THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Commission Value of “Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable” and the Goal to “Effectively advocate for and acquire municipal, state, and federal financial support to equitably address health and human services needs of the entire community through a truly coordinated system of care”. Funding is used to provide needed services to eligible persons living with HIV in Broward County.
Broward County has received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) since 1991. The Ryan White Part A program is authorized under Part A of Title XXVI of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (RWTE Act). The Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) program was established to provide health and support services to minority populations who are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic with no other means to pay for services.
Since 2016, there have been approximately 20,041 people living with HIV/AIDS in Broward County, many of whom have utilized MAI funds, in coordination with Part A funding, to receive medical and support services. Funding through the RWTE Act and MAI provides these critical health and support services to low income and uninsured persons with HIV/AIDS.
The Ryan White Part A federal grant period is from March 1st through February 28th. The Ryan White Part A Program has historically received several partial Notices of Award from HRSA. On January 29, 2018, HRSA issued a partial Notice of Award to the County in the amount of $3,329,163 (Exhibit 2) of which $260,905 is specifically intended for MAI services. On March 16, 2018, the County received another partial Notice of Grant Award for Ryan White Part A services in the amount of $3,907,952 (Exhibit 3) of which $303,966 is specifically intended for MAI Services. The County anticipates receiving the final Notice of Award by June 1, 2018.
Additionally, the County has received funding from Community Foundation of Broward, Inc. in the amount of $60,000 to develop a pilot program for peer counselor certification and training. The Board's acceptance of this grant award took place on May 22, 2018 (Item No. 5).
On February 6, 2018 (Item No. 3), the Board approved six-month extensions of the existing MAI agreements through August 31, 2018 to ensure continuity of care while the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Ryan White Part A MAI Request for Proposal (RFP) process was completed.
The service providers recommended for funding on Exhibit 1 Attachment A are the result of the RFP that closed on March 16, 2018. Eligible agencies were not-for-profit organizations incorporated in the State of Florida with a 501(c)(3) status and governmental entities. The Peer Counselor Certification and Training services were included in the RFP to ensure services were made available through a fair, open, competitive and transparent procurement process. The RFP review and rating process included staff and community participation from a broad range of representatives from not-for-profit organizations and government entities. The agencies recommended for funding are based on the RFP results and are recommended for funding effective, September 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019. Both service providers recommended for funding have existing contracts with the County and have achieved all specified outcomes.
All agreements subject to this Resolution will utilize the appropriate Board-approved form agreement. The Consultant Agreement and Addendum (Attachment B) were updated to reflect required language provided by the Risk Management Division and revises the ten percent contract adjustment limit. All agreements will be reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney prior to execution.
Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that “[n]o public officer . . . shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity . . . which is . . . doing business with [ ] an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee.” In accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes, Board approval is required to waive any conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires a two-thirds vote of the County Commission after full disclosure of the conflicting relationship (Motion B). Form 4A attached hereto as Exhibit 4 constitutes full disclosure of any existing conflict.
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