REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 10, 2025
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendments to Contracts for Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve amendments to the contracts with the following agencies to provide Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool services, increasing the total aggregate contract amount by $5,800,000, for 2024-25, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025:
1. Amendment No. 10 to Contract No. 20-494 with Colton Joint Unified School District, increasing the contract amount by $1,500,000, from $6,004,231 to $7,504,231.
2. Amendment No. 10 to Contract No. 20-497 with Needles Unified School District, increasing the contract amount by $1,000,000, from $2,269,731 to $3,269,731.
3. Amendment No. 11 to Contract No. 20-495, with Easter Seals Southern California, Inc., increasing the total contract amount by $2,300,000, from $26,012,488 to $28,312,488.
4. Amendment No. 12 to Contract No. 20-493, with Child Care Resource Center, increasing the contract amount by $1,000,000, from $9,960,791, to $10,960,791.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
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
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase of $5,500,000 for Early Head Start (EHS), and Head Start Preschool (HSP) is 100% federally funded through the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the EHS, HSP, and State Preschool (CSPP) programs, serving approximately 2,039 children in locations throughout the county. These programs have been operating in the county since 1965. In 1999, PSD began providing these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services.
There are currently four contract agencies, Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD), Fontana Unified School District (FUSD), and Needles Unified School District (NUSD), as well as one delegate agency, Easter Seals Southern California, Inc. (ESSC), located in the county providing HSP, EHS, and CSPP services to approximately 640 eligible children and their families. PSD serves all areas not covered by these agencies.
PSD has conducted a thorough review of expenditures and has identified available funds for EHS and HSP services. In order to maximize the use of allocated resources and avoid carryover or fund revisions, PSD has deemed it more efficient and fiscally prudent to allocate these funds to contract agencies that have agreed to continue their partnership with PSD for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which excludes FUSD. Increasing funds for the other contract agencies ensures critical community services are maintained and/or expanded by allowing them to purchase equipment and supplies and make facility upgrades that support the health and safety of EHS and HSP children. Additionally, this funding helps to mitigate the risk of under expenditure. All vendors have been contacted to ensure funds will be able to obligate funds prior to the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
This action supports program continuity, mitigates service gaps, and aligns with strategic goals for community impact.
On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 55), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 20-493 with CCRC in the amount of $4,474,824, to provide EHS services, for the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Since then, the Board has approved 11 amendments to extend the terms, increase the contract amounts due to additional funding available (some of the increases were from Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for COVID-19 Pandemic-related costs), and other changes, including updating standard contract language. On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 24), the Board approved Amendment No. 11 to Contract No. 20-493 with CCRC, increasing the contract amount by $42,393, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. These increases were due to additional funding received by PSD from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2024-25.
On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 56), as the result of a competitive procurement, the Board approved Contract No. 20-494 with CJUSD, to provide HS, EHS, and CSPP services in the amount of $3,229,260, for the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Since then, the Board has approved nine amendments to extend the terms, increasing the contract amounts due to additional funding available (some of the increases resulted from COLA and CARES Act funding for COVID-19 Pandemic-related costs), and other changes, including updating standard contract language. On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 24), the Board approved Amendment No. 9 to Contract No. 20-494 with CJUSD, increasing the contract by $27,655, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. These increases were due to additional funding received by PSD from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2024-25
On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 56), as the result of a competitive procurement, the Board approved Contract No. 20-497 with NUSD, to provide HS, EHS, and CSPP services, in the amount of $1,243,224, for the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Since then, the Board has approved nine amendments to extend the terms, increasing the contract amounts due to additional funding available (some of the increases resulted from COLA and CARES Act funding for COVID-19 Pandemic-related costs), and other changes, including updating standard contract language. On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 24), the Board approved Amendment No. 9 to Contract No. 20-497 with NUSD, increasing the contract by $8,708, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. These increases were due to additional funding received by PSD from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2024-25.
On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 56), as the result of a competitive procurement, the Board approved Contract No. 20-495 with ESSC, to provide HS, EHS, and CSPP services, in the amount of $13,730,472, for the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Since then, the Board has approved 10 amendments to extend the terms, increasing the contract amounts due to additional funding available (some of the increases were from COLA and CARES Act funding for COVID-19 Pandemic-related costs), and other changes, including updating standard contract language. On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 24), the Board approved Amendment No. 10 to Contract No. 20-495 with ESSC, increasing the contract by $115,672, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. These increases were due to additional funding received by PSD from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2024-25.
The contractors’ performance will continue to be monitored by review of monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program requirements of the contracts. The contracts may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days’ written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager 388-0241) on May 23, 2005; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 23, 2025; Finance (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on May 23, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on May 27, 2025.