Title
a. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to execute Amendment #3 with Amar Forensics A-13884/A-14549, to provide forensic pathology services and autopsy reports, effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, increasing the not to exceed maximum by $600,000 to a total of $3,257,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or the Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to execute Amendment #3 with Amar Forensics A-13884/A-14549, to provide forensic pathology services and autopsy reports, effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, increasing the not to exceed maximum by $600,000 to a total of $3,257,000.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Board approved the original agreement with Amar Forensics for pathology services and autopsy reports with Board Action A-13884 and A-14549.
The Sheriff performs the duties of the Coroner through 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 pathologist function for Monterey County. The coroner, who is charged with the investigation and determination of manner of death, utilizes the Forensic Pathologist to perform forensic post-mortem examinations (including autopsies and external examinations) as well as medical file reviews of any reportable or inexplicable deaths to determine the cause of death and provide input on the manner of the death. The pathologist performs necessary internal dissections and microscopic examinations. The forensic pathologists' findings are then compiled into an autopsy report. Currently, the Coroner's Office processes approximately 40 decedents a month. As part of this amendment, a new provision has been added to the agreement to financially penalize the forensic pathologist for the untimely in...
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