REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 9, 2023
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Chung & Ignacio, LLP for Child Support Contempt and Paternity Appointed Legal Representation Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve contract with Chung & Ignacio, LLP to provide court appointed legal representation services for child support contempt and paternity cases, for a total not to exceed amount of $843,300, for the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2028.
(Presenter: Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this contract will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total cost of the contract will not exceed $168,660 per year, for a total not to exceed amount of $843,300. Sufficient appropriation has been included in the 2023-24 Recommended Indigent Defense Program budget and will be included in subsequent recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended contract authorizes Chung & Ignacio, LLP to provide legal representation services for paternity and child support contempt cases under appointment by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2028.
The Superior Court is authorized to appoint attorneys to represent persons against whom actions relating to paternity and child support have been brought pursuant to Family Code sections 17402 and 17404, and persons against whom child support contempt actions have been brought by the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), but who do not have sufficient financial means or are otherwise unable to provide legal representation. The costs for such appointments are an obligation of the County. This contract will provide representation for such defendants. The contractor will be paid a flat fee of $675 per case appointed under the contract and $880 per DCSS court calendar appearance day, for the term of the contract, for an estimated monthly average of 13 case appointments and six DCSS court calendar appearance days. The contractor may be paid special fees under the terms of the contract for extraordinarily complex cases upon application to and written approval by the Superior Court. The contract authorized amount allows for such special fees.
The County, after consultation with the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court (Presiding Judge), may terminate the contract in whole or in part upon 30 days written notice. Following consultation with the Presiding Judge, the contract may be terminated immediately by the County for cause.
PROCUREMENT
On February 7, 2023, the County Administrative Office-Finance and Administration approved the release of Request for Proposal (RFP) No. CAO123-CA05-4876 for court appointed child support contempt and paternity legal representation service providers. The RFP was released in accordance with County policy and procedures and announced on the Purchasing Department websites. E-mail announcements of the release of the RFP were sent to 295 parties that had registered as potential bidders in the County’s electronic procurement system (ePro). One proposal was submitted in response to the RFP, from Chung & Ignacio, LLP, and the proposal was found to be responsive.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 23, 2023; Purchasing (Michelle Churchill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on April 11, 2023; Finance (Kathleen Gonzales, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on April 11, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on April 18, 2023.