Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Make findings in accordance with Ordinance 3.13.030 that a contract for professional employment investigation legal services and other specialized personnel services are necessary to protect against a conflict of interest or to ensure independent and unbiased findings where there is a need for an outside perspective and where work must be completed in limited timeframes;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign competitively bid Agreement 9578 with Buehler Trapani, LLP to for an amount not to exceed $200,000 for a term of three years effective upon execution; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 9578, excluding term extensions and increases to the amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: General Fund with partial recovery from the Countywide Cost Allocation Plan.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Human Resources receives complaints of alleged misconduct in the workplace, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation and abusive conduct by County employees. Human Resources receives and provides for investigations of these complaints in accordance with County policy or rule, including Board Policy E-5 and Personnel Rule 309.4, or as it and affected department heads deem necessary. The department has contracted with outside vendors when special skills and qualifications are involved in the performance of the work, when it is necessary to protect against a conflict of interest and obtain an outside perspective to make independent and unbiased findings, or when it is otherwise necessary to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation and resolution of the complaints filed. The nature of the work involves temporary, occasional, and urgent services.
On March 25, 2024, as a result of RFQ #24-918-029, Buehler Trapani, LLP was identified as a firm qualified for as-needed workplace investi...
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