October 6, 2026
Human Resources
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager – Internal Services Sharrone Taylor- Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT: Contract with Cooperative Personnel Services HR Consulting
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $50,000 expenditure is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budgets for the Human
Resources, Fire, and Police Departments. Costs will be
distributed among the respective departmental budgets,
and no additional appropriation is requested as part of this action (Account Strings: 01181016-400216;
01181016-400201; 01204022-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Human Resources Department requires continued
support from Cooperative Personnel Services HR
Consulting (CPS) for current and upcoming promotional
recruitment and related human resources services. A Fire Department promotional recruitment was already
scheduled as the prior contract term concluded, creating a need to maintain continuity and avoid disruption. The proposed contract will also provide as-needed
recruitment, training, coaching, facilitation, and consulting services.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a sole-source contract with Cooperative Personnel Services HR Consulting for departmental
promotional recruitments and City-wide training,
coaching, facilitation, consulting, and high-level
recruitment services, as needed, in an amount not to
exceed $50,000, with a term ending June 30, 2028-
AGENDA
REPORT
October 6, 2026
Human Resources (Nickie Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-
620-6602).
DISCUSSION:
Cooperative Personnel Services HR Consulting (CPS) provides recruitment, examination, training, facilitation, and human resources consulting services to public agencies. The City of Richmond has utilized CPS for several years for specialized recruitment and related human resources services.
As the prior contract term concluded on June 30, 2026, a Fire Department promotional recruitment was already scheduled to begin. To maintain continuity and avoid disruption to the recruitment process, the Human Resources Department is requesting a new contract with CPS. The contract will also allow the City to utilize CPS for additional departmental promotional recruitments, high-level recruitments, training, coaching, facilitation, and consulting services as needed.
CPS provides specialized examination and recruitment services, including administration of examinations, development of practical and scenario-based exercises, preparation of assessment center materials, orientation of candidates and assessors, examination scoring, candidate feedback, and related recruitment support. CPS also provides training, facilitation, and consulting services that may be used to support organizational and workforce needs.
Sole Source Procurement
A sole-source procurement is recommended based on CPS’s specialized expertise and the need to maintain continuity for recruitment activities that were already scheduled at the conclusion of the prior contract term. CPS has an established working relationship with the City and familiarity with the City’s recruitment processes. Continuing with CPS will allow the Human Resources Department to proceed with current Fire Department promotional recruitments without disruption while retaining access to specialized recruitment, examination, facilitation, and consulting services as needed.
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend that the City Council approve a $50,000 sole-source contract with Cooperative Personnel Services HR Consulting (CPS) to support current and asneeded recruitment, facilitation, training, coaching, and consulting services. The solesource procurement is justified by the specialized nature of the services and the need to maintain continuity for recruitment activities already underway. Approval will allow the Human Resources Department to proceed with Fire Department promotional recruitments, support additional high-level recruitments as needed, and access CPS’s specialized facilitation and consultation services.
October 6, 2026
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Contract
Attachment 2 – Sole Source