Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis
Secondary Department: County Administration
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Jesse Dickerman
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): 200365
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): The RAND Corporation DBA: The RAND Policy Research Corporation
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request that the County Judge execute an amendment to an agreement with The RAND Corporation DBA: The RAND Policy Research Corporation for consulting services regarding racial and ethnic disparity for the Office of County Administration for the extended period of September 9, 2025 - September 8, 2026, with no increase in the total contract amount (200365), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature.
end
Background and Discussion:
In November 2021, the Office of Justice and Safety (OJS) conducted an RFP and identified a vendor to
complete a disparity study on the Harris County criminal justice system and its stakeholders. The Disparity
Study will look at the key decision points of our justice system to understand if and to what extent disparities
exist. Moreover, the vendor will identify root causes and provide County-specific strategies to address existing
inequalities. This item is jointly funded by OJS and the Safety and Justice Challenge grant.
Expected Impact:
The findings of this study will be an asset to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and our constituents.
Identifying areas of disparity and their root causes will inform decision-making on focusing, addressing, and
mitigating inequalities by all stakeholders in the CJCC. Additionally, the disparity study will serve as an
opportunity to center the impacted communities in our decision-making process.
Alternative Options:
Not complete the requested study. This option will reduce the likelihood of the County achieving the priority
outcome of reducing racial and economic bias within the criminal justice system. It would leave approved
grant funds unspent and risk losing them if another use for the funds could not be identified and approved.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: D: Reduce racial, ethnic, and economic disparities in the criminal legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): B4: Increase the jail deflection and diversion rate.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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12/15/2020 |
23.d.1.n |
Request for approval of projects scheduled for advertisement |
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11/09/2021 |
175 |
Approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements. |
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06/06/2023 |
263 |
Execute 1st amendment to agreement |
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08/08/2023 |
243 |
Approval of a renewal option (1 of 2) |
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12/19/2023 |
292 |
Execute 2nd amendment to agreement |
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04/23/2024 |
284 |
Approval of a renewal option (2 of 2) |
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Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Total Personnel |
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Anticipated Court Date: 8/26/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Tonya Mills, Managing Director, Office of County Administration; Jessica Barelas, Contract Manager, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter