Title
Sheriff's Office and Probation Department recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment I to Agreement 7606 with KP Research Services Inc., to add Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) changes to Exhibit A; and
2) Authorize the Undersheriff to execute further documents relating to Agreement 7606, including future amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the contract, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Sheriff’s Office and the Probation Department have had an agreement with KP Research Services Inc. (KP Research), for the past five years as a back-up to another contractor performing similar services. KP Research performs “as-needed” background investigations for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sworn and non-sworn staff positions. Conducting backgrounds for potential law enforcement personnel is a very labor-intensive process which involves extensive reviews on the backgrounds of potential employees to ensure El Dorado County is hiring reliable and trustworthy individuals of integrity and skill. Once KP Research is done, the background report comes back to the Sheriff's Office or Probation Department where it is assigned to investigators for further follow up and investigation. Most of the time, contacts with relatives, friends, prior employers, home visits, and Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) exams are necessary.
The Sheriff's Office also has a contract with Frasier Group Investigations (FGI) to provide background investigations at a lower contracted rate than KP Research which lead to the Sheriff’s Office planning on using FGI rather than KP Research. The countywide contract expired with KP Research in August 2022 and was not renewed prior to expiration. However, after several POST audits, it was determined that the quality of background investigations from KP Research met POST's expectations and standard for sworn personnel. With this new information, the Sheriff’s Office began utilizing KP Research again in January 2023 for sworn background investigations while still utilizing FGI for non-sworn background investigations. After conversations with Procurements & Contracts, it was determined a contract was necessary for the scope of services provided and it was decided the new agreement with KP Research should be retro-active to August 2022 to ensure continuity with the prior contract.
Both the Sheriff's Office and Probation Department contract with this and one other contractor for the same service because it is necessary to share the workload and reduce the backlog when expedited services are necessary.
On May 16, 2023, your Board approved Legistar Item 23-0858, which approved Agreement 7606 with KP Research Services, Inc., for a not-to-exceed total of $100,000, and a term from August 7, 2022, through August 6, 2025. Since that time, KP Research Services, Inc., informed us that, due to changes to the POST rates, they need to amend their contract by adding and amending various rates which are incorporated on Page 5 of Exhibit A of their current contract 7606.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the Amendment to the Agreement; however, the Sheriff’s Office and Probation may not be able to use KP Research’s services without this Amendment.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
05/16/2023 Legistar Item 23-0858
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk reviewed and approved Amendment.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No change to Net County Cost. Funding for these services is budgeted in the Sheriff's and Probation’s operating budget each year and will continue to be budgeted in future years.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please return one signed original of Amendment I to the Agreement 7606 to the Sheriff’s Office for distribution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz
Chief Probation Officer Brian Richart