Agenda

Return

C. 50

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Dianne Dinsmore, Human Resources Director
Date:	November 7, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with SkillSurvey, Inc.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/07/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Dianne Dinsmore, (925) 335-1766
cc:	Nancy Zandonella

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 7, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Director of Human Resources, or designee, to execute a contract with SkillSurvey, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $210,000 to provide a cloud-based reference checking software system for the period of October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2020. (100% General Fund)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The cost of the contract for the first year ($70,000) is within the Human Resources Department's FY 17-18 budget. The cost of the subsequent two years will be offset by charges to user departments that will utilize the system.

BACKGROUND:

SkillSurvey is an automated, cloud-based reference checking system. This tool has hundreds of job-specific questionnaires designed by industrial and organizational psychologists to help references rate the candidate on the specific behaviors that are relevant to a given job. Ratings have been validated to correlate with reduced first-year turnover for cause and better post-hire performance.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

This tool will allow representatives from County departments to perform online reference checks on their finalist candidates in accordance with guidelines established by the Director of Human Resources. Using a secure login, County departmental representatives will log into SkillSurvey’s online system and select a set of customized job-related questions to assess a candidate's competencies for a specific job. The questionnaire will then be forwarded by SkillSurvey to the references provided by the candidate. The references will complete the online questionnaire and SkillSurvey will compile an aggregate report summarizing the responses which will be made available to the requesting County representative. The automated system will eliminate the need for telephone calls to references as well as the inconsistency in the way questions are asked increasing the validity of the responses. References are more likely to complete the online questionnaire more candidly which can better predict future job success. By using this automated system, we will be able to identify quality hires quickly and more efficiently. The average time for completion of reference checks using this system is two days or less.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the contract is not approved, the County be unable to utilize technology to increase efficiency and streamline the reference checking process.