REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 19, 2025
FROM
BRADLEY GATES, Director, Workforce Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Victor Valley College for Vocational Training Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve agreement with Victor Valley College, in an amount not to exceed $600,000, to provide vocational training services and instructional materials for eligible inmates of the Victorville Federal Correction Complex, for the term of August 19, 2025 through March 31, 2026, with option to extend the term for two consecutive one-year periods.
2. Authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Workforce Development Department to execute subsequent non-substantive amendments, which include exercising the option to extend the term for a maximum of two consecutive one-year periods, adding training services to the scope of work, or terminating the agreement, in accordance with the termination provisions, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director or Assistant Director of the Workforce Development Department to transmit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the agreement to Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Bradley Gates, Director, 387-9856)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
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
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The costs associated with providing contracted vocational training services are fully funded through the Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) grant agreement approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on February 11, 2025 (Item No. 42) with the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB). Approval of the proposed agreement will not have an additional impact to the overall budget approved by the Board. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Workforce Development Department (WDD) 2025-26 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The CWDB awarded WDD PROWD grant funding to provide targeted career services to federally incarcerated individuals as they approach community re-entry. Staff of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC), located in Victorville, reported that hands-on vocational training is needed for soon to be released inmates to help with their transition out of prison. The vocational training serves as the first step in developing the groundwork for launching an effective re-entry program with an introduction to in-demand, quality jobs.
Victor Valley College (VVC) is the only college in the area with clearance to provide training services at the FCC complex for eligible inmates on site, at the VVC High Desert Training Center, and at the VVC main campus. Because of the existing partnership between VVC and FCC, WDD seeks to enter into an agreement with VVC using PROWD grant funding to provide various FCC-approved in-demand vocational training programs for current and recently released federal inmates. The proposed agreement will provide funding to VVC to provide these direct training services to over 100 inmates from August 19, 2025 through March 31, 2026. CWDB has informed WDD that there may be an extension available due to the original short grant term length. If the extension is made available and to not disrupt training services with VVC, this item seeks delegated authority for the Director or Assistant Director to exercise the options to extend the contract for two consecutive one-year periods.
WDD recommends approval of the proposed agreement with VVC to improve the employment outcomes of returning County residents and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
PROCUREMENT
Policy 11-04 requires WDD to seek Board approval when contracting for non-competitive purchases of products and services in excess of $200,000 during a single annual period.
Purchasing supports the non-competitive procurement of vocational training services from VVC due to the specialized credentials of FCC clearance to provide vocational training to FCC federal inmates. VVC currently has access to provide training at FCC, the High Desert Training Center, and VVC’s main campus.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 10, 2025; Purchasing (Jaime Tripodo, Buyer II, 387-2090) on July 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Carl Lofton, Finance Analyst, 387-4919) on July 31, 2025.