Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis
Secondary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis Arturo Sanchez, M.D.
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Merrill Hines dba Final Advocate Forensics, PLLC
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):0%
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Non-Divisible
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of a professional services exemption from the competitive bid requirements and a renewal option with Merrill Hines dba Final Advocate Forensics, PLLC in the amount of $370,000 for medical examiner services for the Institute of Forensic Sciences for the period of October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Non-Divisible.
end
Background and Discussion:
Final Advocate provides vital forensic services for the county and carries out death reports, forensic
investigations and other related scientific services.
Expected Impact:
Without these vital forensic services, investigations could be greatly impeded, and post-mortem reports would
be impeded further than they already are due to being short staffed.
Alternative Options:
The alternative is for HCIFS to continue processing cases as soon as possible with current staff leading to staff burnout, further attrition, and longer turnaround times.
County Strategic Plan Goal: Choose an item.
County Strategic Plan Objective: Choose an item.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
9/19/2024 |
331 |
Award |
|
1/23/2025 |
139 |
Amendment 1 |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$370,000 |
$370,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$370,000 |
$370,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$370,000 |
$370,000 |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 6/12/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Cristina Juarez, Manager, Finance HCIFS; Kennedy Harden, Buyer Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter