Approximately $3,517,823 plus certain variable costs including utilities, cleaning fees, etc. 100% General Fund. The County anticipates reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the end of the pandemic. FEMA reimbursement generally results in a 75% Federal cost share of eligible local costs. The FEMA reimbursement process will cross into at least fiscal year 2020/21 resulting in immediate and potenially long-term impacts to the County general fund as vendor payments are made to the entities listed in this board order.

Contra Costa County, along with Health Officers from the Bay Area, have announced Public Health Orders that require residents to stay home to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. This initial order was in effect until April 7, 2020, but was extended on March 31, 2020 to last through May 3, 2020. The March 31, 2020 order also expanded and clarified certain activities to deemed non-essential to include use of shared recreational facilities and most construction activities. These critical interventions have been designed to reduce harm from the spread of the coronavirus in our community. All Bay Area Health Officers observed quickly mounting cases and serious illnesses across the region. Because the virus spreads so easily, without dramatic intervention like these orders, it would result in so many people needing medical attention in a hospital setting that County hospitals will be overwhelmed. The County may not have enough beds or equipment to adequately care for the most seriously ill. And health care workers and other first responders, countywide, are also at risk. If those healthcare workers and first responders get sick there are fewer people to provide health care and first response services during the pandemic.   
  
The County has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and several Department Operations Centers (DOC) to assist in the response to the pandemic. Those operations centers are the hub for procurement and distribution of services and equipment necessary to respond to the emergency. In support of this, the County Administrator, in his capacity of Administrator of Emergency Services (County Code Section 42-2.602) issued an emergency blanket purchase order in the amount of $20 million on Friday, March 20, 2020 for the procurement of services and supplies necessary to facilitate the COVID-19 response within the County. The Board of Supervisors subsequently ratified the County Administrator's action on March 31, 2020. Similarly, the County Administrator has entered into several agreements, including service contracts, license agreements and leases to support the activities responding to COVID-19. Today's agenda item requests that the Board of Supervisors ratify those contracts enumerated in the recommendation section of this board order.   
  
Federal Disaster Relief Actions   
  
On Friday, March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to Sec. 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). That action provides access to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program, which allows for a 75% Federal cost share on certain emergency protective measures taken at the direction or guidance of public health officials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying expenditures are those that are not supported by the authorities of another federal agency (i.e. reimbursement for response activities funded by another Federal agency grant program). Examples of reimbursable activities include the activation of Emergency Operations Centers, National Guard costs, law enforcement and other measures necessary to protect public health and safety.  
  
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) is facilitating the collection of FEMA Requests for Public Assistance (RPA) from agencies (public and private) impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. CalOES has advised that RPA documents, which do not include a specific dollar amount of public assistance being requested, be filed no later than April 17, 2020. Filing of this document allows agencies, including the County, to be on record stating that costs have been incurred as part of the response effort and allows for a request to FEMA that a portion of those costs be reimbursed in the future. In addition, CalOES has requested that impacted agencies adopt required Project Assurances for Federal Assistance and a resolution designating agents that can act on behalf of the impact agency.  
  
On March 31, 2020, the Board of Supervisors took action to adopt Resolution No. 2020/112 authorizing the County Administrator to submit the RPA documents discussed above to CalOES to ensure the opportunity for Federal cost reimbursement.  
  
State Disaster Request and Presidential Authorization   
  
Following the President's action, Governor Newsom requested that the Federal government declare a major disaster in California due to COVID-19. The President approved the State's request on Sunday, March 22, 2020, which activated additional Federal resources directed to assist California, including deployment of mobile hospital units and a U.S. Navy hospital ship among other things. Contra Costa County was a recipient of mobile field hospital equipment and took delivery of those resources at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, which will serve as a 250-bed alternate care site supporting the capacity of the County's hospital and clinic system. The license agreement for the Craneway Pavilion is included in this action for ratification today by the Board of Supervisors.

Contracts executed by the County Administrator in response to the COVID-19 emergency will not be ratified by the Board of Supervisors.