REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2020
FROM
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with the County of Riverside, Office of the Sheriff-Coroner, to provide Autopsy Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Contract with the County of Riverside, Office of the Sheriff-Coroner, in an annual amount not to exceed $150,000, for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $750,000, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025 for the provision of autopsy services.
(Presenter: John Ades, Captain, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost per forensic examination of $6,244, for a total not to exceed annual cost of $150,000, will be funded within the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) existing budget allocation. Additional costs may be charged if additional services are provided. The Department has not yet been billed for services this fiscal year. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Department’s 2020-21 budget (4430001000) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department has contracted with the County of Riverside, Office of the Sheriff-Coroner (County of Riverside) for autopsy services since 2005, in order to remove any perceived conflict of interest in the performance of autopsies for the Department’s lethal force encounters and in-custody deaths. The most recent contract (No. 15-275) was approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on June 2, 2015 (Item No.78) and expired on June 30, 2020.
The Department experienced interruptions to contract negotiations due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying completion of the contract until September 3, 2020. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first available date following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board of Supervisors at this time will not impact services. The contract may be terminated by either party without cause, upon 90 days advance written notice.
PROCUREMENT
The County of Riverside has specialized experience in autopsy’s involving lethal force encounters and in-custody deaths and their autopsy services have been satisfactory. Approval of this item provides a new five-year agreement with the County of Riverside for the continuation of autopsy services. Purchasing concurs with the non-competitive justification.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 17, 2020; Purchasing Department (Michael Candelaria, Lead Buyer, 387-0321) on September 18, 2020; Finance (Carolina Mendoza, Administrative Analyst, 387-0294) on September 18, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 21, 2020.