Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Marc Meulman, Deputy Director, San Mateo County Health
Subject: Amendment to the Agreement with Browne Inc., for the San Mateo County Health Website Development Project
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with Browne Inc., for the San Mateo County Health Website Development Project, describing content development and web maintenance/hosting within the scope of work, extending the term through June 30, 2028, and increasing the amount by $252,000 to an amount not to exceed $474,200.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo County Health (County Health) is developing a new public-facing website, focused on service delivery to clients, patients, and the public, with state-of-the-art tools for accessibility and language access. It will allow for better presentation of data, performance metrics, and other measures for accountability and transparency. It will streamline and focus years of accumulated information about County Health’s many programs and services in languages that are easy to read and understand, promoting easier access to health care and information.
On February 6, 2023, County Health released a Request for Proposals to seek an experienced firm to develop a new website, and Browne Inc. was awarded the contract.
On July 1, 2023, the Deputy Director of Health entered into a contract with Browne Inc. to implement the San Mateo County Health Website Development Project for the term of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $197,700.
On September 10, 2024, the Board approved an amendment with Browne Inc. for the San Mateo County Health Website Development Project for the term of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, increasing the amount by $24,500 to an amount not to exceed $222,200.
DISCUSSION:
County Health is committed to developing an innovative and useful online resource to increase the visibility of its programs and to improve access to medical and behavioral health care, permits, records, and public information for residents.
The increased funds further support Browne, Inc.’s role in developing content for the new website, easing the transition between the old site and the new one and, by extending the timing of the contract, ensuring continuity of the work.
In September 2024, the contract with Digital Deployment, the hosting vendor for County Health’s current website, was mistakenly allowed to lapse. Digital Deployment had managed an account on Pantheon, a hosting provider, for County Health’s website. To keep the website running and to avoid disruption in services, the hosting account at Pantheon was transferred to Browne, Inc. The current website has been managed by Browne, Inc. since October 2024.
The amendment also extends the term of Browne, Inc.’s hosting and maintenance of the new website and provides additional clarity to the milestones in Exhibit F.
The Information Services Department has reviewed and approved the IT component of this agreement.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligation by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that with the new website development and content management, the number of website visitors per month will increase to 45,000.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26
Estimated |
FY2026-27
Projected |
|
Number of website visitors per month |
40,000 per month |
45,000 per month |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The development of a new public-facing website for County Health positively impacts all residents because it makes County Health’s information, resources, and health care services more visible and more accessible, regardless of residents’ language needs or technology. As a highly visible communications tool, the website augments the many ways County Health engages its clients and provides access to its services
The development of the site is based on years of feedback from community members to program staff and to the County Health Communications team and the experiences of staff in mobilizing online resources to support service delivery.
Staff continue to monitor how the site is used and how technology can improve language and disabled access and promote County Health’s resources and programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement is July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2028. This amendment increases the contract amount by $252,000 to an amount not to exceed $474,200 for the full term of the agreement. Of the amended amount, $252,000 is included in the PHPP FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years. The amended amount is 100% funded by Net County Cost.