REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 9, 2026
FROM
MATTHEW ERICKSON, County Chief Financial Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Inland Mediation Board DBA Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board for Alternate Dispute Resolution Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Contract with Inland Mediation Board DBA Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board for the provision of virtual and in-person alternate dispute resolution services for cases filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino for a total not-to-exceed amount of $2,600,000, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
(Presenter: Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total contract amount of $2,600,000 will be funded by civil filing fees collected by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino (Superior Court) pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Programs Act (DRPA) enacted in 1986. The civil filing fee is currently $8 and, under the provisions of DRPA, revenues from the filing fee can only be used for specified alternate dispute resolution services for the benefit of the Superior Court.
Funding allocated for this service will not exceed $520,000 per year. Adequate appropriation is included in the 2026-27 recommended budget for County Trial Courts Alternate Dispute Resolution fund 1100002724 and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County’s Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) program is managed by the Indigent Defense unit of the County Administrative Office in coordination with the Superior Court. The DRPA provides for the establishment and funding, at the County’s option, of local dispute resolution programs to encourage the use of mediation services as an alternative to formal court proceedings.
The County previously operated ADR under a mediation services contract (Contract) approved in 2021, in the amount of $360,000 annually. This recommended contract is the result of a new competitive procurement and replaces the prior Contract. It reflects updated service needs based on increased caseload and demand for mediation services.
Since 2021, caseloads in Family Law and Small Claims have increased. As a result, mediation appointments are currently being scheduled for approximately two to three months out. These delays impact case resolution timelines, negatively affect court performance metrics, and contribute to backlog and service delivery challenges.
Under the recommended contract, Inland Mediation Board, DBA Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board (IFHMB), will provide virtual and in-person alternate dispute resolution and mediation services for family law matters, and in-person mediation for civil, probate, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters, per the Superior Court calendar. The proposed service level reflects an average of approximately 58 mediations per month, including additional virtual and small claims mediation capacity to address the current demand. This expanded capacity will assist the Superior Court in addressing its large volume of cases by providing an alternative to more formal judicial proceedings.
Funding for contracted ADR services is contingent upon receipt of fund transfers from the State of California. If that funding is reduced or eliminated, the scope or term of services would be reduced or eliminated with 30 days written notice to IFHMB.
PROCUREMENT
In accordance with County Policy 11-04, the County Administrative Office approved and authorized the release of Request for Proposal (RFP) No. CAO123-CAO5-6228 with the Purchasing Department (Purchasing) on January 16, 2026, to solicit proposals from interested and qualified agencies to provide alternate dispute resolution service for a period of five years.
The RFP was released and announced through the Purchasing’s procurement system, Superior Court website, Riverside County Bar Association and Western San Bernardino County Bar Association newsletter.
One proposal was submitted in response to the RFP, from the incumbent IFHMB, and the proposal was found to be responsive based on the current satisfactory performance. With concurrence of the Superior Court, IFHMB is being recommended for award. Purchasing supports this competitive procurement based on the formal solicitation above.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 6, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on May 12, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Celia McDonald, Administrative Analyst, 387-4286) on May 6, 2026.