Agenda

Return

C. 42

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	May 23, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Purchase Order with Blossom Foods LLC

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/23/2023

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
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Karin Stryker, (925) 370-5141

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: May 23, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Health Services Director, a purchase order with Blossom Foods LLC for the purchase of premade dysphagia products (pureed, minced and moist, soft and bite-sized) in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for the Food and Nutrition Services Department and the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) for the period from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2026.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Approval of this action will result in expenditures of up to $300,000 over a three-year period and will be funded by Hospital Enterprise Fund I revenues.

BACKGROUND:

Blossom Foods LLC offers dysphagia food products for patients with chewing and swallowing difficulties. They will customize products based on the Food and Nutrition Services Department recipes and needs. They offer all three textures: pureed, minced & moist, and soft & bite sized, required by the International Dysphagia Diet Standard Initiative. Their products are consistent in texture, preparation and taste which is important for patient safety and satisfaction. Deliveries come once a week, which is imperative since diets and patient census change rapidly throughout the day.

Preparing these items in-house is not feasible as cooks at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center are not trained in making dysphagia items. New, rigorous standards have come out and due to staffing shortages, demand cannot be accommodated without outside vendors. In order to fulfill the requirements of the Food and Nutrition Services Department menu, multiple vendors are utilized for prepared foods.

Blossom Foods LLC has been providing food to CCRMC since 2018, and has continued to meet specific needs for patients requiring a specialized diet and ensures that CCRMC is in compliance with Title 22 regulations. Standard Blossom Foods products are available by US Foods, a Vizient approved vendor the Department has an established purchase order with, however, it requires a 3-week lead time and costs are higher than purchasing directly with Blossom. By maintaining Blossom Foods as a vendor, the Department is able to appropriately order and inventory product based on a consistent, cost-effective delivery schedule with this locally owned and woman run business. Additionally, the owner has been a Certified Speech Pathologist for over 20 years, and customizes food products based on CCRMC Nutrition Services division recipes and patient needs.

On August 4, 2022 purchase order #25711 was executed in the amount of $78,000 with Blossom Foods LLC to purchase pureed, ground, and chopped foods for Nutrition Services as needed by CCRMC from June 30, 2022 through June 29, 2023.

Approval of this request will allow CCRMC to continue procuring a supply of pureed, ground, and chopped foods from this vendor for CCRMC clients through June 30, 2026.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this purchase order is not approved, it will cause significant strain on the Nutrition Department and CCRMC would be out of compliance with the State of California Title 22 Nutritional Regulations.