Title
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. A-12738 with Dr. Venus Azar for provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports. Amendment No. 3 adds $425,000 for one (1) additional year, bringing the not to exceed amount of the contract to $1,250,000 for the time period of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017; and
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%) ($125,000) of the total agreement for a maximum not to exceed amount of $1,375,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #3 to Agreement #A-12738 with Dr. Venus Azar for provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports. Amendment #3 adds $425,000 for one (1) additional year, bringing the not to exceed amount of the contract to $1,250,000 for the time period of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017.
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%) ($125,000) of the total agreement for a maximum not to exceed amount of $1,375,000.
SUMMARY:
In Monterey County, the Sheriff is a combined Sheriff/Coroner and the Sheriff is responsible for the Coroner function. The Coroner is charged with the investigation and autopsy of any reportable or inexplicable deaths and must determine the cause and manner of the death. The Coroner 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.
Nationwide, less than 50 physicians a year chose to become coroners, and this limited supply of new providers is not keeping up with the need created by retirements and the increased demand for services. This contract covers services of the independent contractor who performs the forensic pathology function for Monterey County. The contract remains at the same cost per autopsy reimbursement level, one-thousand dollars ($1000.00) per autopsy, as in the previous two 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 is 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:
The cost of the contract was anticipated and included in the Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17. There will be no increase in General Fund Contribution as a result of this board action.
Submitted by: Nina Ryan, Management Analyst II, ext. 3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff, ext. 3725
Attachment: Amendment #3 to Agreement A-12738 with Dr. Venus Azar