Approve first amendment to Agreement No. 22-109 with The Regents of the University of California to increase funding in the amount of $5,000 for 2023-24 for a new contract maximum of $35,000 for the period of February 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024; and increase option year funding for 2024-25 and 2025-26 for the provision of consultation and expert witness testimony services. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan)

On or about May 24, 2022, Health and Human Services agency (HHSA) entered into an Agreement with The Regents of the University of Davis (UCD) to provide expert witness testimony and bonding assessment services. The agreement provided for initial term of February 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 as follows:
 

The agreement also included four one-year extension options for Fiscal Year(s) 23-24; 24-25 and 25-26 in an amount less than or equal to $10,000 per fiscal year.

On or about May 16, 2023 the County exercised its first option extending the term through June 30, 2024, increasing the contract maximum by $10,000 as provided for that option year. It is the collective professional opinion of the Yolo County multidisciplinary Interagency Placement Committee that specific youth require the type of specialized treatment that is available through the UCD Child and Adolescent Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CAARE) Center to address trauma and sexualized behaviors. Further, expert witness testimony are services that are ordered by the Yolo County Juvenile Court and UCD was recommended as a provider for these services by Yolo County Counsel. UCD in their expert capacity provide the court with valuable information that impacts case planning decision on behalf of the child. As such, increase utilization of this contract is expected in FY 23-24 and subsequent years.

HHSA requests approval of this First Amendment which adds additional funding to FY23-24 and to the remaining option years, FY24-25 and FY25-26 (from $10,000 per fiscal year to $15,000 per fiscal year) to ensure funding is available for the increased court ordered services anticipated for CWS parents, children and families.

Performance Measures included in this Agreement are as follows:
Performance Measure do not pertain to this Agreement.  

County Counsel has approved this Agreement as to form.
Department of General Services, Procurement Division

On May 25, 2022, the then-acting County Procurement Manager approved a sole source procurement for these services. A sole source was deemed appropriate for these services.

Procurement reviewed HHSA’s request and determined that it was in the best interest of the County, based on satisfactory service/reasonable prices and to avoid the interruption of County business. Without sole source approval of the agreement with the vendor, the County would not be able to meet the requirement by the Yolo County Juvenile Court. Factors considered, include but were not limited to 1) the CAARE Center is specialized in serving traumatized youth and has the expertise to provide consultation and expert witness testimony regarding child physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect, emergent health concerns, treatment needs, and/or adoption/placement planning. 2) The CAARE Center had already conducted psychological evaluation through a previous agreement and through these services County was able to comply with the requirements of the juvenile court and was able to provide treatment recommendations. 3) The CAARE Center was recommended by Yolo County Counsel 4) the cost of expert witness testimony services is the best possible available to the County.