Title
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. A-12738 with Dr. Venus Azar for provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports. Amendment No. 4 adds $400,000 for one (1) additional year, bringing the not to exceed amount of the contract to $1,650,000 for the time of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.
b. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign one (1) amendment to the agreement that does not significantly change the scope of work and where the amendment does not exceed ten percent (10%) ($40,000) of the annual agreement amount for a maximum not to exceed amount of $1,690,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
• Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #4 to Agreement #A-12738 with Dr. Venus Azar for provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports. Amendment #4 adds $400,000 for one (1) additional year, bringing the not to exceed amount of the contract to $1,650,000 for the time of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.
• Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign one (1) amendment to the agreement that does not significantly change the scope of work and where the amendment does not exceed ten percent (10%) ($40,000) of the annual agreement amount for a maximum not to exceed amount of $1,690,000.
SUMMARY:
The Sheriff requests reauthorization of a service contract covering provision of Forensic Pathology services for Monterey County.
DISCUSSION:
In Monterey County, the Sheriff is a combined Sheriff/Coroner office and the Sheriff is responsible for the Coroner function. The Sheriff fulfills the coroner duties by utilizing the services of the independent contractor who performs the forensic pathology function for Monterey County. The Coroner is charged with the investigation and the Forensic Pathologist with the autopsy of any reportable or inexplicable deaths and must determine the cause and manner of the death. The pathologist performs all autopsy and post-mortem examinations, which include external examination, internal dissection and microscopic examination. These findings are then compiled into an autopsy report. A team of detectives and deputies act upon any cases requiring investigation or prosecution. If the death is ruled a homicide, the information gathered will be used in future court proceedings.
A forensic pathologist has a very specific and specialized type of practice. Nationwide, fewer than fifty physicians a year chose to become forensic pathologists, and this limited supply of new providers is not keeping up with the need created by retirements and the increased demand for services.
The contract remains at the same reimbursement level, one-thousand dollars ($1000.00) per autopsy, as in the previous years. The amendment adds an additional year of service to the coroner’s contract and allows for any potential and unforeseeable increase in number of cases requiring autopsy.
A copy of this Agreement #A-12738 and Amendments are on file with the Clerk of the Board.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The agreement has been approved by County Counsel as to legal form and by the Auditor- Controller as to fiscal terms.
FINANCING:
This Agreement was included in the FY 2016-17 approved budget. This amendment is being done to fund the contract for FY 2017-18. The contract is included in the proposed FY 2017-18 budget. There will be no increase in General Fund Contribution resulting from approval of this requested board action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This contract meets the Board’s strategic initiatives by providing Forensic Pathology services on a per autopsy basis, which ties the operational costs of the Bureau to actual provision of services. This helps reduce overall costs to the County, because the County only pays for the services it needs, versus having a full-time, benefitted position.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
___ Economic Development
_X_ Administration
____ Health & Human Services
____ Infrastructure
_X_ Public Safety
Prepared by: Nina Ryan, Management Analyst II, Extension #3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff/Coroner, Extension #3856
Attachments: Agreement #A-12738 and its Amendments