Title
Probation Department recommending the Board:
1) Make findings that it is appropriate to engage an independent contractor to provide consultant services, as Agreement 10130 requires specialty skills and County classifications qualifications not expressly identified in accordance with County ordinance code 3.13.030(B);
2) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, Section 3.4.3, to exempt Agreement 10130 from the competitive bidding process because competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the County;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 10130 with O’Connell Research, Inc, to provide consultant services for the Project Work Plan for the Prop 47 Cohort 5 (Prop 47) Grant effective upon execution through June 30, 2029, in an amount not to exceed $175,000; and
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 10130, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement.
FUNDING: Prop 47 Cohort 5 Grant. (100%)
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Since May 16, 2019, O’Connell Research, Inc. (O’Connell) has been providing consultant services for various grant deliverables and other programs for Probation.
On May 19, 2026, with Legistar file 26-0530, the Board of Supervisors approved Probation’s Prop 47 Cohort 5 (Prop 47) grant award of $7,990,057 for the grant period of October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. The Prop 47 Cohort 5 grant, through the Board of State and Community Corrections, supports mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and/or diversion programs for justice involved individuals.
Consultant services to be provided by O’Connell included in the Project Work Plan for the Prop 47 grant are assisting with preparing data sharing agreements with justice partners and treatment systems to enable recidivism tracking; establish metrics dashboards to track outcomes; leverage the Prop 47 Local Advisory Committee to expand Medi-Cal billing readiness, shared grant writing efforts, long-term funding strategies, and integration with CalAIM community supports; assist with project evaluation to ensure thorough and objective monitoring; and guide the project’s evaluation with a multidisciplinary team.
County Procurement Policy describes exemptions to the competitive bidding process. Agreement 10130 falls under Section 3.4.3 “Competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the County”. O’Connell has been a reliable consultant to the County on justice and behavioral health issues since 2019. County Procurement and Contracts has affirmed that services with O’Connell should be exempted from competitive bidding.
Though the grant period ends on December 31, 2028, per the grantor, the County may continue to use grant funds on expenditures associated with completion of the Local Evaluation Report, completion of required program-specific compliance audit, and other financial close-out activities. O’Connell will assist Probation with completion of the Local Evaluation Report through June 30, 2029.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this agreement or direct staff to find another vendor.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
05/19/2026 Legistar file 26-0530
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Procurement & Contracts, County Counsel, and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no General Fund impact or increase to Net County Cost for this item. Funding is provided by the Prop 47 Cohort 5 grant.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on two originals of Agreement 10130.
2) Forward one fully executed document to the Probation Department for finalization and distribution to vendor.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Nikki Moeszinger, Chief Fiscal Officer