COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES

DATE:

May 8 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 23, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Peggy Jensen, Director, Department of Child Support Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Swift Attorney Service for Process Service for the Department of Child Support Services.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Swift Attorney Service to provide process service for the term of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009, in an amount not to exceed $540,000.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Create opportunities for every household to participate in our prosperity.

Goal(s): Goal Number 17: All households experience real gains in income. This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by effectively and efficiently allowing the Department of Child Support Services to execute required legal service of documents necessary to establish, enforce, collect, and distribute court ordered child support to San Mateo County families.

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): Goal Number 6: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by effectively and efficiently allowing the Department of Child Support Services to execute required legal service of documents necessary to establish and enforce court ordered health insurance for the children of San Mateo County.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2004-05
Actual

FY 2005-06
Projected

Percent of cases with orders for child support

85%

89%

Total amount of child support collected

(in millions)

$29.8

$30.5

BACKGROUND:

The San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services obtains and enforces court orders for child support and health insurance. The Department is mandated to provide this service to all recipients of CalWorks and anyone else that applies for child support services. Obtaining and enforcing child support and health insurance orders is a legal process requiring formal service of process to the defendant party. The San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services currently refers approximately 5,000 legal documents a year for service of process.

DISCUSSION:

In January 2006, the San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services issued a Request for Proposals for process service to over 95 firms. Proposals were received from four (4) firms. A five (5) member review committee evaluated the proposals and selected three (3) finalists primarily based on the following five factors:

1. Prior Experience

2. Demonstrated ability to work well with the public agencies

3. Cost

4. Ability to complete the work within the stated timeframe, and

5. References from clients.

Formal interviews were held on March 15, 2006 with the three (3) finalists. Swift Attorney Service was selected as the contractor of choice based on the evaluation criteria and interview. Please reference the attached Request for Proposal Matrix for a summary of the key evaluation criteria and overall process followed in selecting this contractor.

The Agreement with Swift Attorney Service is for the period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009 and will not exceed $540,000.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the attached Agreement.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of this Agreement is from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. The estimated per year cost for this Agreement is $180,000. Funding for the first year of the Agreement has been included in the FY 2006-07 Recommended Budget. The Department of Child Support Services is fully funded through Federal and State subventions, thus there is no Net County Cost associated with adoption of this Agreement.

1.

General Description of RFP

Process Service Contract for the San Mateo County Department of Child Support Services

2.

List key evaluation criteria

• Prior experience serving a large volume of family law documents

• Demonstrated ability and competence in providing a high level of professional service to local child support agencies

• Cost

• Ability to complete work in estimated timeframe

• Number, capability, expertise, training and experience of personnel to be assigned to the contract

• Contractor’s overall ability to manage increased workload and meet all facets of our process serving needs

• Ability to meet qualifications and conditions as specified in the Request for Proposals

• Client references

3.

Where advertised

• California Association of Photocopiers and Process Servers

• United States Process Servers Association

• The San Francisco Chronicle

• The San Jose Mercury News

• Craig’s List (www.craigslist.com)

4.

In addition to any advertisement, list others to whom RFP was sent

• Swift Attorney Service (current contractor)

• All Process Servers advertised in the California Yellow Pages

• All Process Servers advertised on the YellowPages.com website

• All Process Servers listed on the National Association of Professional Process Servers’ website

• California Child Support Directors Association

5.

Total number sent to prospective proposers

95

6.

Number of proposals received

4

7.

Who evaluated the proposals

• The Evaluation Committee consisted of the following five individuals, representing management, legal, and professional child support staff:

• Ignacio J. Guerrero, Department Administrative/Information Technology Division Manager

• Peggy Jensen, Department Director

• Iliana Rodriguez, Department Deputy Director

• Trinidad Madrigal, Child Support Attorney IV, and

• Eduardo Castillo, Child Support Supervisor.

8.

In alphabetical order, names of proposers (or finalists, if applicable) and location

Swift Attorney Service, Redwood City, California.

Jean Randall Process Service, Novato, California.

Attorney Diversified Services, Fresno, California.