Memorandum
Date: September 10, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Rachael Dillman Parsons, Social Services Director
Subject: a) Waive the Formal Bidding Process Pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 2-38 due to 38.2 (2) the unique nature of services; and, b) Approve Contract between County of Lake and North Coast Opportunities, Inc. for Emergency Childcare Bridge Program, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027, and authorize the Chair to sign.
Executive Summary:
The Emergency Child Bare Bridge Program (Bridge Program), through North Coast Opportunities Inc., allows resource families to have access to childcare services while a foster child is placed in their care. This program helps to eliminate one of the largest barriers to retaining families, which is limited access to childcare for foster parents. In addition to the emergency childcare vouchers, funds will go towards providing a childcare navigator to facilitate and assist with placement and allow access to trauma-informed care training for providers. Funding for the Bridge Program provided by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) varies per Fiscal Year. Using flexible language for Compensation terms allows the program to continue uninterrupted. Funding for FY 23/24 totaled $140,230, and future allocations are expected to vary slightly, however, official funding amounts are ultimately unknown until details are released by the State.
Lake County Ordinance 3109 established competitive purchasing requirements for all contracts and purchases. Furthermore, section 2-38.2(3)(B) details that competitive bidding is required every 3 years. Due to CDSS regulation and State Welfare Code, the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program Contract is exempt from this specific bidding requirement because NCO, Inc., as the local Child Care Resource and Referral (R&R) agency, must provide these services. According to WIC 10219(a), the R&R agency that has been authorized to serve our Co...
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