DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Approval of Contracts to address Domestic Violence Reduction and Prevention
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the approval of contracts with four agencies with a total of five programs that support the City’s effort to reduce and prevent domestic violence. The contract terms are for 19 months, beginning on March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, with a total contract value of $1 million. Funding in the amount of $500,000 is included and available in the FY 2020 Adopted General Fund Budget, and the remaining $500,000 is contingent upon City Council adoption of the FY 2021 General Fund Budget. Contracts will have an additional one-year extension option to renew.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
During the October 30, 2019 B Session, staff provided a briefing to the City Council on development of a Comprehensive Domestic Violence Plan to address the critical issue of domestic violence in San Antonio. The assessment 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 Stakeholder Subcommittees of the Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence prioritized identified gaps.
The FY 2020 Adopted General Fund Budget includes $1.6 million to support various initiatives to address family violence. Of that amount, $500,000 annually was set aside to be awarded through an RFP to support programs and initiatives that address service gaps identified by the Stakeholder Subcommittees that developed the Comprehensive Domestic Violence Plan. The following were identified as high priority services and requested in the RFP:
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
ISSUE:
The RFP was released on November 1, 2019 and remained open for 45 days. The City held a pre-submittal conference on November 14, 2019 to answer questions from potential Respondents. The proposal was advertised to the public in the San Antonio Express News, the City’s Website and TVSA (Time Warner Cable Channel 21), and outreach notices were sent to agencies notifying them of the RFP and how to apply. On December 16, 2019 the RFP closed, and 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.
On January 14, 2020, interviews were conducted with all agencies followed by an evaluation meeting. The applications were reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee including six voting members including representatives from the City Manager’s Office, the Department of Human Services, Metro Health, San Antonio Police Department, and the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. 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 for Experience, Background, and Qualifications; 45 points for Proposed Program Plan; and 25 points for Funding Budget and Budget Narrative.
Due to the nonprofit status of the agencies responding to this RFP for these needs, the SBEDA Program did not apply to this solicitation. Recommended award is exception to the Local Preference Program and the Veteran-Owned Small Business Program.
A post-solicitation briefing for this high-profile RFP occurred at the January 30, 2020 Special Briefing Session following the regular City Council A Session. City staff and the evaluation committee recommend $1,000,000 in funding for five programs that address system gaps outlined in the RFP scope of work. The recommended funding awards are based on 19-month contracts, with funding from the $500,000 included and available in the FY 2020 General Fund Budget and $500,000 in the FY 2021 Budget, subject to Council appropriation of funds.
1. YWCA (RFP Focus Category: School Based Education): To prevent incidents of teen dating violence using an evidence based curriculum and supplemental after school programming in SAISD and EISD schools. Recommended award: $272,222.
2. Bexar County Family Justice Center Foundation (RFP Focus Category: Domestic Violence High Risk Teams): To provide expedited Protective Order (PO) applications and services to address violation of POs to assist victims/survivors identified as being in extreme danger through the Family Justice Center’s high priority filing system using the Jackie Campbell Danger Assessment Tool. Recommended award: $330,552.
3. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (RFP Focus Category: Pro-Bono Representation): To create a county-wide system for increasing pro-bono representation that focuses on increasing the number of Protective Orders (POs) processed pro bono by recruiting and training attorneys to assist victims/survivors. Recommended award: $226,726.
4. Family Violence Prevention Services (RFP Focus Category: Forensic Nurse Examiners): To create a coordinated plan with key stakeholders to increase the availability of forensic nursing services for survivors. Recommended award: $125,500.
5. Family Violence Prevention Services (RFP Focus Category: Lethality Assessment Training): To train first responders including medical personnel in violence, trauma, lethality risk and the use of a lethality assessment tool. Recommended award: $45,000.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may choose to direct staff to negotiate contracts with other providers or to expand or reduce the number of contracts to be awarded.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes agreements with four non-profit organizations to provide a total of 5 domestic violence reduction and prevention related programs/services.
The contract terms are for 19 months, beginning on March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, with a total contract value of $1 million. Funding in the amount of $500,000 is included and available in the FY 2020 Adopted General Fund Budget, and the remaining $500,000 is contingent upon City Council adoption of the FY 2021 General Fund Budget. Contracts will have an additional one-year extension option to renew.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council authorize staff to negotiate and execute agreements with YWCA, Bexar County Family Justice Center, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Family Violence Prevention Services to provide domestic violence reduction and prevention related services. These contracts were procured by means of Request for Proposals and the Contracts Disclosure Forms are attached.