Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lisa Mancini, Interim Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with American Institutes for Research for Evaluation and Research Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with American Institutes for Research, for evaluation and research services, for the term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $597,610.
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BACKGROUND:
Federal and state programs require Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) to submit evaluations and reports on program outcomes. These requirements have increased as a result of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which requires evaluation design, analysis, and reporting on new initiatives to improve access to underserved populations. Measure K funding has also increased reporting requirements.
In September 2015, BHRS issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a provider of research and evaluation services. American Institutes for Research (AIR) submitted a proposal and was selected to provide a portion of these services, along with another proposer, Prins Williams Analytics, LLC.
In October 2018, the AIR agreement was renewed for an additional two years, taking the agreement through FY 2019-20. This allowed AIR to continue state-mandated MHSA reporting initiatives, Medical Assisted Therapy evaluation and Laura’s Law evaluation and reporting.
In October 2020, this Board approved an extension and an increase in the agreement amount for AIR to support implementation and reporting requirements of the new Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant awarded to BHRS in July 2020.
In September 2021, this Board approved a one-year renewal of the AIR agreement for AIR to continue providing evaluation services to BHRS, taking the agreement through FY 2021-22.
AIR continues to provide evaluation and reporting services to the Medication Assisted Therapy Program and evaluation and Social Emotional Learning consultation services for the MHSSA grant in collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Education.
The data provided by AIR is used to assist BHRS managers in maintaining oversight of contracted provider performance, meet state legislative reporting and continuous improvement requirements and ensuring quality services for BHRS clients.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance Code Section 2.83.170 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to waive the Request for Proposals (RFP) process in any situation where the Board of Supervisors determines that the best interest of the County could be served without the necessity of proposals.
BHRS is requesting this Board to waive the RFP process so that BHRS can continue contracting with AIR to provide reporting and evaluation services. These services include MHSA required reporting and evaluation for Full-Service Partnerships (FSP) and Prevention including Laura’s Law implementation, and the Early Intervention Outreach Collaboratives.
The continuation of the agreement with AIR will also support the development of quarterly FSP Continuing Improvement reports for local and statewide improvement efforts and required Annual Report services for nine BHRS-staffed, MHSA funded, programs, including the Older Adult System of Integrated Services, Pathways Court Mental Health, Child Welfare Partners and Pre-to-Three, School-Based Mental Health, Crisis Coordination, Puente Clinic for Intellectually Disabled Dual Diagnosis, Trauma-Informed Interventions - Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, and Adult Resource Management
All services will continue to be provided remotely via online meeting platforms and conference calls.
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form and is on the Continuing Resolution. The agreement is going to this Board late due to protracted negotiations with the vendor.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that 100% of the MHSA reporting/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 2021-22 Actual |
FY 2022-23 Projected |
|
Percentage of MHSA reporting/evaluation requirements and the evaluation of AOD treatment success that are completed by AIR for selected populations |
100% 7/7 deliverables |
100% 7/7 deliverables |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $597,610 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $597,610 are included in the BHRS FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget. It is anticipated that the MHSSA grant will fund $89,780, Federal Financial Participation for Medi-Cal will fund $165,446, and MHSA program funding will fund $342,384. There is no Net County Cost.