Title
a. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment 2 to Agreement A-13884/A14549 by and between Amar Forensics for the provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports, adding $929,000 for a new not to exceed total of $2,657,000 and extend agreement to June 30, 2023.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment 2 to Agreement A-13884/A14549 by and between Amar Forensics for the provision of forensic pathology services and autopsy reports, adding $929,000 for a new not to exceed total of $2,657,000 and extend agreement to June 30, 2023.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Board approved the original agreement with Amar Forensics for pathology services and autopsy reports with Board Action A-13884; however, due to the pandemic COVID-19, autopsies in the Coroner's Office have significantly increased and an amendment is required. Roughly 373 autopsies in 2019, 472 in 2020 and 465 in 2021 were done. The Coroner's Office is currently performing around 42 autopsies per month, or a 26.5% increase from the pre-pandemic period.
The Sheriff is a combined Sheriff/Coroner's Office and is therefore responsible for provision and supervision of 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 investigati...
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