REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 23, 2023
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendments to Contracts for the COVID-19 Outreach, Education and Promotion Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendments to the following contracts to mitigate impacts associated with COVID-19 and reduce COVID-19 related health disparities, extending the term an additional year for a total contract period of March 15, 2022, through May 31, 2024, with no change to the total combined contract amount of $7,100,000 and individual amounts as detailed below:
1. El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center, Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 22-195, in the amount of $500,000.
2. Inland Empire Health Plan, Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 22-196, in the amount of $3,300,000.
3. Reach Out, Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-197, in the amount of $1,000,000.
4. Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-198, in the amount of $500,000.
5. San Bernardino County Medical Society, Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-199, in the amount of $150,000.
6. St. Mary’s Medical Center, Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 22-200, in the amount of $1,250,000.
7. Young Scholars for Academic Empowerment dba TruEvolution, Inc., Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-201, in the amount of $200,000.
8. Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-202, in the amount of $200,000.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for Safety, Health and Social Services Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). These contracts are funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Response though Community Collaboration grant funding. Currently, 39 percent of funds have been expended, with 61 percent remaining; the one-year extension will allow contract agencies additional time to fully utilize all available funds and continue service provision through the end of the grant term of May 31, 2024. Reallocations will be presented to the Board, if necessary, to fully expend funds. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2022-23 budget and will be included DPH’s 2023-24 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On July 13, 2021 (Item No. 33), the Board of Supervisors (Board) accepted the grant award, Contract No. 21-540, from the CDC for COVID-19 Response through Community Collaboration funding, in the amount of $24,844,268, for the period of June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2023, to support COVID-19 response activities with a focus on health equity. Under the terms of the grant, $7,100,000 is to be subcontracted to various community-based organizations for the provision of countywide COVID-19 outreach, education and promotion services.
On March 27, 2023, the CDC granted a one-year extension to the grant with no change to the award amount or subcontracting requirement. This extension was awarded to most jurisdictions, allowing for additional time to provide services. Approval of this item will allow the subcontractors listed in the Recommendation to continue to support DPH’s COVID-19 Pandemic response activities, with a specific focus on health equity and community collaboration. Any unspent funds will be forfeited and returned to the CDC. However, contractors will be met with, monitored, and assisted to ensure funds are fully utilized. Current under expenditures are concentrated in a small number of agencies and these agencies will receive more technical assistance.
COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted multiple underserved populations within the county, placing a higher risk on those medically underserved and those with limited access to services. This includes racial and ethnic minority groups, skilled nursing homes, as well as people living in more rural communities. The primary focus is on outreach, education and promotion of COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
Contractor performance will continue to be monitored through review of monthly reports and an annual site visit to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract. Contractors will cooperate and comply with all reporting requirements established by the funding source. The County reserves the right to request additional program and/or fiscal reports to facilitate this monthly review. The contracts may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days written notice.
PROCUREMENT
On March 15, 2022 (Item No. 40), as a result of a formal procurement, the Board approved contracts with the agencies listed in the Recommendation, in the total combined contract amount of $7,100,000, for the period of March 15, 2022 through May 31, 2023.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on May 9, 2023; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 9, 2023; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on May 9, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on May 11, 2023.