That the City Council:
A. Approve the purchase of replacement furniture for the City's grant-funded Child Development Program at the Claire Brown Center city-owned facility located at 305 South Euclid Street;

B. Approve an appropriation of $80,537.88 from the General Childcare (CCTR) Contract Fund to complete the necessary funding for this purchase; and,

C. Approve and authorize staff to issue a purchase order for replacement furniture in the amount of $80,537.88 for Lakeshore Learning Materials.

Due to the age and condition of the current furniture at the City-operated Child Development Claire Brown site located at 305 South Euclid Street, Child Development Division staff solicited bids to remove the existing furniture and replace it with new classroom furniture. If approved by the City Council, the proposed furniture purchase in this childcare facility will replace approximately 80 pieces of furniture and storage items in three classrooms that were purchased more than 10 years ago, including several pieces that have become dilapidated.

Students attend class every weekday, so the condition and quality of classroom furniture are crucial elements to facilitating a quality learning environment and ensuring a safe classroom. If approved by City Council, this purchase will provide an overall enhancement and functionality in the classrooms and support the City's goal of providing quality care and education services for enrolled students.

Child Development staff solicited proposals for new furniture and received a total of three bids for the Claire Brown childcare center located at 305 South Euclid Street:

 
While Lakeshore Learning Materials is the highest bid, they are the only vendor that provides “Flex Space Furniture” that will allow staff to easily fold and store the furniture, allowing classroom space to be reconfigured to accommodate approximately 35 children per classroom for a variety of classroom functions and lesson plans. Lakeshore's pricing also includes the removal of the existing furniture and the assembly of the new furniture on site. The other two furniture vendor bids did not provide the additional services needed to ensure efficient delivery and assembly of the items by or before June 30, 2024.

In support of this purchase plan, an Equipment Purchase Approval Request (EPAR) in the amount of $80,537.88 was submitted to and approved by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). As a result, the full cost of this proposed purchase of classroom furniture will be covered by CDSS grant funding as long as the furniture is purchased and in place no later than June 30, 2024. The State will not allow extensions to this deadline and Lakeshore has indicated that they can deliver and install all furniture by that deadline.

All Child Development Division funding is provided through State and Federal grants. The General Child Care (CCTR) Program is entirely funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).  If approved by City Council, the estimated total cost of $80,537.88 for this proposed furniture purchase will be allocated from this program's grant budget. There is no General Fund allocation associated with this purchase.