REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 26, 2021
FROM
VICTOR TORDESILLAS, Director, Department of Risk Management
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Atkinson-Baker, Inc. to Provide Court Reporting and Videography Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 19-766 with Atkinson-Baker, Inc. to change its name to Veritext, LLC doing business as Atkinson-Baker, A Veritext Company, update its tax identification number to 20-3132569, and continue providing court reporting and videography services to assist the County in the management of its self-insured public liability and workers’ compensation claims, with no change to the terms of the contract, contracted fee schedule or term of November 20, 2019 through November 19, 2024.
(Presenter: Victor Tordesillas, Director, 386-8621)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended amendment is for the change of contractor’s name and federal tax identification number and has no financial impact.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The San Bernardino County’s workers’ compensation and liability programs have been self-insured and self-administered since 1972. Since then, the Department of Risk Management (DRM) has utilized various cost containment programs, including certified court reporting and videography services. Court Reporters are required by law to record all legal proceedings and the DRM contracts with specific providers to assist with the legal defense of claims for the County and Special Districts. Contracts for certified court reporting and videography services are necessary as the DRM does not have the staff or the equipment necessary to provide these specialized services. Providers use state of the art technology and costs are more accurately forecasted through use of a standard fixed rate schedule.
In January 2021, Veritext, LLC (Veritext) acquired Atkinson-Baker, Inc., and now both companies operate under Veritext, tax identification number 20-3132569. DRM did not receive notification of this acquisition, but recently discovered that an invoice was provided under a different name and tax identification number. Due to the change in tax identification number, an amendment to the current Contract No. 19-766 with Atkinson-Baker, Inc. is required and was initiated with Veritext. Under the new ownership, San Bernardino County will benefit from Veritext’s expertise in remote proceedings, excellent data security coverage, and over 136 state-of-the-art deposition suites located throughout North America.
Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 19-766 will enable Veritext, LLC dba Atkinson-Baker, A Veritext Company to provide uninterrupted certified court reporting and videography services for liability and workers’ compensation claims with no change to the original contracted fee schedule. Under the new name and tax identification number, Veritext, LLC doing business as Atkinson-Baker, A Veritext Company will assume and perform all responsibilities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor under Contract No. 19-766.
PROCUREMENT
On November 19, 2019 (Item No. 33), as a result of a competitive procurement process, Electronic Procurement System (ePro) Bid No. RMG119-RMADM-3346, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement No. 19-766 with Atkinson-Baker, Inc. and five other vendors to provide certified court reporting and videography services, with an estimated aggregate cost of $1.52 million for a five-year period of November 20, 2019 through November 19, 2024.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 12, 2021; Purchasing Department (Michelle Churchill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on October 12, 2021; Finance (Sofia Almeida, Administrative Analyst, 387-4378) on October 12, 2021; Human Resources (Diane Rundles, Human Resources Director, 387-5572) on October 12, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 12, 2021.