To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Rubicon Programs Incorporated
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Rubicon Programs Incorporated to increase the payment limit by $1,591,710, to a new payment limit of $3,525,910, to operate and manage Contra Costa County’s America’s Job Centers of California locations and provide Adult and Dislocated Worker Career services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and extend the term from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
79% Federal (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), 21% State (Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Fund; and California Workforce Development Board High Road Training Partnerships Marine Trades and Water Transportation Careers Initiative), of which 54% was budgeted in FY 2025-26, and 46% is budgeted in FY 2026-27.
BACKGROUND:
On June 24, 2025, the Boad approved Item C.56 to execute a contract with Rubicon Programs Incorporated. This action seeks to execute a contract amendment to increase the payment limit and extend the term through June 30, 2027.
For program years 2022-2025, Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD), Workforce Development Board (WDB) appropriated funding through a competitive procurement process for the operation of comprehensive America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) and the delivery of career services under the Local Area. The current contract is set to expire on June 30, 2026; however, in response to the recent government release of H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and impact of the reconciliation bill, this action is directly related to an exceptional activity necessary for reconciliation preparations. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and its implementation regulations, there’s no single, fixed contract year limit across all procurements. Contracts duration and renewals are governed by Uniform Guidance, local policy, competitive procurement frequency and funding availability. The justification for the delay of competitive procurement is due to the previous government shutdown and delays in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) and the current unanticipated federal budget reconciliation that reduces federal spending on food security and healthcare, which significantly impacts those receiving SNAP benefits, Medi-Cal and Affordable Care Act subsidies within Contra Costa County.
During the planned competitive procurement period, EHSD experienced human resources (HR) impacts that affected the organization’s operational capacity and continuity of services, public exigency is warranted and immediate action to prevent serious impairment to public infrastructure and health. The HR disruption reduced the capacity to effectively conduct competitive procurement in a manner that would ensure full and timely open competition. Going forward with a competitive bid under these conditions will pose risks to the integrity and fairness of the procurement process, timely and accurate evaluation of proposals, continuity of critical services to participants, compliance with WIOA, Uniform Guidance (2CFR Part 200) and local procurement policies. This delay is administrative, temporary and determined by operational needs and not to limit competition. WDB is committed to conducting a fully competitive procurement at the earliest opportunity and practice full compliance with all applicable procurement requirements.
The H.R.1 release, implementation, and the potential interruption of other public assistance programs represent an unforeseen event that poses an immediate risk to both our employees and the customers we serve. Given this urgent situation, postponing competitive bidding is necessary to prevent significant disruption to financial operations, service delivery, and the work of those implementing WIOA AJCC career services programs and access.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, the provision of adequate career services for adult and dislocated workers by the County will be adversely impacted.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This contract extension/amendment supports three of the five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (3) "Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient"; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families” by providing career support services for families of adult and dislocated workers.