REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with T-Mobile USA, Inc. for Access to Technology Program Equipment and Service
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 24-275 with T-Mobile USA, Inc., to provide Apple devices, accessories, and cellular data service for the Access to Technology Program, increasing the amount by $793,000, from $1,400,000 to $2,193,000, with no change to the contract period of April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This is 100% funded by the California Department of Aging (CDA) Access to Technology (ATT) Program and does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Aging and Adult Services - Public Guardian (DAAS-PG) 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 135 into law, which required the CDA to create the ATT Program to provide older adults, 60 years of age and older, and adults with disabilities access to technology and digital connectivity to reduce isolation, increase social connections, build self-confidence, and enhance self-empowerment in navigating digital and online resources. CDA’s allowable uses of the funds for older adults and adults with disabilities include:
• Providing technology, which includes items such as tablets and smartphones.
• Arranging reliable internet access (via service plans or mobile hotspots).
• Developing or arranging education and training on the use of technology.
• Conducting program outreach.
Amendment No. 1 (Amendment) to Contract No. 24-275 (Contract) with T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile) will allow DAAS-PG to continue to purchase equipment to meet the needs of a total of 2,500 older adults and adults with disabilities through the ATT Program.
On August 9, 2022 (Item No. 5), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved and authorized submission of a grant application to CDA for ATT Program funding, in the amount of $2,793,450, for the period of October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. The original grant application submission budget exceeded the planning estimate provided by CDA, and on September 14, 2022, DAAS-PG was asked to reduce the budget until CDA determined whether more funding was available based on the number of participating counties.
On January 10, 2023 (Item No. 6), the Board approved Grant Award Agreement No. 23-16 (Grant Agreement No. AT-2223-36) with CDA for the ATT Program, in the amount of $2,056,883, for the period of October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. Should additional funding be awarded, DAAS-PG would return to the Board to request acceptance.
On March 26, 2024 (Item No. 10), the Board approved the Contract with T-Mobile in the amount of $1,400,000, for the period of April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.
CDA initially provided $48,500,000 for all 58 counties to participate in the ATT Program. On November 14, 2023, CDA emailed all counties notifying them that additional funding was available due to only 42 out of 58 counties opting to participate in the ATT Program. The excess funding became available for redistribution to the 42 participating counties that expressed interest in receiving additional funding for the ATT Program. DAAS submitted a revised budget form to the CDA to request to receive some of the reallocated funding.
On July 22, 2024, the CDA approved DAAS-PG’s budget revision (CDA 3003 Rev 01/2024), reallocating the funds for the ATT Program. DAAS-PG is recommending approval of an accompanying item which will increase Grant Award Agreement No. 23-16 (Grant Agreement No. AT-2223-36) with this reallocation of funding, in the amount of $467,247. These reallocations, as well as current available grant funds, are being used to amend this Contract.
Approval of this item will allow DAAS-PG to purchase additional equipment to meet the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on July 23, 2024; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 24, 2024; Human Services Information, Technology, and Support Division (Marcella Ramirez, Departmental Information Systems Administrator, 386-3780) on August 5, 2024; Innovation and Technology (Tim Ball, Information Security Business Manager, 388-5540) on August 5, 2024; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on August 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 5, 2024.