To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: Optum
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RESCIND prior Board action 25-3135 from August 05, 2025, which approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Optum to extend the term date from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2026, and to increase the payment limit by $50,000 to a new payment limit of $190,000 to continue to provide counseling services to Sheriff-Coroner employees; and
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to execute a payment limit increase of $50,000 of the existing contract with Optum for a new payment limit of $190,000, to fund the second annual renewal period, extending the term from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2026, for the continuation of employee counseling services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in up to an additional $50,000 in contractual service expenditure over an additional 1-year period and will be funded 100% by the Office of the Sheriff’s budgeted General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The General Services Department conducted a public solicitation for the Office of the Sheriff for Employee Assistance Program services (RFP No.: 2305-648). Optum was the successful bidder of a total of two respondents. Optum exceeded all bid criteria and has experience working with law enforcement agencies. The Sheriff and others in the law enforcement field feel that stress counseling can reduce workers compensation and disability retirement claims. For 19 years, the Office of the Sheriff has contracted to provide emergency psychological counseling to all employees. All other major law enforcement agencies have similar contracts. This program has become an essential part of the overall employee assistance package, and many employees
have received significant help in their personal and professional lives by utilizing the available services.
On September 19, 2023, the Board approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner or designee to execute a contract with Optum for employee assistance counseling services in an amount not to exceed $70,000 for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 and the option for two one-year extensions.
On October 8, 2024, the Board approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner or designee to execute the first annual renewal with Optum for the continuation of employee assistance counseling services and increased the payment by $70,000 for a new payment limit of $140,000 through September 30, 2025.
On October 5, 2025, the Board approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner or designee to execute a contract amendment for the second annual renewal and increasing the payment limit by $50,000 for a new payment limit of $190,000 and extending the term through September 30, 2026. The Auditor’s Office does not accept the approved Board staff report because the contract with Optum is not being amended, rather the second annual renewal is automatic upon agreement by both parties and the payment limit is set by the department in its staff report requests for Board approval.
Since there is no actual contract amendment, this action corrects the prior authorization, and allows the Office of the Sheriff to exercise the second annual renewal option, which automatically extends the term through September 30, 2026, and provides the department with the increased payment authority of $50,000, as requested by the Auditor’s Office, needed to cover the costs of the period through September 30, 2026.
This agreement includes modified indemnification language to provide mutual indemnification.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not approve, there is the potential for the increase in stress related workers compensation claims and disability claims if counseling services are not provided as part of a comprehensive employee assistance program.