Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with American Institutes for Research for Evaluation and Research Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with American Institutes for Research for evaluation and research services, for the term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $1,489,708.
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BACKGROUND:
In July 2024, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the department with planning and evaluation services with a focus on assessing the quality and impact of services, utilization, and need of mental health and substance use services in San Mateo County and supporting planning and reporting of legislative requirements under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), Opioid Settlement Funds (OSF), Assembly Bill 109, Senate Bill 43 Lanterman-Petris-Short Act expansion, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards, and other needs as determined by BHRS. American Institutes for Research (AIR) submitted a proposal in response to the RFP. BHRS recommended AIR to provide evaluation and research services based on their long, extensive, relevant, and demonstrated experience and knowledge with planning and evaluation services.
In February 2025, this Board approved an agreement with AIR to provide BHRS evaluation and technical assistance services for $1,474,506 for the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
AIR has provided evaluation, technical assistance, and program reporting services across various behavioral health service areas since 2014. Their work has supported BHRS mandated reporting requirements for services associated with the NCQA, OSF, and MHSA revenues, including Full Service Partnerships, a keystone
MHSA program. The data and reports completed by AIR are shared annually with stakeholders, submitted to the California Department of Health Care Services, and have supported local requests to understand the impact and performance of behavioral health services for the most vulnerable populations in San Mateo County.
BHRS is now requesting to renew the agreement with AIR for an additional two-year term to continue OSF evaluation services, complete the final year of MHSA Full Service Partnership, Outreach Collaboratives, Innovation, and other MHSA program reporting requirements, and begin supporting Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) performance outcome reporting.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 100% of the MHSA/BHSA reporting and evaluation requirements and the evaluation of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment success will be completed by AIR for selected populations.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Percentage of MHSA/BHSA reporting and evaluation requirements and evaluation of AOD treatment success that will be completed by AIR for selected populations. |
100% 4/4 deliverables |
100% 3/3 deliverables |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Planning and evaluation services support BHRS in delivering effective and impactful services for communities living with severe mental health and substance use disorders by providing BHRS with positive performance and client-level outcomes and continuous improvement needs. BHRS programs provide direct treatment and recovery supports (e.g., Full Service Partnerships, Assisted Outpatient Treatment, Mobile Crisis Response, Pathways Program, etc.) for the most vulnerable San Mateo County clients. Communities are engaged in evaluation planning, key interviews and focus groups.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $1,489,708 for the two-year term. Funds in the amount of $1,009,553 are included in the BHRS FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget. Of that amount, $561,971 will be funded by the MHSA, $11,051 by MHSA Innovation, $100,100 by Medi-Cal Administrative reimbursement, and $336,431 by Opioid Settlement Funds. Similar arrangements will be made for FY 2027-28. There is no Net County Cost.