REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 29, 2025
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Sunset Funeral Care, LLC for Indigent Disposition Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 24-538 with Sunset Funeral Care, LLC for the provision of indigent disposition services, to provide for additional direct scene removal and storage services and, as a result, to amend the contract’s original variable rates of $390 - $1,495 charged per decedent to $125 - $1,495 per decedent, as shown on Attachment A - Cost, with no change to the contract period of June 11, 2024 through June 10, 2027.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Sufficient appropriation exists in the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) 2024-25 budget for the cost of $125 - $1,495 per decedent and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is responsible for investigating all deaths that occur within San Bernardino County. This includes determining the cause of death and clarifying all circumstances surrounding or pertaining to the manner of death of a decedent.
Approval of the non-exclusive contract allows for the disposition of remains of indigent decedents residing in San Bernardino County at time of death who have no responsible relatives or whose responsible relatives are also indigent, as mandated by Health and Safety Code section 7104. The Department currently handles the disposition of approximately 700 indigent decedents per year.
On June 11, 2024 (Item No. 91), as a result of a competitive process, the Board of Supervisors (Board) awarded non-exclusive contract No. 24-538 to Sunset Funeral Care, LLC (Sunset) for the period of June 11, 2024 through June 10, 2027, with the option to extend for two additional one-year periods.
The Department recommends approval of the proposed amendment to provide for additional direct removal and storage services and to amend the original variable rates of $390 - $1,495 charged per decedent to $125 - $1,495 per decedent, as shown on Attachment A - Cost. The additional services being provided includes the transportation of decedents directly from convalescent homes, hospitals, and mortuaries to the Coroner’s facility, which reduces expenses. There is no change to the contract term of June 11, 2024 through June 10, 2027. The contract may be terminated upon 30-days’ advance written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 1, 2025; Purchasing (Jason Cloninger, Lead Buyer, 387-0321) on March 19, 2025; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on April 14, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on April 14, 2025.