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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Coroner’s Office
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DATE:
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October 1, 2004
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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October 26, 2004
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Robert J. Foucrault, Coroner
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SUBJECT:
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Resolution Authorizing the waiver of the Request for Proposal Process and the Execution of an Agreement with Peter A. Benson, M.D. to provide Pathology Services to San Mateo County Coroner (Forensic Pathology)
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to authorize the waiver of the Request for Proposal Process (RFP) and to execute an agreement with Peter A. Benson, M.D.
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BACKGROUND:
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The Coroner’s Office is mandated to determine the cause of death in those instances where the cause may not be readily apparent, such as homicides, traumatic deaths and unattended deaths. San Mateo County Coroner’s Office contracts with Pathologists licensed in Forensic Medicine or Forensic Pathologists, in order to provide the highest level quality of service in determining the cause of death for the citizens of San Mateo County.
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DISCUSSION:
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The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office has contracted with Peter A. Benson, M.D. since 1968 to perform autopsies and clinical inspections on those who have died in our county under circumstances where the cause is not clear. Dr. Benson brings a high level of service, professionalism and experience to the Coroner’s Office, having performed thousands of autopsies over the course of his career. Dr. Benson thoroughly reviews all available information regarding the individual and the circumstances of the person’s death during the course of an autopsy. He explores all possible causes of death and orders additional testing when necessary. Dr. Benson reviews and explains his findings to the family members of the decedent when they have additional questions. He is one of a limited number of Forensic Pathologists licensed in the state of California.
The Coroner’s Office is requesting a waiver of the RFP process and approval of this contract due to the limited number of qualified and available professionals to perform these services and the high quality of work consistently demonstrated by Dr. Benson. Dr Benson is professional and provides reliable and timely service delivery. In preparing for negotiations with Dr. Benson, the Coroner’s Office compared the cost and services performed by Dr. Benson to those of doctors providing similar services for the San Mateo Medical Center to determine a suitable rate. The final recommended agreement reflects the findings of that comparison. We would like to continue our relationship with Dr. Benson for a term of five years.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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This agreement with Dr. Peter A. Benson maintains the commitment to Public Safety through goal number 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors. This agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing the highest level of forensic investigation into the cause of death of residents and visitors to our county
This agreement also helps maintains the commitment to create opportunities for prosperity through goal number 16: Residents hold the majority of jobs created in the county. Dr. Benson has been a resident of this county for many years.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The term of the agreement is from November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2009 and totals $831,504.00. There is an increase of $98,369 over life of the contract over the previous five year contract. These are all net county cost funds. For FY 2004-05 the cost of the contract will be $4,028, this amount will be covered by savings in Services and Supplies, resulting in no additional net county cost.
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