Department: Purchasing
Department Head/Elected Official: DeWight Dopslauf
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): 230095
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): East Harris County Empowerment Council
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent that the County Judge execute an amendment to an agreement with East Harris County Empowerment Council to decrease funds in the amount of $13,067 to update the budget (Exhibit B), Federal Award Identification Table (Exhibit E), and Statement of Work (Exhibit G) for early learning quality network for Harris County for the period of October 10, 2023 - November 30, 2026 (230095), Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature.
end
Background and Discussion:
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law. Harris County Commissioners Court set goals for ARPA funding to mitigate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing support for early learning and care initiatives.
Research shows that approximately 25% of child care facilities closed statewide during the pandemic, with a 20% loss in available child care capacity. In response, Harris County is piloting the Early Learning Quality Network (ELQN), a community-driven initiative aimed at improving early learning and care by collaborating with providers, families, and stakeholders to enhance quality based on each community's unique strengths. This effort is supported by the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity, a Network Support Hub (NSH), and four Local Network Organizations (LNO) serving five communities in Harris County.
East Harris County Empowerment Council, one of the LNOs, is amending its budget to reflect: 1) a decrease of the total award; 2) removal of funds initially allocated for contracting a strategic coordinator; 3) a reduction in FTE for one personnel, with a commensurate reduction in salary and fringe; and 4) a reduction in the event supplies budget. Savings from reductions will be reallocated to address increased staff time required to carry out the work, needed salary adjustments, and additional supplies cost.
Expected Impact: The approval of this budget amendment will enable East Harris County Empowerment Council to provide accurate compensation for their personnel and ensure sufficient supplies for the implementation of the project.
Alternative Options: Commissioners Court could forgo approving the amendment, resulting in significant risks to the success of the Early Learning Quality Network program, including failure to accurately spend down these ARPA COVID-19 funds.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
X Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/10/2023 |
22 |
Award Approved |
|
12/19/2023 |
14 |
First Amendment Approved |
|
2/27/2024 |
324 |
Second Amendment Approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: August 27, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director, Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity; Danielle Brooks, Senior Manager, Early Childhood Initiatives, Department of Economic Equity Opportunity; Matthew McGarrity, Senior Buyer, Purchasing.
Attachments (if applicable): Signed Amendment