COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

March 22, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 20, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Glen H. Brooks, Jr., Director, Central Region

SUBJECT:

Agreements with the California Alliance of Rehabilitation Industries (CARI)

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution:

1.

Waiving the Request for Proposal Process (RFP); and

2.

Authorizing the execution of a Participation Agreement with CARI for the term of April 1, 2004 through March 31, 2007; and

3.

Authorizing the execution of a Networking Agreement whereby CARI will receive five percent of the revenue generated by contracts procured by CARI on behalf of the County. The term of the Network Agreement will remain in full force and effect from the date of execution until terminated by either party.

Background

CARI was established by the Department of Rehabilitation in 1989 to serve as the central point to connect state agencies with qualified Community-based Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs). The law authorizes state agencies and local government to purchase products and services without an advertised bid from qualified CRPs. A certain percentage of state contracts are set-aside for persons with disabilities, and CARI acts as a broker for those contracts, which are expected to be referred to the County Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program. This "CARI Exemption" creates valuable partnerships between government and the nonprofit community. CARI's mission is to secure employment for Californian's with disabilities by assisting CRPs in procuring contracts through business development. Representing more than 125 qualified CRPs throughout California, CARI markets the products and services provided by CRPs and facilitates contracts exempt from the advertised bid process.

Discussion

These Agreements will allow CARI to find and refer potential State contracts to Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) that can provide work to Rehabilitation participants for the purpose of job rehabilitation training. VRS will enter into Agreements with qualified State agency contracts which will generate revenue as VRS will be paid for services provided by its participants. CARI will receive a five percent (5%) fee for each Agreement generated by VRS, as a result of its referral.

The State of California did a RFP to find a contractor that could find revenue generating Agreements using the services of Rehabilitation participants and awarded the Agreement to CARI. It is being requested that the Board of Supervisors waive the RFP process for this Agreement as it would be in the County's best interest to use the State's Master Agreement to join the CARI network and there are few Contractors' that provide the same services and have a network of contractors that meet rigid Rehabilitation guidelines.

Vision Alignment

The Agreements with CARI keeps the commitment of: Ensure basic health and safety for all and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life. These Agreements contribute to this commitment and goal by providing job rehabilitation training to individuals with disabilities, allowing them to find work and become self-sufficient.

Fiscal Impact

The membership fee to join CARI is a yearly fee of $595. In addition, CARI will be paid a 5% fee from the proceeds of every contract generated as a result of their referrals. There is No Net County Cost as a result of these Agreements.