Approve agreement with O’Connell Research, Inc. in the amount of $221,746.88 for the provision of professional and technical assistance related to the Data Driven Recovery Project for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and delegate authority to the Director of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, or designee, to: 1) exercise up to three optional one-year extensions for fiscal years 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29, each for an amount less than or equal to $221,746.88 per fiscal year, and 2) issue related option year notices. (No general fund impact) (Morales)

Data Driven Recovery Project (DDRP) provides an opportunity to identify strategies for reducing the incidence, duration, and recurrence of arrests and incarcerations of people with behavioral health conditions.  This is accomplished through improved use and appropriate sharing of data about the behavioral health needs of people in contact with or at increased risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

This engagement will build upon ongoing process mapping and system improvement efforts, providing stakeholders with a clearer understanding of how individual programs operate and interconnect. The work will support a culture of continuous improvement, foster cross-system collaboration, and align with emerging initiatives and funding opportunities—such as CalAIM, Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) efforts, and Proposition 36 to ensure program continuity and strengthen long-term partnerships.

O’Connell Research has extensive knowledge and experience both in Yolo County and statewide to continue advancing the objectives of the DDRP. The provider possesses the necessary tools and expertise to deliver additional services related to the IST Workgroup: Justice and Behavioral Health Integration and the CalAIM PATH Justice Initiative. Kevin O’Connell has served as the County’s primary consultant for three major scopes of work in Yolo County: the CalAIM Justice Initiative, the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) IST Workgroup and planning process, and the DDRP. His contributions over the past several years have been instrumental in supporting these efforts

HHSA staff request approval of this agreement to ensure continuity of critical data-driven initiatives that improve coordination between behavioral health and justice systems, ultimately enhancing outcomes for individuals and the community.

Performance Measures included in this Agreement are as follows:
Performance measures are not associated with this Agreement. This contract pertains to statewide initiatives, including Data Driven Recovery projects, the Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) Workgroup, and CalAIM data reporting efforts, and the inclusion of individual performance measures are not necessary.

Deliverables include stakeholder engagement and facilitation; justice and behavioral health process mapping and Sequential Intercept Model workshops; development of IST tracking systems, dashboards, and data analyses; CalAIM strategic and implementation planning materials; cost and fiscal impact analyses; and reports and summaries to support county leadership decision-making and system improvement.

County Counsel has approved this Agreement as to form.

On July 16, 2025, the Deputy Director of GSD/Manager of Procurement/County Purchasing Agent (Purchasing Agent) approved a sole-source procurement for these services. This decision was based on satisfactory service, reasonable pricing, and the need to avoid disruption to County operations. Without sole-source approval, the County would face significant delays and disruptions in implementing critical, time-sensitive initiatives related to behavioral health justice system collaboration and CalAIM data reporting. O’Connell Research has served as the consultant for the Data Driven Recovery Project (DDRP) from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2025. Engaging a new vendor without comparable experience, institutional knowledge, and established relationships would require extensive onboarding, increasing both time and costs. Several factors were considered, including but not limited to 1) Losing access to O’Connell Research’s specialized expertise, particularly in multi-county coordination, data-driven decision-making, and cross-system evaluation would risk inconsistencies in project execution and reduce the effectiveness of County efforts. 2) The County could be adversely affected by failing to meet state reporting requirements, losing opportunities to leverage shared regional insights, and ultimately compromising outcomes for the vulnerable populations served by these programs. 3) Other Health Management Associates, charge significantly higher hourly rates.