REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 9, 2025
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Contracts to Provide Head Start and Early Head Start Preschool Programs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve contracts with the following agencies to provide Head Start and Early Head Start Preschool programs:
1. A New Beginning Foster Family Agency, in the amount of $7,683,490, for the period of September 10, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
2. Child Care Resource Center, in the amount of $11,222,935, for the retroactive contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
3. Colton Joint Unified School District, in the amount of $6,323,385, for the retroactive contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
4. Easter Seals of Southern California, in the amount of $25,898,530, for the retroactive contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
5. Needles Unified School District, in the amount of $2,370,860 for the retroactive contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
6. Rim of the World Unified School District, which is non-financial and includes use of facility space, for the retroactive contract period of August 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact the Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The combined total amount of $53,499,200 for Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) program services is 90% ($48,149,280) federally funded through the Administration for Children and Families and 10% ($5,349,920) state funded through the California Department of Education. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2025-26 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
HS, and EHS programs provide comprehensive child development and family services that include education, health, nutrition, parent involvement, and psychological services for children ages zero to five years and their families. HS and State Preschool programs have been operating in San Bernardino County (County) since 1965. Since 1999, PSD has provided these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services. Under the terms of the recommended contracts, the agencies listed in the Recommendation will provide HS, EHS, and State Preschool program services to approximately 781 eligible children and their families countywide. PSD currently provides direct services to approximately 2,900 eligible children and their families in areas not served by these contracted agencies.
Additionally, under the terms of the recommended contract with Rim of the World Unified School District (RimUSD), the agency will provide HS program services to eligible children and their families in the mountain areas. RimUSD was able to secure its own funding separate from PSD, therefore the contract with this agency will be non-financial. RimUSD will utilize PSD facilities in the Crestline location and receive family support services from PSD that include health, nutrition, mental health, and disabilities.
This item is being presented at this time as PSD was unable to complete budget negotiations with the agencies until after July 1, 2025, and Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD), Needles Unified School District (NUSD), and RimUSD did not have School Board Meetings available to approve their contracts until August 7, 2025, August 5, 2025, and August 14, 2025, respectively. This is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board at this time will not have an impact on the HS and EHS services and activities for these vendors.
Contractor performance will be measured by reviewing the required monthly reports and annual site visits by County staff to monitor compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program requirements of the contracts.
PROCUREMENT
On January 17, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer approved and authorized the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP), Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) Bid # PSSD25-ADMIN-5719, to solicit agencies to provide HS and EHS programs to eligible children zero to five years of age for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The RFP was posted on the County ePro and mailed directly to 53 agencies with experience in providing HS Services.
Human Services received four proposals from the following agencies:
A New Beginning Foster Family Agency (ANBFFA) - $7,683,490
* HS Part Day Center Based Program, Adelanto Site - 20 Children
* HS Full Day Center Based Program, Hesperia Site - 30 Children
* EHS Full Day Center Based Program, Adelanto Site - 16 Children
* EHS Full Day Center Based Program, Hesperia Site - 16 Children
Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) - $11,222,935
* EHS Child Care Partnership - 130 Children
Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) - $6,323,385
* HS Preschool Part Day Center Based Program, San Salvador Site - 64 Children
* HS Extended Day Center Based Program, San Salvadore Site - 48 Children
* HS Part Day Center Based Program, Bloomington Site - 32 Children
Easter Seals Southern California (ESSC) - $25,898,530
* HS Preschool Center Based Program - 160 Children
* HS Preschool Home-Based Program - 84 Children
* EHS Center Based Program - 112 Children
* EHS Home-Based Program - 24 Children
An evaluation of the proposals was completed by a team that included representatives from PSD, the Department of Public Health, and Human Services. The proposals were evaluated based on qualifications and experience, technical review, and geographic locations. The evaluation team found that all four agencies met the requirements and qualifications of the RFP and were recommended for contract awards.
As there are no other HS or EHS providers in the Needles or mountain vicinities, discussions were initiated with NUSD and RimUSD. It was determined by PSD that although NUSD and RimUSD did not submit proposals in response to the RFP, continuing the HS and EHS program services that NUSD provides and that RimUSD will provide, is vital to the Needles and mountain communities and their surrounding areas. Based on the ensuing negotiations, they are included in the Recommendation for contract award. Purchasing agrees with the recommended contract awards to NUSD and RimUSD as they are the only providers of HS and EHS program services in these areas.
Needles Unified School District (NUSD) - $2,370,860
* HS Part Day Center Based Program - 30 Children
Rim of the World Unified School District (RimUSD) - Non-Financial
* HS Preschool Center Based Program - 15 Children
PSD recommends awarding contracts to the referenced agencies listed in the Recommendation, in a total amount not to exceed $53,499,200 for the provision of HS and EHS programs throughout the County. Each contract may be terminated without cause by the County with a 30-day written notice.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contracts Manager, 388-0222) on August 21, 2025; County Counsel (Sophie Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 30, 2025; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on July 31, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on August 20, 2025.