Title
a. Approve and authorize the Contract Purchasing Officer to execute a County Staffing Agreement between the County of Monterey and Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc. for the purpose of providing healthcare staffing to the Emergency Operations Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the term of one year, or until the conclusion of the County’s Proclamation of Local Emergency pursuant to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever occurs first.
b. Approve the non-standard risk and liability provisions, as recommended by Contracts Purchasing Officer. (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts Purchasing Officer to execute a County Staffing Agreement between the County of Monterey and Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc. for the purpose of providing healthcare staffing to the Emergency Operations Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the term of one year, or until the conclusion of the County’s Proclamation of Local Emergency pursuant to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever occurs first.
b. Approve the non-standard risk and liability provisions, as recommended by the Contracts Purchasing Officer.
SUMMARY:
In March of 2020, the County of Monterey Proclaimed a Local Emergency for the COVID-19 Pandemic. A State proclamation and Federal Declaration of Emergency for the pandemic were also issued. As part of the County’s strategy to limit the spread of COVID-19 to congregate homeless encampments, alternate housing sites (AHS) were established. Wrap around services for the AHS include medical supervision which was being provided by State medical resources. These State resources have discontinued their services to the County creating a need for the County to urgently contract with a medical staffing vendor.
DISCUSSION:
In order to ameliorate the effects of the COVID pandemic on persons residing in congregate settings or persons who are experiencing housing insecurity, the County, with assistance from the State of California, created Alternative Housing Sites to temporarily house individuals affected by COVID-19. In order to provide adequate staffing to the Alternative Housing Sites, the County wishes to supplement its available medical personnel with additional contracted licensed health care personnel on a temporary basis, and only for the duration of the Proclamation of the Emergency pursuant to COVID-19. Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services Inc. operates a supplemental staffing agency and will employ licensed health care personnel to provide basic wellness checks to County clients staying at Alternative Housing Sites.
Medical staffing provided by the vendor will complete basic wellness checks on clients staying at AHS as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The County Health Department will provide a physician to whom the medical staff will report. The County of Monterey Human Resources Department issued a notice to the Monterey Registered Nurses Association on September 18, 2020, regarding this agreement as required by the MOU with the Association. The staffing agreement contains mutual indemnification provisions, where Maxim Healthcare Inc. will assume liability only for their negligent acts, or omissions.
The agreement does not contain a specific spending amount, given that it is an hourly contract for services. The EOC estimates that the average cost would be $25,000 per month, totaling $300,000 over the course of twelve months.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Emergency Operations Center utilizes staff from various County Departments, including but not limited to the Office of Emergency Services, Department of Social Services, Public Heath Bureau, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Agency, the office of the County Administrative Officer, and County Counsel. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
Funding will be through the Finance Section of the Emergency Operations Center utilizing allocations previously approved by the Board of Supervisors for management of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Approved by:
_______________________________ ________________________________________
Gerry Malais Nicholas E. Chiulos
Emergency Services Manager Assistant CAO
Attachments:
Board Report
Maxim County Staffing Agreement, September 2020