Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Amendment of the Agreement with Orijin, PBC, (formerly American Prison Data Systems) to increase funding and extend the term through December 31, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an amendment to the Agreement with Orijin, PBC, (formerly American Prison Data Systems) for the continued provision of secure tablet-based learning, educational programming, communication tools, and software maintenance service for youth housed at the San Mateo County Youth Services Center - Juvenile Hall, extending the term of the agreement through December 31, 2026, and increasing the contract amount by $139,499.16, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $329,499.16.
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BACKGROUND:
The Probation Department has already procured and implemented the Orijin, PBC secure tablet-based learning platform within the Youth Services Center - Juvenile Hall. The system includes thirty (30) secure tablets with locked-down firmware, educational software, rehabilitative programs, vocational training modules, and the Thrive secure communication platform. These tools support youth rehabilitation, reentry preparation, academic progress, digital literacy, and healthy connections with family members.
DISCUSSION:
A one-year extension is required to maintain continuity of service for the existing software environment, including essential program licenses, hardware maintenance, and system support for programs already in active use by youth and staff. The amendment will ensure uninterrupted delivery of established rehabilitative, educational, therapeutic, and vocational programming while the Probation Department prepares and conducts a full competitive procurement process for future digital learning and communication services.
The Department currently utilizes thirty (30) Orijin secure tablets procured under the existing agreement. Orijin also provided an additional ten (10) tablets at no cost to the County as part of the implementation of the Thrive Video Visitation. Under this amendment, the Department will purchase ten (10) additional tablets with corresponding software licenses, increasing the total available devices to fifty (50). Expanding the fleet will improve youth access to educational and therapeutic content and reduce wait times for device availability. Since its implementation, the Orijin Thrive secure communication platform has supported 40,773 connected calls. This level of utilization demonstrates the platform’s critical role in maintaining family connections, supporting youth well-being, and reinforcing rehabilitative outcomes.
Under Exhibit A, Orijin, PBC provides the following services and support:
• Maintenance and support for the existing thirty (30) tablets, licensing for the ten (10) tablets provided at no cost, and licensing for the ten (10) new tablets included in this amendment
• Access to Orijin’s educational, workforce development, reentry, and therapeutic programming catalog
• English Language Learning content with proficiency assessment to measure instructional impact
• Movies cellular for corrections-safe movie access
• The Thrive secure communication platform
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programming targeting criminogenic needs
• Remote or onsite refresher training for staff
• Equipment repairs and replacement
The extension through December 31, 2026, ensures that youth continue to receive uninterrupted access to these services while the Department conducts a procurement process for future service delivery.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Performance Measures |
Calendar Year Target |
|
Professional Development and Staff Training - Contractor shall offer implementation training and continuous customer support |
100% |
|
Invoicing - Contractor shall submit timely, detailed invoices with adequate supporting documentation |
100% |
|
Customer Support - Contractor shall offer weekly check-ins and ongoing support to review updates and troubleshoot technical issues |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Extending the Orijin, PBC, secure tablet-based learning platform supports equitable access to education, communication, and rehabilitative services for youth in the Youth Services Center - Juvenile Hall, many of whom come from communities disproportionately affected by systemic inequities. The extension ensures uninterrupted access to digital learning tools, vocational training, therapeutic content, and secure communication resources that help reduce disparities for youth of color, low-income youth, and multilingual learners.
The platform also includes the English as a Second Language Program featuring evidence-based English language instructions and proficiency assessment, which support the academic progress of multilingual learners. Maintaining continuity of these services promotes positive youth development and supports equitable outcomes while the County conducts a full competitive procurement process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This amendment increases the contract amount by $139,499.16, for a new total amount not to exceed $329,499.16. The term is extended through December 31, 2026. Funding for this amendment is included in the Department’s FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 budgets and requires no additional Net County Cost.