REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 28, 2023
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Barstow Senior Citizens Center for Older Californians Nutrition Program and Intergenerational Activities
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 22-662 with Barstow Senior Citizens Center, for nutrition services to add intergenerational activities, increasing the contract amount by $168,000, from $5,330,000 to a total contract amount not to exceed $5,498,000, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase of $168,000 to the contract for intergenerational activities is funded by the Older Adults' Recovery and Resilience (OARR) Act, and is only eligible for use for the period of April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. OARR funding does not have a required match and cannot be used as match for any other program. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) 2022-2023 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DAAS has administered the Older Californians Nutrition Program (OCNP), formerly known as the Elderly Nutrition Program, for San Bernardino County since 1978. The OCNP provides nourishing meals and nutrition education to people 60 years of age or older, spouses of OCNP participants, and disabled persons. In 2021-22, DAAS nutrition contractors provided 235,945 meals in a congregate setting and 575,467 home-delivered meals to older homebound individuals.
On June 10, 2022, the California Department of Aging (CDA) issued Program Memo No. 22-09 for the Older Adults Recovery and Resilience (OARR) funding under Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) programs for the OCNP and Intergenerational Activities, with expiration date of December 31, 2024. This funding provides California with the financial resources to strengthen older adults’ recovery and resilience from the isolation and health impacts resulting from staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. While restrictions have eased and isolating/quarantining is less prevalent, the need remains for additional home-delivered meals and community-based meal sites.
OARR funding supports service providers to serve more meals to more older adults and to plan, develop, and implement intergenerational activities that connect OCNP participants with younger generations. Intergenerational activities may include, but are not limited to story reading, games, crafts, gardening, and karaoke. Adding the intergenerational component to an activity or meal is mutually beneficial to all participants by promoting greater understanding and respect between generations. This program supports the goal of connecting older adults with other age groups.
On December 13, 2022, CDA issued Program Memo Cancellation Notice No. 22-20 for the HCBS contracts to revise the original expiration date of December 31, 2024 for several programs with instruction to now spend funds by December 31, 2023, which includes OARR funding for intergenerational activities. CDA noted the funding can be used in either senior nutrition or senior supportive services programs and gave the option to amend existing contracts with current providers to add these activities to their scope of work or to conduct a Request for Proposal (RFP), if working outside of contracted providers.
Due to time constraints with the funding ending earlier than originally planned, DAAS elected to reach out to current nutrition providers to seek interest in participating in intergenerational activities. The Purchasing Department and the Office of County Counsel reviewed and concurred with the decision to amend contracts with existing providers.
Barstow Senior Citizens Center (Barstow) is a current contractor who provides senior meals in a congregate setting, as well as home-delivered meals. Barstow has five congregate sites located in the High Desert, which include Apple Valley, Barstow, Helendale, Hesperia, and Victorville. Barstow responded with interest and submitted a budget proposal of $168,000 to add intergenerational activities, which includes a nutritional meal two to three times per month, at their Barstow location. It is Barstow’s intention to partner with the other congregate sites in the High Desert to offer these activities and meals. Through the existing contract and amendment, Barstow proposes to serve meals and provide activities to approximately 1,350 participants (80 unduplicated clients) ages 60 years and older, and approximately 2,400 individuals who are 59 years and younger. Activities include games, cultural food events, and craft activities, all of which will include a nutritious meal.
DAAS will monitor activities for these funds through monthly activity reporting, review of invoice reimbursement requests, and site visits.
PROCUREMENT
On June 28, 2022 (Item No. 116), as the result of a formal competitive procurement, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 22-662 with Barstow (one of eight contract awards), in the amount of $4,730,000, to provide Elderly Nutrition Program Services, for the contract period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
On September 27, 2022 (Item No. 5), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Barstow, increasing the contract amount by $600,000, from $4,730,000 to $5,330,000, to add a congregate meal site in Helendale, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on February 8, 2023; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 18, 2023; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on March 6, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on March 13, 2023.