Agenda

Return

C.124

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	July 24, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Request for a One-Time Waiver of the County Policy Requiring Competitive Bidding for Community-Based Services

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/24/2018

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:	Julie DiMaggio Enea (925) 335-1077
cc:	CAO HSD-AOD

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: July 24, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

WAIVE the County policy that requires competitive bidding for community-based services to enable the Health Services Department to expend recently awarded federal funding for alcohol and other drugs services by the October 1, 2018 federal deadline.

FISCAL IMPACT:

100% Federal funds; Substance Abuse and Prevention Treatment Block Grant (SAPT-BG).

BACKGROUND:

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provides funding to counties for Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment services through a contractual mechanism. This contract is supported by State General Fund, Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPT-BG) and the federal share of reimbursement claimed for Drug Medi-Cal services.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

In late March, the Health Services Department was notified by the DHCS of the availability of additional one-time only SAPT-BG funds. A requirement of award fo these funds is that they must be fully expended between May 1 and October 1, 2018. Health Services - Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (AODS) submitted to the State an itemized budget in the amount of $3.5 million with a proposed list of allowed SAPT-BG services and activities. The Board of Supervisors, on April 10, authorized the acceptance of the additional funds $3.5 million, which will be used to enhance existing programs within prevention, treatment and recovery services that benefit Contra Costa residents at risk of developing, or who are diagnosed with, a SUD.

The availability of excess or underspent SAPT-BG funds is unusual. The period of time allowed for the County to respond this unique opportunity was just 10 days. The subsequent official approval of the State-County contract for the additional funds was also delayed and became effective only at the end of May. That DHCS approached our county corresponds to AODS's good standing with the State and and the State's confidence that the County has the needs capacity to expend the funding within the stipulated short timeframe. The funds cannot be carried over; if funding is not spent within the timeframe, it will become forfeit.

The County has a policy requiring contracts with community-based organizations in excess of $50,000 to be competitively bid. The policy stipulates, however, that the Board of Supervisors may, upon the recommendation of the County Administrator, waive the policy. Under regular circumstances, AODS would adhere to County competitive bidding policy and processes, and work closely with community-based organizations to establish contractual agreements. Due to the extenuating circumstances just described, the County Administrator recommends a waiver to contract with an organization to provide recovery residence services for individuals diagnosed with SUD and actively participating in intensive or regular outpatient treatment services. Because of the implementation of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) in Contra Costa County, the Health Services Department has effectively eliminated long waiting lists to enter SUD residential treatment. Likewise, as a result of the DMC-ODS, the County received a waiver to fund recovery residences through SAPT-BG funds. Providing an AOD-free housing environment supports outpatient SUD treatment and long term sobriety. Approval of this recommendation would help the Health Services Department fulfill one of the proposed activities through the SAPT-BG grant award, further the goals of the DMC-ODS waiver of implementing evidence-based practices, support the ongoing treatment of individuals in a safe AOD-free environment, and avoid the forfeiture of supplemental funds to DHCS.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Should the Board elect to not approve the recommendation, the Health Services Department will likely forfeit $300,000 of the $3.5 million supplemental SAPT-BG funding designated for recovery residences due to the short timeframe in which the funds must be expended.