REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
JANKI PATEL, Acting Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM for Pediatric Physician Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve contract with Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM, including a non-standard term, to provide pediatric physician services in the Department of Public Health’s Federally Qualified Health Centers and School-based Service Sites, in an amount not-to-exceed $2,942,352, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Public Health to execute non-substantive amendments to the contract with Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to maintain the confidentiality of the contract, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1457(c)(1).
4. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit any non-substantive amendments to the contract with Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total cost of these services, not-to-exceed $2,942,352, is funded by Medi-Cal reimbursement, commercial insurance, and existing ongoing 1991 Realignment funds. The Department of Public Health’s (DPH) payments to Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM (LLUSM) will be on a fee-for-service basis. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the DPH’s 2026-27 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Section 330 of the Public Health Services Act requires that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve an underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale to patients based on their income, provide comprehensive health services, and have an ongoing quality assurance program. FQHCs qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other benefits. Comprehensive health services include primary care, pediatrics, maternal health, reproductive health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus care and treatment, dental, and nutrition. DPH operates four FQHCs in San Bernardino, Ontario, Hesperia, and Adelanto, as well as two school-based service sites (SBSS) in Apple Valley and Ontario.
Under the terms of the recommended contract with LLUSM, licensed physicians and mid-level practitioners will provide pediatric services in the Valley region which consists of the FQHCs in San Bernardino and Ontario and the SBSS in Ontario. Qualified and licensed staff will provide a broad spectrum of basic medical services to pediatric patients referred by DPH. Support services include supervision and clinical oversight of mid-level practitioners, assistance in the development of policies and procedures, participation in quality improvement/quality assurance activities, and ensuring compliance with productivity standards and long-term strategic plans.
Approval of the recommended contract will allow for the continued provision of comprehensive pediatric services for the Valley region. LLUSM’s performance will be monitored by review of monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract.
Recommendation No. 2 authorizes the Chair of Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of DPH to approve non-substantive amendments to the contract, subject to review by County Counsel. Such authority supports efficient service delivery by allowing for changes to the scope of work, work locations, service hours, and mix of providers, and expediting implementation of operational improvements that could reduce costs and/or enhance accessibility.
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1457(c)(1), specific terms related to the rates of payment for health care services are not immediately subject to laws related to public records. Therefore, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (Board) is directed to maintain confidentiality of the contract.
This contract includes a term that differs from the standard County Contract. The non-standard term is:
The contract does not require LLUSM to indemnify the County for all claims arising out of the contract.
• The County standard contract indemnity provision requires the Contractor to indemnify, defend, and hold County harmless from third party claims arising out of the acts, errors or omissions of any person.
• Potential Impact: LLUSM is not required to defend, indemnify or hold the County harmless from claims arising from the County’s own acts or omissions which may arise during the performance of the contract. As a result, the County may be solely liable for the costs of defense and damages, which could exceed the total contract amount.
DPH recommends approval of the contract with LLUSM, including a non-standard term, to obtain licensed physicians and mid-levels to provide pediatric services at the County’s FQHCs in Ontario and San Bernardino and SBSS in Ontario, as required by section 330 of the Public Health Services Act.
PROCUREMENT
In accordance with County Policy 11-01, the County Administrative Office approved the release of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. DPHE25-CO-5726 on January 17, 2025 to solicit for doctors or physician groups to provide pediatric services, through qualified, board certified physicians and mid-level practitioners, at the FQHCs and SBSSs.
The RFP was posted on San Bernardino County’s Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) on January 21, 2026. Two proposals were received by the established deadline from the following agencies:
|
Proposer Name |
Proposer Location |
DPH Service Site(s)/Region |
|
California University of Science and Medicine |
Colton, CA |
High Desert Region • Adelanto FQHC • Hesperia FQHC • Apple Valley Head Start SBSS |
|
|
|
Valley Region • Ontario FQHC • Ontario Head Start SBSS • San Bernardino FQHC |
|
Loma Linda University School of Medicine |
Loma Linda, CA |
Valley Region • Ontario FQHC • Ontario Head Start SBSS • San Bernardino FQHC |
|
|
|
|
A team comprised of DPH staff conducted a best-value evaluation of the proposals based on qualifications and experience, scope of work for service delivery, capacity, cost, references, and presentations. Through this competitive process, California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) was determined to best meet the County’s need for pediatric services in the High Desert Region, while LLUSM was determined to best meet the County’s need for pediatric services in the Valley Region. On November 18, 2025 (Item No. 51), the Board of Supervisors approved Contract 25-931 with CUSM to provide pediatric services in the High Desert Region, as well as primary care and psychiatric services in both regions.
Purchasing supports this competitive procurement based on the formal solicitation described above.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 3, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on May 27, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on June 3, 2026.