REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 27, 2023
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Ratification Actions in Response to American Rescue Plan Act - Subrecipient Contracts
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Ratify the Chief Executive Officer’s exercise of the authority granted by the Board of Supervisors on March 1, 2022 (Item No. 32), in approving the following contracts with subrecipients for American Rescue Plan Act funding for eligible projects in accordance with the Board of Supervisors approved Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Spending Plan:
1. Contract No. ARPA21-PRJN-025-IER with Inland Empire Rebound for the My Brother’s Keeper Program Expansion and Reentry Services Project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $150,000, for the contract term of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026.
2. Contract No. ARPA21-PRJN-031-MWD with Monte Vista Water District for the Monte Vista Waterline Replacement Project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $790,000, for the contract term of May 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026.
3. Contract No. ARPA21-PRJN-024-MOR with Morongo Basin Ambulance for the Critical Care Transport Project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $35,000, for the contract term of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026.
(Presenter: Leonard X. Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
Focus on Recovery and Resiliency Following Major Emergency Responses such as the December 2, 2015 Terrorist Attack (SB Strong) and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). San Bernardino County received a direct allocation of $423.5 million under the American Rescue Plan Act - Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA Fund) to bolster the County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. The Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an expenditure plan for the use of these funds, known as the County Local Fiscal Recovery Spending Plan (Spending Plan), on June 8, 2021 (Item No. 121) and amended the plan on August 24, 2021 (Item No. 21). At the recommendation of the Fifth, Fourth, and Third District Board Offices, these projects are approved to proceed and be funded respectively by each respective District’s ARPA Fund. Sufficient appropriation is included in the ARPA Fund’s 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law and established the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to distribute resources to state and local governments throughout the nation.
The County established an ARPA Team who reviews all potential projects to determine eligibility for ARPA funding and if the project and use is in accordance with the Board approved Spending Plan. When projects are deemed eligible, then the ARPA Team works with the subrecipients to determine subrecipient compliance with ARPA guidelines, and subsequently initiates the contract process. On March 1, 2022 (Item No. 32), the Board authorized the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute the Board-approved standard ARPA contract template with subrecipients and directed that ARPA contracts executed by the CEO are brought back to the Board for ratification within 30 days of contract execution. Monthly reporting has been provided to the Board detailing the status of ARPA contracts.
The My Brother’s Keeper Program Expansion and Reentry Services Project (Program), with Inland Empire Rebound (IE Rebound) located in the City of San Bernardino, will create and expand an exclusive teen curriculum to an adult version, to be used at County Probation Department’s Day Reporting Centers. The Program will improve the delivery of reentry services for those returning to the community from the justice system, by providing life-skill classes, hotel vouchers, food, clothing, hygiene kits, etc. In addition, community navigators with IE Rebound will help residents navigate and apply for services and resources that address many socioeconomic disparities and promote the countywide vision of healthier living environments. The Fifth District Board Office recommended to proceed with executing this project contract with IE Rebound. This contract was executed by the CEO on June 6, 2023.
The Monte Vista Water District (MVWD) provides retail and wholesale water to over 135,000 customers within a service area that spans 30 square miles. The service area includes Montclair, Chino Hills, Chino, and surrounding unincorporated areas. The MVWD Waterline Replacement Project will replace nearly 2,500 linear feet of deteriorated and undersized drinking water pipeline for an estimated cost of $790,000. Over the years, lack of investment and financial resources have contributed to pipeline deterioration, which resulted in repeated and significant leaks in the distribution system and wasted water. These improvements will be made to conserve water lost from the current state of infrastructure. The Fourth District Board Office recommended to proceed with executing this project contract with the MVWD. This contract was executed by the CEO on June 6, 2023.
The Morongo Basin Ambulance (MBA) is a nonprofit corporation that employs 14 paramedics, 16 Emergency Medical Technicians, and nine support staff. Currently, MBA is in need of funding to connect staff to required training as mandated by the State of California Emergency Medical Service Authority, as well as purchase a ventilator for its ground transport operations. MBA provides emergency services to San Bernardino desert communities which includes Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Morongo Valley, and Landers. Projected expenditures of $35,000 will be used to pay for the training tuition and associated travel expenses for certain eligible MBA employees, and the purchase of a ventilator. The Third District Board Office recommended to proceed with executing this project contract with the MBA. This contract was executed by the CEO on June 9, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 26, 2023; Purchasing (Michelle Churchill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on June 6, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Director, 387-5564) on June 6, 2023; Finance (Guy Martinez, ARPA Compliance Analyst, 387-5428, and Joon Cho, Administrative Analyst, 387-5402) on May 25, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 9, 2023.