DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Domestic Violence Reduction and Prevention
SUMMARY:
The City Council will be provided with a briefing on the procurement of services from non-profit agencies to support a community-wide effort to reduce and prevent domestic violence in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In a B Session on October 30, 2019, staff provided a briefing to the City Council on a structured assessment of domestic violence related services and a community informed Comprehensive Domestic Violence Plan to address the critical issue of domestic violence in San Antonio. The evaluation included currently available services, systems of data collection and analysis, and community response to family violence incidents, including law enforcement, social services, judicial, and education.
In addition to documenting baseline status, it also included an analysis of gaps in service and system improvements related to incident reporting and follow-up. The plan was presented to community stakeholders in August and September 2019 and the Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence Stakeholder Subcommittees prioritized identified gaps to determine the scope of work for the RFP.
The FY 2020 Adopted Budget includes $1,000,000 in General Fund to support the Comprehensive Domestic Violence Plan. $500,000 was set aside to be awarded through a (RFP) to support programs and initiatives that address identified gaps in services. City Council endorsed staff’s recommendation to issue a competitive request for proposals (RFP) to support services related to the reduction and prevention of domestic violence through one or more of the following seven high priority services:
1. Referral System and 24 hour hotline
2. Pro-Bono Legal Representation
3. Domestic Violence High Risk Teams
4. School Based Education
5. Blueprint for Safety for protective order enforcement
6. Forensic Nurse Examiner program
7. Lethality Assessment training for first responders
The RFP was released on November 1, 2019 and remained open for 46 days. The City received responsive applications from five agencies for eight proposed programs. Proposing agencies included: Bexar County Family Justice Center Foundation; Catholic Charities; Family Violence Prevention Services; Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid; and the YWCA of San Antonio.
The applications were reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee including six voting members:
• Dr. Colleen Bridger, Assistant City Manager
• Patrick Steck, Interim Assistant Director, Human Services Department
• Richard Keith, Human Services Administrator, Human Services Department
• Jesus Salame, Deputy Chief of Staff, SAPD
• Jennifer Hixon, Violence Prevention Manager, Metro Health Department
• Michelle Lugalia-Hollon, Director of Initiatives and Partnerships, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
The evaluation committee members met with Finance to receive the proposals on December 20, 2019; scored the proposals individually; and met as a committee to interview applicants, discuss proposals, and make final scoring decisions and recommendations on January 14, 2020. The Finance Department managed the RFP and evaluation process to ensure compliance with state and city purchasing requirements.
The evaluation of each proposal response was based on a total of 100 points:
• 30 points: Experience, Background, and Qualifications
• 45 points: Proposed Program Plan
• 25 points: Funding Budget and Budget Narrative
City staff and the evaluation committee recommend funding to four agencies and five programs that address the RFP scope of work. The recommended funding awards are based on 18-month contracts, with funding from the $500,000 available in the FY 2020 Budget and $500,000 in the FY 2021 Budget, subject to Council appropriation of funds.
1. YWCA (RFP Focus Category: School Based Education): Recommended award: $272,222.
2. Bexar County Family Justice Center Foundation (RFP Focus Category: Domestic Violence High Risk Teams): Recommended award: $330,552.
3. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (RFP Focus Category: Pro-Bono Representation): Recommended award: $226,726.
4. Family Violence Prevention Services (RFP Focus Category: Forensic Nurse Examiners): Recommended award: $ 125,500.
5. Family Violence Prevention Services (RFP Focus Category: Lethality Assessment Training): Recommended award: $45,000.
After this briefing, staff will negotiate and finalize contract budgets and performance scorecards to measure program outcomes that contribute to community-wide efforts to end domestic violence.
This item is scheduled for City Council consideration on February 13, 2020. Please note that restrictions on communication remain in place until this item is posted for action on a City Council “A” Session Agenda.
ISSUE:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
ALTERNATIVES:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.