Agenda

Return

C.109

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Date:	June 5, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Purchase Order - Norix Group, Inc. (IWF)

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/05/2018

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:	Liz Arbuckle, (925) 335-1529
cc:	Liz Arbuckle Heike Anderson Tim Ewell

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: June 5, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Office of the Sheriff (0273), a purchase order with Norix, Group Inc. in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to purchase inmate furniture for the three detention facilities.

FISCAL IMPACT:

$250,000. 100% Inmate Welfare Fund (114700), Zero Net County Cost.

BACKGROUND:

In the interest of maintaining compliance with State Regulations (Title 15 and 24), a review was performed regarding policy, procedure, and accommodations for Office of the Sheriff, Contra Costa County (CCCSO), inmates during meal service and free time. Three areas of concern regarding inmate furniture at the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) are:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

- Lack of adequate table seating to accommodate the inmate population
- Age, state of disrepair and other operational issues of current inmate seating
- Health and sanitary concerns to staff and inmates

At the Martinez Detention Facility, the lack of table seating available to inmates in the housing units makes “out-of-room” meal service very difficult. This situation also does not provide sufficient seating to allow for inmates to socialize with one another during free time hours.

The West County and Marsh Creek Detention Facilities currently utilize wooden-framed sofas and chairs with cloth upholstered cushions. At these facilities, the primary issue is not a lack of seating, but rather the old age (25 years+) and frequent state of disrepair of the current inmate sofas and chairs. There are bio-hazard concerns as the cloth upholstery easily and quickly absorbs bodily fluids. The cloth upholstery also presents significant communicable disease risks, as they are prone to harboring scabies and bed bugs. This type of furniture also poses officer safety risks due to the numerous areas within the cushions to store or hide contraband. And lastly, there is a significant financial impact to constantly launder and repair or replace the cushions and repair the wooden frames.

The West County Detention facility currently has tables and seating in the common areas of the Inmate Buildings. Unfortunately, these tables, chairs and sofas are unable to be secured to the floor and pose a safety concern for Deputies, inmates, and visitors. Replacing these tables, chairs and sofas with a safer seating option would be ideal for anyone residing, working, or visiting these areas.



Martinez Detention Facility - The purchase of additional floor-mounted and wall-mounted table seating would allow the inmates to be out of their rooms to eat and socialize during meal service. This would also give detention staff more control over the food being consumed or being taken into inmate rooms following meals. Having meal service in the common area as opposed to the “in-room” meals currently practiced would help to mitigate vermin concerns, health/sanitary issues, and policy violations. Additional table seating would allow detention staff to better monitor the inmates while they eat their meals and give the Deputy the opportunity to observe if an inmate is not eating meals, which is a significant medical concern.

West County and Marsh Creek Detention Facilities -The purchase of highly-durable, rotationally molded vinyl skin sofas and chairs will mitigate the issues and concerns of the current wooden-frame and cloth upholstered furniture. This furniture will also improve the aesthetic appearance of the housing units, ensuring a professional image demanded by the Office of the Sheriff.

Norix Hondo Nuevo is a new line of unique furniture that combines extreme durability, ergonomic comfort and modern style. This line includes chair and bench options that allow for flexible, modular seating arrangements that would be ideal. The smooth exterior surface is impervious to fluids and highly puncture resistant, yet easy to clean and sanitize. There is a “drip edge” that is fabricated into the surface that allows moisture to run off the seating surface and not into the base. The molded exterior skin tops are attached with tamper resistant fasteners to the furniture base. Also available is a Ganging Kit, which allows several pieces of furniture to be connected, minimizing the ability of inmates to pick up the furniture and use as a weapon. This concern is significant when considering upper tier applications.