Approve sixth amendment to Agreement No. 21-19 with North Valley Behavioral Health to add funding in the amount of $12,362, for a new contract maximum of $4,412,520, for the period of January 26, 2021 through June 30, 2025, for the provision of operations and specialty mental health services at Pine Tree Gardens Board and Care facilities. (No general fund impact) (Planell)

Approve sixth amendment to Agreement No. 21-19 with North Valley Behavioral Health to add funding in the amount of $12,362, for a new contract maximum of $4,412,520, for the period of January 26, 2021 through June 30, 2025, for the provision of operations and specialty mental health services at Pine Tree Gardens Board and Care facilities.

Under Agreement No. 21-19 (the Agreement) North Valley Behavioral Health (NVBH) provides 24/7 operation of two Pine Tree Garden (PTG) homes, which includes the following daily activities:

NVBH as a housing operator, is responsible for ensuring both houses are appropriately stocked with food, activity supplies, housekeeping, office supplies, and hygiene supplies.  NVBH’s services aim to restore, maintain, or improve personal independence and functioning consistent with requirements for learning and development. Services are patterned upon evidence-based or best practice-based models of treatment incorporating principles of “recovery” from symptoms of mental illness and are provided in a less restrictive environment, allowing consumers to receive appropriate level of care services. Contracting with NVBH allows the County to achieve cost saving by reducing placements in other higher level/higher cost placements.

On or about January 26, 2021, the County entered the Agreement with NVBH for these services. The initial term of the Agreement was from January 26, 2021 through June 30, 2023 for a total contract maximum of $2,136,000. The Agreement also included 2 additional option years for 2023-24 and 2024-25 in an amount not to exceed $876,000 per fiscal year, for a lifetime contract maximum of $3,888,000.  On or about January 24, 2023, the Agreement was amended to add funding in the amount of $100,000 for 2022-23, update the lifetime contract maximum and revise/clarify language as needed. The additional funding was required to hire a case manager to provide full time support for non-FSP clients.

On or about June 6, 2023, the Agreement was amended to extend the term through June 30, 2024; add funding in the amount of $1,024,800 for 2023-24; increase the 2024-25 option year amount; and clarify language in the Agreement. The increased funding for 2023-24 was necessary to cover payroll costs increase due to the 5% Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) increases. On or about November 7, 2023, the Agreement was amended to add additional Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding in the amount of $15,200 for 2023-24 and updated the daily bed rate for the East and West Pine Tree Garden locations. The additional funding was used to cover the increased bed rates.

On or about August 12, 2024, the County exercised its option to extend the Agreement through June 30, 2025, in the amount of $1,040,000, based on the same terms and conditions.  On or about August 24, 2024, the Agreement was amended to update the daily bed rates for 2024-25 and to revise/clarify language where needed. On or about November 12, 2024, the Agreement was amended to add additional funding in the amount of $84,158 for 2024-25. The additional funding was required to cover the agreed-upon increases in costs to NVBH.

HHSA requests approval of this amendment to add additional funding in the amount of $12,362 for 2024-25. The additional funding is needed to cover the increase utilization/client care costs.

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

On December 12, 2017, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Adult Residential Treatment Services.  The solicitation was open for 42 days, (6 weeks).  On December 20, 2017, HHSA offered potential bidders an opportunity to ask questions during a bidder’s conference.  The County received one (1) proposal from this solicitation (see list provided below).  HHSA reviewed the proposal for minimum requirements and proposal was forward to the Review Committee, comprised of two (2) County Staff and one (1) Other County Staff. The Review Committee evaluated the proposal and determined that the proposal submitted by North Valley Behavioral Health met all the required qualifications necessary to successfully provide these services. On January 30, 2018, County issued an Intent to Award letter.

Additional information regarding the Competitive Bid Process is provided below, including a summary of the solicitation evaluation criteria.

Evaluation Criteria

The Performance Measures were included in the underlying Agreement and are not being revised at this time (See Att. B. Performance Measures).

HHSA confirms North Valley Behavioral Health is performing satisfactorily under this agreement. Last fiscal year, the NVBH saw a ninety-five percent (95%) participation rate in learning activities to support continued successful placement at PTG, while two (2) clients successfully stepped down to independent living. Further, service referrals were made for clients on at least three hundred (300) occasions.