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Agenda Item
ASR
Control 24-000950 |
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MEETING
DATE: |
03/25/25 |
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legal entity taking action: |
Board
of Supervisors |
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board of supervisors district(s): |
All
Districts |
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SUBMITTING Agency/Department: |
Social
Services Agency (Approved) |
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Department contact person(s): |
An
Tran (714) 541-7708 |
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James
Cho (714) 541-7711 |
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Subject: Approve Amendment Two to Contracts
for Integrated Job Services
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ceo CONCUR |
County Counsel Review |
Clerk of the Board |
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Concur |
Approved
Agreement to Form |
Discussion |
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3
Votes Board Majority |
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Budgeted: N/A |
Current Year
Cost: N/A |
Annual Cost: FY 2025-26 $10,755,234 |
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Staffing Impact: |
No |
# of Positions: |
Sole Source: No |
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Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A
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Prior Board Action: 11/29/2022 #47, 6/7/2022 #22, 3/9/2021
#23, 5/24/2016 #82 |
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RECOMMENDED
ACTION(S):
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1. |
Authorize the County Procurement Officer
or Deputized designee to execute Amendment Two to Contract for Integrated Job
Services to renew and amend the Contract in an amount not to exceed
$21,510,468, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, for a revised
aggregate total amount not to exceed $53,776,170, for the term of July 1,
2022, through June 30, 2027. |
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2. |
Authorize the County Procurement Officer
or Deputized designee to execute Amendment Two to individual Contract with
Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions, for Employment Services,
effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, for the term of July 1, 2022,
through June 30, 2027. |
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3. |
Authorize the County Procurement Officer
or Deputized designee to execute Amendment Two to individual Contract with
Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions, for Subsidized
Employment/Vocational Training Services, effective July 1, 2025, through June
30, 2027, for the term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027. |
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4. |
Pursuant to County Policy Manual Section
3.3-113, authorize the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to
exercise a contingency contract cost increase, not to exceed a total of 10
percent of the Contracts amounts for the first year of the Contracts, for the
entire term of the Contracts, including renewals, and within the scope of
work set forth in the Contracts. The use of this contingency contract cost
increase is subject to approval requirements established by the County
Procurement Officer. |
SUMMARY:
Approval of Amendment Two to the
Contracts with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions, for Integrated
Job Services will support participants in the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids Welfare-to-Work Program in obtaining and/or maintaining
stable employment and assist in achieving the goal of self-sufficiency.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION:
The Board of Supervisors’ (Board) approved
the following Contracts for Integrated Job Services (IJS):
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Board
Date |
Contract
or Amendment Number |
Term |
Maximum
Obligation |
Board
Action |
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5/24/2016 |
Contract |
7/1/2016 – 6/30/2021 |
$56,433,560 |
Approve Contract with Arbor E&T, LLC
DBA ResCare Workforce Services (ResCare) |
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3/9/2021 |
One |
7/1/2021 – 6/30/2022 |
$65,501,678 |
*Approve First Amendment to Contract
with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus) |
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6/07/2022 |
Contract |
7/1/2022 – 6/30/2025 |
$32,265,702 |
Approve Contract with Arbor E&T, LLC
DBA Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus) |
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6/07/2022 |
Two |
7/1/2022 – 12/31/2022 |
$65,501,678 |
Approve Second Amendment to Contract
with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus) for Pre and
Post Supportive Services |
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11/29/2022 |
Contract |
1/1/2022 – 6/30/2025 |
$14,180,000 |
Approve Contract with Orange County
Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc. (OCAPICA) |
*In March 2021, Arbor E&T, LLC dba
ResCare Workforce Services (ResCare) had a name changed and is now known as
Arbor E&T, LLC, DBA Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus).
The California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program seeks to address poverty through an array
of services designed to assist families in various stages of need. CalWORKs
provides temporary cash assistance and employment, education, and training
programs through the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program to assist families’ progress
toward self-sufficiency.
IJS helps families by enhancing the
employability of WTW participants through engagement in employment preparatory
activities and placement in paying jobs. Service Components (SC) include:
Employment Services (ES), Employment Support, and Post-Aid Supportive Services
(ES PASS), and Subsidized Employment/Vocational Training (SE/VTR) Services.
SC # 1 – ES:
This SC provides employment preparation
activities and job placement assistance for qualifying WTW participants. Preparatory activities include job search
services, job readiness training, active job search, job placement, employment
counseling and job development. Additionally, the ES program provides resource
rooms that offer WTW participants and the general public access to job search
support, basic resume writing assistance and essential tools such as computers,
fax machines, phones, current job leads and other community resources.
SC #2 – ES PASS:
This SC removes barriers to employment
such as food, clothing, transportation and other necessities. Services are
available to participants before, during and after securing employment and
available for up to twelve months following the discontinuance of CalWORKS
benefits due to earned income.
Effective December 1, 2024, the Contract
with OCAPICA for ES PASS was terminated and will not be renewed due to funding
constraints.
SC #3 – SE/VTR Services:
This SC provides support for WTW
participants in the Public Subsidized Employment Program (PSEP), Work
Experience (WEX) and Vocational Training (VTR) activities. PSEP is a subsidized
employment program which places WTW participants in public and non-profit
sector jobs through partnerships with the County, cities and special districts.
WEX provides subsidized employment placements with employers that are expected
to lead to permanent, unsubsidized employment.
VTR services provide WTW participants with
program referrals and enrollment into vocational-technical schools,
postsecondary institutions, proprietary schools and public programs in
high-demand fields, addressing community needs. Additionally, SE/VTR Services
offer continued support for WTW participants who complete a subsidized employment
placement, assisting them in transitioning to unsubsidized employment or
maintaining unsubsidized employment for 30 days or more.
The Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise
(DVBE) Preference Policy was applicable and incorporated into these
solicitations. No DVBE qualified proposals were submitted. The Orange County
Preference Policy for Local Small Business is not applicable to this contract
award because services are partially funded with federal dollars.
In November 2023, Amendment One to the IJS
Contracts was executed. This administrative amendment revised the County of
Orange’s (County) holiday schedule and amended the County’s information
technology security, usage and privacy provisions, as well as the attachments.
Additionally, the amendment included updates to the State privacy and security
provisions. See Attachments F and G for reference.
The proposed Amendment Two will utilize
the current outcome objectives, with language incorporated to clarify program
requirements and expectations. Cumulative Outcomes for Integrated Job Services
are as follows:
SC #1: Employment Services by Equus from
July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2024:
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Outcome Objectives |
Outcome Results |
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FY 2022-23 |
FY 2023-24 |
FY 2024-25 |
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A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%)
of Participants referred to Contractor and enrolled shall fully complete Job
Search and Job Readiness Assistance. |
77% Met |
85% Met |
89% Met |
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A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of
Participants referred to Contractor and enrolled shall be placed in
unsubsidized employment upon Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance
completion. |
70% Met |
49%1 Not Met |
44%2 Not Met |
1FY
2023-24 Outcome not met due to participants’ lack of follow through and
expectation of wage attainment in available job opportunities. Due to wage
attainment in entry level employment, participants failed to accept available
job offers and became unresponsive after reaching their planned end date.
2FY
2024-25 Outcome not met due to participants lack of follow through with job
leads provided to secure employment. The participants were also found to not be
committed to meeting all the requirements of the program which resulted in
missing employment opportunities. SSA is currently working with Equus on
updating the delivery method of the Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance
activity to a more engaging hybrid in-person and virtual format. SSA is also
working with staff to ensure they are properly preparing participants for
employment by removing barriers to employment such as supportive services,
transportation, and childcare.
SC #3: Subsidized Employment/Vocational
Training by Equus from July 1, 2022, through January 31, 2025:
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Outcome Objectives |
Outcome Results |
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FY 2022-23 |
FY 2023-24 |
FY 2024-25 |
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Public Subsidized Employment
Program (PSEP): |
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Seventy-five percent
(75%) of enrolled Participants shall be placed in employer worksites. |
57%1 Not Met |
82% Met |
76% Met |
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Thirty percent (30%) of
total placements shall be placed in public or non-profit sector worksites. |
21%2 Not Met |
33% Met |
25%6 Not Met |
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Sixty percent (60%) of
Participants will obtain unsubsidized employment within sixty (60) days of
completing PSEP placement. Contractor and Administrator may mutually agree to
extend this time frame if there is documentation of pending employment due to
the hiring process. |
98% Met |
70% Met |
70% Met |
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Work Experience (WEX): |
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Seventy-five percent
(75%) of enrolled Participants shall be placed in worksites. |
52%3 Not Met |
83% Met |
82% Met |
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Eighty percent (80%) of
exiting Participants will obtain unsubsidized employment within thirty (30)
days of completing WEX placement. |
100% Met |
66%4 Not Met |
61%7 Not Met |
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Vocational Training (VTR) |
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Seventy-five percent
(75%) of enrolled Participants shall be placed in a training program. |
82% Met |
93% Met |
91% Met |
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Sixty percent (60%) of
Participants will obtain unsubsidized employment or subsidized employment
within thirty (30) days of completing VTR program. Contractor and
Administrator may mutually agree to extend to sixty (60) days when
certification is delayed or pending employment due to hiring process. |
86% Met |
36%5 Not Met |
47%8 Not Met |
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1FY
2022-23 Outcome not met due to high number of participants unresponsive to
outreach and engagement efforts and not open to positions with wage rates at
less than $20 per hour. In addition, this was a new contract for provider with
the added focus of onboarding the new program and staff.
2FY
2022-23 Outcome not met due to low participant interest in taking entry level
positions in public sector due to wage rates starting under $20 per hour. In
addition, this was a new contract for provider with the added focus of
onboarding the new program and staff.
3FY
2022-23 Outcome not met due to low referrals in the program. As this was a new
contract for the provider, performance in this area improved gradually, and
many who were not placed gained unsubsidized employment.
4FY
2023-24 Due to budget uncertainty program was suspended from June 1, 2024, to
July 22, 2024, contributing to shortened periods of subsidized employment,
impacts with partnered employers and higher number of participants ending the
program at the same time seeking unsubsidized employment.
5FY
2023-24 Outcome not met due to participants becoming exempt during job search
phase of the activity or facing additional barriers immediately following the
VTR completion.
6FY
2024-25 Limited placements this fiscal year in Public or Non-Profit Sectors due
to referrals and placements being suspended from June 1, 2024, to July 22,
2024. Due to the suspension of
referrals, there was a lack of participants who met the qualifications for
limited available positions at non-profit or public worksites. SSA is working
with Equus to assist with developing job placement opportunities at county
agencies/departments that meet the requirements for the participants.
7FY
2024-25 Due to budget uncertainty, program was suspended from June 1, 2024, to
July 22, 2024, contributing to a limited number of participants in the job
search phase of the activity. There were also several participants who had
attendance issues and were returned to a more appropriate activity prior to
completing WEX. SSA is working with Equus and staff to address barriers to
obtaining employment.
8FY
2024-25 Due to budget uncertainty, the subsidized employment program was
suspended from June 1, 2024, to July 22, 2024, contributing to a limited number
of opportunities for participants to be placed in a subsidized employment
activity and temporarily limiting contractor to unsubsidized employment
placements only. SSA is working with Equus and staff to address barriers to obtaining
employment.
SSA now requests the Board’s approval of
Amendment Two to the ES and SE/VTR Services Contracts with Equus for IJS. SSA
is also requesting the Board’s approval for a 10 percent contingency cost
increase in the event of an increased in need for these services. Prior to
contract expiration, SSA plans to issue a solicitation to continue services.
The Contractor’s performance has been
deemed satisfactory. SSA has verified there are no concerns that must be
addressed with respect to Contractor’s ownership/name, litigation status or
conflicts with County interests.
These Contracts do not currently include
subcontractors or pass through other providers. See Attachments C and D for
Contract Summary Form.
These Contracts, due to the nature of the
services, could require the addition of subcontractors. To add subcontractor(s)
to the Contract, the contractor must seek express consent from SSA. Should the
addition of a subcontractor affect the scope of work and/or contract amount,
SSA will bring the item back to the Board for approval. In the past,
subcontractor(s) have not been used for these contracts.
License Agreement
Equus will provide the required services
at the County's SSA offices located at 3320 E. La Palma Avenue, Anaheim; 23330
Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills; and 1928 S. Grand Avenue, Santa Ana under
License Agreements with the County. To
deliver the required services pursuant to the Service Contract, rent-free
License Amendments with Equus will be executed under delegated authority by CEO
Real Estate Services for two years to coincide with Amendment Two to the
Contracts with Equus. The License Agreements allow Equus staff rent-free use of
designated office space within County SSA's offices. Additional terms and
conditions of the License Amendments are included in the attached License
Summary (Attachment E).
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Appropriations for this Contract
will be included in Budget Control 063, Social Services Agency FY 2025-26
Budget and will be included in the budgeting process for future years.
Contingency of Funds
The proposed Contract includes provisions
that the Contract is contingent upon the availability of funds and inclusion of
sufficient funds in the budget approved by the Board for each fiscal year the
Contract remains in effect or operation. In the event such funding is
terminated or reduced, the County may terminate the Contract, reduce the County’s
maximum obligation or modify the Contract, without penalty.
STAFFING
IMPACT:
N/A
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment
A – Amendment Two to Contract WKW0722-A2 with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus
Workforce Solutions
Attachment B – Amendment Two to Contract WDM0922-A2 with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA
Equus Workforce Solutions
Attachment C – Contract Summary Form – WKW0722-A2
Attachment D – Contract Summary Form – WDM0922-A2
Attachment E – License Summary (Arbor E&T, LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions)
Attachment F – Amendment One to Contract WKW0722-A1 with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA
Equus Workforce Solutions
Attachment G – Amendment One to Contract WDM0922-A1 with Arbor E&T, LLC DBA
Equus Workforce Solutions