In March 2014 the Public Protection Committee accepted, and the Board of Supervisors adopted, the “Proposed Plan for an East & Central Networked System of Services for Returning Citizens” (Network Plan). Consistent with the Network Plan, an RFQ process (#1403-078) was initiated for the procurement of Network Manager and Field Operations Coordinator services for the Network Management Team. This process identified three independent contractors to perform Field Operations Coordinator services and a fourth independent contractor to provide Network Manger services. These contractors began providing services in May 2014. Also consistent with the Network Plan, the County Administrator (CAO) developed and managed the contracts, while the Chief Probation Officer (Probation) was tasked with providing oversight of the services provided by the four contractors. This contractual structure with the decentralization of management and oversight functions proved to be unwieldy.  
  
Because contract law prohibits one independent contractor from providing direct supervision and direction of the work being done by another independent contractor, the Network Manager did not have the latitude to give instructions or implement processes and ideas integral during the implementation phase of a new project. In addition, it proved difficult to implement the Network Plan in a consistent and coordinated manner across the East and Central regions of the County with three different independent contractors with different abilities and methods of providing the services outlined in each their contracts. It was determined by the CAO that challenges with the contracting configuration were impeding the ability of the Network Plan to be fully and consistently implemented.  
  
Moving into the third full year of implementation of the Network Plan, the issues created by this contractual arrangement made it difficult to negotiate contracts for FY 2016-17, while simultaneously allowing for effective contract management and project oversight. Because of this, year-long contracts for Field Operations Coordinator and Network Manger services were not executed for FY 16-17. Instead, the CAO recommended and the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) agreed that contract extensions be offered to two Field Operations Coordinators and the Network Manager for a period of time sufficient to initiate and conclude an RFP process to procure an organization to provide Network Team functions.  
  
Transition Plan  
  
The CAO extended the FY 2015-16 contracts through September 30, 2016 for three contractors providing Field Operations Coordinator and Network Manager services to continue service provision during the transition period. The CAO, in consultation with the Reentry Coordinator and input from the CAB, developed and released an RFP for the Network Management Team services on August 22, 2016.   
  
The Reentry Coordinator and CAO worked with the independent contractors and will continue to work with the organization procured through the RFP process to ensure the transfer of operational work product, continuity of core functions and service delivery, and integration of the provider in the larger reentry service delivery system. Staff expects the months of October to December will be used by the contractor to hire staff, connect with the various stakeholders in the region, and begin the negotiations of MOU’s that may be needed. Staff also expects actual operational functions to begin no later than January 2, 2017.  
  
RFP Timeline  
  
The timeline provided a 4-week response period for contractors and incorporated a mandatory Bidders Conference for interested proposers (which was attended by 20 individuals), so that greater detail could be provided about the Network Plan and its implementation, the County’s reentry system, and to answer questions.  
  
  
  
RFP Review Panel Recommendation  
  
Three responses were received by the deadline established in the RFP of Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m, noon. A Review Panel was assembled of the following individuals: