Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Kenneth Binder, Sheriff
Subject: Agreement with Serological Research Institute for Sexual Assault Kit Testing
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Serological Research Institute to provide forensic analysis of untested sexual assault kits, for the term of March 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $690,000.
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BACKGROUND:
In the course of law enforcement activities, it is necessary to gather forensic evidence to establish objective facts in legal proceedings, primarily to identify perpetrators, link suspects to crime scenes, and exonerate the innocent.
Sexual assault kits are used to collect and preserve biological evidence. On October 8, 2019, Senate Bill 22 amended Penal Code §§ 680 and 680.3 require law enforcement agencies to submit sexual assault forensic evidence received on or after January 1, 2016, to a crime lab within 20 days. The crime lab must process sexual assault forensic evidence, create DNA profiles when able, and upload qualifying DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) as soon as practically possible, but no later than 120 days after initially receiving the evidence for testing.
Prior to adoption of Senate Bill 22, law enforcement agencies had discretion on which sexual assault kits were to be tested, and many kits in San Mateo County were not submitted for testing. In addition, Senate Bill 22 did not require law enforcement agencies to test sexual assault kits collected prior to 2016.
A recent audit has identified approximately 315 kits with respect to which testing was cancelled by the applicable law enforcement agency, approximately 30 kits that were never submitted to the laboratory, and an additional 320 that were collected prior to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory performing modern DNA analysis.
The Sheriff’s Office has executed an agreement with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Forensic Services for distribution of the FY 2025 Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Grant Program funds to enable the outsourced testing of these previously untested sexual assault kits.
The Board of Supervisors authorized execution of said agreement with the California Department of Justice under Resolution Number 081455.
DISCUSSION:
In October 2025, the County issued a request for proposals for accredited forensic service providers to support the testing of untested sexual assault kits. The Sheriff’s Office received six proposals from qualified and responsible vendors. A team of evaluators from the Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory and the District Attorney’s Office evaluated the proposals on project approach, firm qualifications, team qualifications, and price. Two vendors were selected based on the best-value evaluation and one of these selected vendors was Serological Research Institute.
The County wishes to enter into an agreement with Serological Research Institute to provide forensic analysis of previously untested sexual assault kits for the term March 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $690,000.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
It is anticipated that by May 2027, 100% of the nearly 700 identified untested sexual assault kits will have been tested.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Testing all untested sexual assault evidence kits promotes equity by ensuring that survivors of sexual assault, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic background, have equal access to justice, safety, and healing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is from March 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, for a total amount not to exceed $690,000. The cost of this agreement will be reimbursed by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services from the FY 2025 Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Grant Program funds. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.