Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Waiver of the Request for Proposal Process and Acceptance of a Contract Amendment with Cognisen
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A waiver of the Request for Proposal process; and
The execution of an amendment to the agreement with Cognisen to provide PearlChat artificial intelligence tool for the term of September 15, 2026 through April 10, 2030, to add the provision of PearlChat services to increase the contract amount by $659,081.84, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $3,313,650.75; and
The Chief Probation Officer or his designee to execute contract amendments and minor modifications not to exceed $25,000 and/or modify the contract term and/or services.
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BACKGROUND:
In January 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution affirming the importance of maintaining County jobs during advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The Board of Supervisors acknowledged the potential benefits of incorporating AI technologies in the County’s operations for increased efficiency and service improvement. The Probation Department’s agreement with Cognisen demonstrates a clear commitment to this resolution by ensuring that any AI implementation will focus on assisting staff, not replacing them.
In July 2024, the Probation Department entered into a pilot agreement with Cognisen for the contractor to demonstrate the capabilities of their PEARL AI. This collaboration demonstrated the potential of PEARL AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Deputy Probation Officers (DPOs).
In April 2025, the Probation Department entered a five-year agreement with Cognisen to adopt the two tools introduced in the pilot program, DocAssist and FieldAssist. DocAssist streamlines DPOs’ court report drafting by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing accuracy and consistency, while Fie...
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