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Contact Tracing Competition Impracticable Justification BACKGROUND & DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid expansion of testing that is expected in the coming weeks and months, Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is required to quickly scale up its operation to both investigate positive cases of COVID 19 as well as to reach out to contacts of these cases whom MCDPH believes may have had exposure. As mitigation strategies are lifted in the community, a robust contact tracing protocol is an essential tool in slowing disease spread. Both positive cases and case contacts will be provided guidance on potential self-isolation and quarantine and what to do if they experience symptoms or if symptoms become more severe. In addition, positive cases and contacts will be provided necessary service support and referrals to ensure that their basic needs continue to be met. Disease investigation and contact tracing are primary mandated services of public health offices. As a result, these services are not commonly provided by non-governmental entities. While it was initially the intent of MCDPH to hire all contact tracing staff (100+ positions) as short-term employees, the speed with which this team must be assembled along with the sheer number of staff needed to support this effort compelled the Department to consider alternative options. In addition, MCDPH does not have the internal systems in place to quickly be able to support cases and contacts with the social needs they may require. The need to onboard tracers rapidly became even more pressing when the County learned of State-funded testing blitz sites, which will likely increase the number of positive cases substantially and quickly. This contract will allow us to lean on the contractor to complete training expand capacity at a quicker rate than we are able to do in-house. MCDPH expects the County to see as many as 450 positive cases per day and anticipates that this will result in a minimum of 1800 contact calls. The Department now recommends a bifurcated approach: internal staff will lead all investigations for positive cases in Maricopa County and a contracted entity will provide support functions. These include: (1) Reaching out to case contacts of the positive cases and providing guidance on what symptoms to look out for and what to do should they become symptomatic; (2) Providing virtual case management to case contacts such as where to go get tested, how to get signed up for health insurance, how to get eviction assistance services and what food resources are available; (3) Supporting MCDPH staff by providing virtual case management to positive cases such as ensuring isolated individuals have basic needs met; and (4) Collecting data on service needs to ensure the unintended consequences of disease mitigation (self-isolation, quarantine, etc.) do not go unaddressed. Contact Tracing Competition Impracticable Justification JUSTIFICATION FOR COMPETITION IMPRACTICABLE PROCUREMENT: o Due to the aforementioned circumstances, MCDPH needs to work with a vendor that can “hit the ground running and preferably has an established track record of delivering services for Maricopa County.” This not only requires the physical infrastructure to support a large seven day per week call center, but the staff, training protocols, and community connections that are needed to provide public health and social service support to the clientele. Crisis Resource Network (CRN) has the infrastructure, experience and community knowledge to quickly meet MCDPH’s needs. CRN has been named by the State of Arizona as the service provider of the State’s 211 program through a contract with the Department of Economic Services for COVID-19 services public services. CRN also currently holds a contract with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health for public health related services and has delivered those services within the contract requirements. As a crisis service provider for the northern and central region of the state CRN has the unique phone bank capabilities that other vendors can’t offer. The Federal Communications Commission reserved the “211” dialing code for community information and referral services in 2000. The purpose of 211 referral services is to provide a critical connection between community members in need and appropriate community-based organizations and governmental agencies. Each state has one provider of “211” services. In Arizona, CRN/211 is that provider. o CRN/211 currently handles over 20,000 calls per month ranging from hotline services, “warm” line support services, referral services, and follow-up services. o MCDPH’s needs are broader than just a call center. They need staff with case management expertise who can quickly develop trust, share information, and identify gaps in care for persons who are COVID+ or COVID exposed. CRN/211 employs experts with case management skills in clinical services, veteran services, housing and shelter, disability services, mental health and substance use services, and other areas of specific expertise Their current call center staff have expertise and training in crisis management, as well. CRN’s systems are HIPPA compliant. o 211’s existing directory of services for Maricopa County contains hundreds of community-based providers and agencies. This directory has already been adapted to include COVID-specific services and hours of operation. o Given 211’s footprint in the community and their State of Arizona contract, they are already on the frontline of receiving COVI-related calls. o . o CRN/211 has existing HIPPA compliant data management systems already in place that would make it easy for it to track and compile data necessary for MCDPH to make strategic decisions regarding the COVID-19 response. o CRN/211 already has a training protocol in place for operators to provide virtual case management and would only need additional training by MCDPH on contact tracing protocols; therefore, it could scale up quickly. CRN staff is also trained in Social Determinants of Health. Contact Tracing Competition Impracticable Justification PRICING: The estimated annual cost of this contract is shown below. Pricing negotiations will be finalized once the actual scope of work is agreed to by both parties. Expenses are appropriate for CARES Act funding, which expires on December 31, 2020. It is recommended that the contract allow for a full year of service but include a termination clause should the County not need or not be able to fund this service following expiration of CARES Act funding. Salaries and Benefits $ 3,442,510.96 50 Specialists, 4 supervisor, 1 manager, overtime, shift differential, benefits Other Direct Expenses $ 700,776.97 Rent, admin expense, etc. Total Equipment Costs $ 340,728.30 Workstations, headsets, licenses, etc. Grand Total $ 4,484,016.23