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District Attorney's Office recommending the Board:
1) Make findings in accordance with El Dorado County Ordinance Code, Chapter 3.13.030(b) that there are specialty skills, qualifications, and equipment not involved in County classifications involved in the performance of the work;
2) Make a finding in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, Sections 3.4.2, 3.4.3, and 3.4.5, in which competitive bidding would produce no benefit to the County for the requested Psychotherapy Services under Agreement 8197;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute Amendment III to Agreement 8197 with H.O.P.E.: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center, increasing the amount by $160,440 to $481,320 and extending the agreement term one year, through December 31, 2026 for as-needed mental health clinical services provided to children who are victims of or witnesses to abuse, neglect and/or violence, as well as their non-offending family members and caregivers; and
4) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any future amendments to agreement 8197, which do not increase the amount or the term of the agreement, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval.
FUNDING: California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Victims of Crime Act (51%) and State Victims of Crime General Fund (49%).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Agreement 8197 was originally executed on December 12, 2023, with Legistar file 23-1251, for services beginning January 1, 2024 with Wendy Barillas, Marriage & Family Therapy.
Amendment I was executed by the Purchasing Agent on January 10, 2024, reassigning the Agreement to H.O.P.E.: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center from Wendy Barillas, Marriage & Family Therapy.
Amendment II was approved by the Board on October 22, 2024, with Legistar file 24-1377, to increase the amount by $160,440 and extend the agreement term one year, through December 31, 2025, as a result of continued grant funding.
It is anticipated that funding for Agreement 8197 will be provided by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) under the Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program Competitive Funding Opportunity. On October 21, 2025, with Legistar file 25-1739, the Board approved the District Attorney to submit a response for the AT Program Competitive Funding Opportunity in the total project cost of $293,308 for the period of January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026. Amendment III to service Agreement 8197 with H.O.P.E. will extend the existing mental health clinical services another year through December 31, 2026, and increase the amount by $160,440, for an updated total agreement amount of $481,320, to cover as-needed services provided through the extended grant period.
Amendment III includes language that funding is contingent upon grant funding received from CalOES. In the event the District Attorney’s Office is not awarded grant funding under the AT Program for the 2026 grant cycle, Agreement 8197 shall be unfunded and/or terminated.
A waiver to the requirement for competitive bidding is being requested under the following exceptions: 3.4.2 - as the provider processes specialized skills and knowledge to provide necessary services; 3.4.3 - for there would be no economic value in initiating a bid as there are several grant requirements that must be met, including extensive background checks conducted on new clinicians; and section 3.4.5 - as the extension of the service agreement under a previous clinician with established relationships, skills, and knowledge would prove to be valuable in maintaining uninterrupted services for child victims and their families.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to execute Amendment III to Agreement 8197, the County would need to look at alternative options for mental health clinical services.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
10/21/2025 Legistar file 25-1739: Board approved the District Attorney to submit and accept (if awarded) the grant from the CalOES for the AT Program with a total project value of $293,308 for the period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026.
10/22/2024 Legistar file 24-1377: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the grant from the CalOES for the AT Program with a total project cost of $293,038 for the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, and executed Amendment II to Agreement 8197 with H.O.P.E.: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center for continued as-needed psychotherapy clinician mental health services to child abuse victims and their families.
12/12/2023 Legistar file 23-1251: Board executed Agreement 8197 for psychotherapy services.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Procurement and Contracts, County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. Adequate funding and expenses are included in the department’s FY 2025-26 Budget and will be included in the department’s FY 2026-27 Budget, as applicable.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to return one certified copy of the fully executed Amendment III to Agreement 8197 to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Kelley Lawrie.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney