Title
a. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #2 with Jesse Aguirre, Doing Business as J.K. Mortuary Services for on-call pick up, transport and delivery of deceased remains for the Coroner. This Amendment adds one (1) year and $150,000 to the agreement (8/29/2017-8/28/2021, new contract total cost is $525,000); and
b. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign two (2) future one (1) year amendments to the agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work, and where amendment #3 (does not add more than $202,500) and amendment #4 (does not add more than $207,765) where the total contract value does not exceed $935,265.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #2 with Jesse Aguirre, Doing Business as J.K. Mortuary Services for on-call pick up, transport and delivery of deceased remains for the Coroner. This Amendment adds one (1) year and $150,000.00 to the agreement (8/29/2017-8/28/2021, new contract total cost is $525,000.00); and
b. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign two (2) future one (1) year amendments to the agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work, and where amendment #3 (does not add more than $202,500.00) and amendment #4 (does not add more than $207,765.00) where the total contract value does not exceed $935,265.00.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Sheriff/Coroner’s Office requests approval of Amendment #2 to the contract for provision of on-call pick-up, transport and delivery of deceased remains requiring autopsy to the Coroner’s morgue.
In Monterey County, the Sheriff position is a combined Sheriff/Coroner position and the Sheriff therefore, is responsible for Coroner job function. The Coroner’ Office is charged with investigation and autopsy of any reportable or unexplainable deaths and must determine the cause and manner of the death.
For many years, transportation of deceased remains was provided by a sole proprietor-owned company. This individual passed, leaving his assets intestate, and the Coroner’s Office without on call pickup service of deceased remains. The Office has, over the past few years, reviewed several options, including utilizing our internal staff to provide this function. Lack of appropriate transport equipment and high costs of call back and overtime made this a very high cost option.
The possibility of having a rotational service provided by a group of local mortuary owners was discussed, but the group was unable to make a long-term commitment to the County, due to the demands of their own businesses. The costs associated with this type of short-term solution outweighed the benefits and created the necessity for a more permanent solution. Two out-of- county providers expressed interest initially. Both decided that the capital outlay (three vans are required to provide the service) the need to acquire additional personnel, the level of insurance coverage requested by the County and the number of calls and how they were distributed around the County made submitting a proposal financially and operationally unfeasible for them. Our County has significantly more road surface area and longer travel distances than in comparison to Bay Area counties.
J.K. Mortuary Services already provides mortuary transport services in this County, and therefore, has personnel and equipment in place within the County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved as to legal form, and the Auditor Controller has approved the fiscal provisions.
FINANCING:
The cost of this contract was included in the FY 20-21 approved budget. There will be no increase in General Fund Contribution as a result of this Board action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This contract meets the Board’s Administrative objectives of “promoting an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management”
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Arthur Curtright, Management Analyst II, Extension #3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff/Coroner, Extension # 3750
Attachments: Attachment A - Professional Services Agreement with Jesse Aguirre DBA J.K. Mortuary Services, Inc. and Amendments