COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Probation Department

DATE:

November 18, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 7, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Stuart J. Forrest, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Sentinel Offender Services, LLC

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1)

Waiving the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Agreement with Sentinel Offender Services, LLC to provide electronic monitoring of juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system for the term of July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 for a maximum of $450,000; and

2)

Authorizing the Chief Probation Officer or his designee to execute contract amendments that modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate), and/or modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

BACKGROUND:

Electronic monitoring has been proven to be an effective alternative to detention or jail for individuals in the criminal justice system. The Probation Department has been using Sentinel Offender Services, LLC (Sentinel) for a number of years to provide electronic monitoring to prevent clients from reoffending or fleeing the jurisdiction. Probation has used this service with adults in the Bridges program, with juveniles needing additional supervision, and with youth being released from the Margaret J. Kemp Camp and Camp Glenwood.

DISCUSSION:

This Agreement with Sentinel will make available three kinds of monitoring: radio frequency monitoring (RFM) of the client’s home, global positioning system (GPS) monitoring, and remote breath alcohol testing (MEMS). These services range in cost from $2.61 per unit per day for RFM using a phone landline to $8.20 per unit per day for the most intensive type of GPS monitoring. Clients contribute to the cost of their electronic monitoring on a sliding scale between $1.00 and $8.00 per day. The average contribution is $5.00 per day.

The Probation Department is seeking a waiver for the RFP process as Sentinel is a vendor of electronic monitoring services under the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA, contract number GS07F0521U). GSA operates a federal service that enables state and local governments to take advantage of price discounts from selected vendors. The County Manager’s Office has reviewed and recommended approval of the RFP waiver request.

The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013.

The Contractor has assured compliance with the County’s Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination, and equal benefits.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Agreement as to form and Risk Management has approved Contractors’ insurance.

This Agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 commitment to a Healthy Community by providing an effective method of monitoring adults and youth so that they do not commit additional crimes.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2009-10

FY 2010-13

Actual

Projected

Number of youth and adults placed on electronic monitoring

660

700

Percent of youth and adults completing electronic monitoring

87%

87%

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 and the total obligation is $450,000. Approximately $43,411 per year is collected from families with the remaining $106,589 funded through Net County Cost. Funds have been included in the FY 2010-11 Adopted Budget and the FY 2011-12 Proposed Budget.