly encourages public agency grantees to utilize state universities or community colleges for the Program’s evaluation. California State University, Fresno is the largest institution of higher learning and the only state university in the County. Therefore, a letter of interest to identify prospective bidders was not sent. The Department’s request to waive the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34, results from the fact that the Criminology Department at California State University, Fresno has a longstanding collaborative partnership with regional, national, and international criminal justice agencies to provide data analysis, research consultation, and program evaluations. The Criminology Department’s faculty have expertise in the issues facing criminal justice agencies, of the context in which the agencies operate, and in the use of risk assessment tools for the delivery of reentry services. The Purchasing Division of the Internal Services Department concurs with Probation’s request to waive the competitive bidding process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Agreement will be fully funded with Justice Assistance Grant funds from BSCC. The Grant requires a total of five percent of the total award be set aside for the development of the Evaluation Plan and Final Evaluation Report. A total of $156,846 has been included in grant to meet this requirement. The recommended Agreement requires the contractor to complete the required evaluation components of the grant and has an annual maximum of $52,282 and maximum cost of $156,846 over the three year grant period. Appropriations and estimated revenues for this agreement will be included in Probation’s FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget for Org 3432 Grants, which will be presented to your Board in September 2020.
DISCUSSION:
A competitive funding opportunity was offered by BSCC on December 6, 2018 with a filing deadline of April 25, 2019. The Probation Department submitted the County’s proposal, contingent upon your Board’s approval. Your Board retroactively authorized the submittal of the grant application on July 9, 2019. On September 12, 2019, BSCC awarded the County the competitive award, which allows the Probation Department to develop the Adult Reentry Planning Program (ARPP). Through a set of comprehensive case management and supportive services pre- and post-release from custody, the Program aims to facilitate successful reentry into the community, reduce gang activity after release from custody, and increase public safety. The Program’s targeted participants are individuals, both male and female, aged 18-30, committed to the Fresno County Jail for a minimum of sixty days and/or on current supervision, affiliated or previously affiliated with gangs, and with a medium to high risk to re-offend. On November 19, 2019, your Board authorized the execution of the retroactive Grant Agreement with BSCC for a period of three years. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Program’s planned commencement date has been delayed, therefore, BSCC will allow grantees to request a one year extension to the three year grant period if needed.
In order to assess the effectiveness of the Program in relationship to its goal, the Probation Department is required to submit to BSCC an Evaluation Plan at the conclusion of the first quarter and a Final Evaluation Report after the conclusion of the grant. As a public agency, Probation is strongly encouraged to use outside research partners and evaluators to ensure objective and impartial evaluations and to partner with state universities or community colleges for evaluations. To meet the requirements, the recommended Agreement will complete the evaluation components of the grant. California State University, Fresno is the largest university and research institution in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The Department of Criminology at California State University, Fresno has an established partnership with regional, national, and international criminal justice agencies providing data analysis, research consultation, and program evaluations addressing criminology. The Department’s faculty have expertise in the issues facing criminal justice agencies, the context in which the agencies operate, and in the use of risk assessment tools in the delivery of reentry services.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 55, July 9, 2019
BAI # 9, November 19, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with the Clerk - Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation
Suspension of Competition Form PD-048
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck