City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 1, 2022 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN FORENSICS NURSES, INC., OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA FOR BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,000 WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR OPTIONS TO EXTEND NOT TO EXCEED $70,000 ANNUALLY ISSUES:
Approve the Services Agreement with American Forensics Nurses, Inc., of La Quinta, California, for Biological Evidence Collection Services in the amount of $105,000 for a term ending June 30, 2023, with two additional one-year options to extend in the amount of $70,000 annually.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Services Agreement with American Forensics Nurses, Inc., of La Quinta, California, for Biological Evidence Collection Services in the amount of $105,000 for a term ending June 30, 2023, with two additional one-year options to extend in the amount of $70,000 annually; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Services Agreement with American Forensics Nurses, Inc., of La Quinta, California, for Biological Evidence Collection Services in the amount of $105,000 for a term ending June 30, 2023, including making minor and non-substantive changes and to execute the remaining two one-year options to extend in the amount of $70,000 annually.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Police Department (RPD) requires forensic evidence collections services to properly gather and package evidence to be sent to the Department’s contracted toxicology laboratories for testing. The services include blood withdrawal, urine collection, dry run collection (blood or urine), rape suspect examinations, DNA collection and court testimony.
On March 18, 2011, the City Council approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with American Forensic Nurses, Inc. (AFN) for Forensic Evidence Collection. The agreement provided an option to extend the contract by mutual agreement for five additional years. The City Council approved the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Amendments on July 10, 2012, June 25, 2013, June 24, 2014, July 14, 2015, and June 28, 2016, respectively.
On June 15, 2017, the City entered into a new agreement with AFN with a term ending June 30, 2018, based on County of Riverside Proposal number SHARC-216 for Blood Draw, Biological Evidence, and Urine Collection Services.
On November 1, 2018, the City entered into another agreement with AFN with a term ending October 31, 2021, based on County of Riverside Request for Proposal number SHARC-96148-003-10/28 for Blood Draw, Biological Evidence, and Urine Collection Services.
DISCUSSION
On September 16, 2021, Request for Proposals (RFP) 2124 was posted on PlanetBids to solicit proposals for Biological Evidence Collection Services. On September 30, 2021, with sixteen prospective bidders, one proposal was received from AFN in response to the RFP. The Purchasing Department reached out to several prospective bidders and found that they did not bid due to not having the correct certification or able to provide the services as outline in the RFP.
A selection committee of three City staff members reviewed and scored the proposal based on qualifications, experience, references, approach, and methodology as outlined in the RFP. After careful review and consideration, the evaluation committee determined that the proposal from AFN was qualified to meet the needs of the Department and provide the necessary scope of services as outlined in RFP 2124.
Therefore, the Police Department would like to enter into a Services Agreement with AFN for Biological Evidence Collection Services.
The Purchasing Services Manager concurs that the recommendation is compliant with Purchasing Resolution 23812.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.4 - Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The use of qualified and experienced mobile medical forensic services serves the public interest, benefits the City’s diverse populations, and results in greater public good. The Police Department’s need for biological evidence collection is necessary to properly gather and package evidence to be sent to the Department’s contracted toxicology laboratories for testing.
Equity – The RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside. The achievement of this goal is ensured by utilizing a qualified and experienced biological evidence collection company.
Fiscal Responsibility – The RPD is proposing this purchase in accordance with Purchasing Resolution 23812, Sections 500 which states, that For the acquisition of Goods, Services and Construction, Formal Procurement shall be conducted by the Manager and the Manager's duly authorized representatives in conjunction with a Using Agency, or may be conducted by the Using Agency, through the approval of the Manager and the Manager's duly authorized representatives in a manner and under circumstances intended to elicit competitive responses.
Innovation – In order to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future, RPD reviews the qualifications, experience and references of biological collections companies that are used for forensic evidence collection services to properly gather and package evidence to be sent to the Department’s contracted toxicology laboratories for testing.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed agreement with AFN has the capability to meet the present and future needs of the Riverside Police Department and ensures the Department is provided the capacity to properly gather and package evidence to be sent to the Department’s contracted toxicology laboratories for testing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $105,000 for the initial term ending June 30, 2023. Should the City decide to utilize the two additional one-year options to extend, the impact would be an additional $70,000 annually. Sufficient funds for the initial term of the agreement are budgeted and available in the General Fund, Police Administrative Services, Professional Services Account 3105000-421000.
Prepared by: Larry Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Lea Deesing, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments: American Forensics Service Agreement
American Forensics Nurses, Inc. • Page 2