TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, including but not limited to, contracts, subcontracts and amendments, with the RAND Corporation to accept funding for the provision to develop and pilot test an acceptable, feasible, and sustainable intervention to reduce stigma in African American and Latino congregations, and to promote Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing, for an amount up to $104,988 for a period of up to two years. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), Preventive Health Bureau, has partnered with the RAND Corporation (RAND) researchers based at the Santa Monica, CA location for the past five years, in an advisory capacity with our expertise in HIV/AIDS treatment and education. Our current collaborative effort is involvement with RAND's Urban Congregations & HIV/AIDS Project to learn how different faith traditions become involved in health and HIV/AIDS activities, and to explore what barriers and facilitators exists for their involvement.
Since 1948, the RAND Corporation has operated as an independent, private, non-profit organization that conducts research and analysis to help improve public policy and decision-making. RAND's Urban Congregations & HIV/AIDS Project (RAND Project) is a 5-year study examining the role of religious congregations in health and HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities in underserved communities and those. of color in Los Angeles County. This project is being carried out in three phases. The first two phases have been completed. The City of Long Beach Health Department has been awarded a grant from the RAND Corporation for participation in the third phase of this project to develop and pilot test an acceptable, feasible and sustainable intervention to reduce stigma in African American and Latino congregations and to promote HIV testing. An amount of $95,444 will initially be awarded, with the flexibility of additional funding depending on the reassessment of activity costs once the pilot is launched, thus a contingency to accept up to ten percent in additional funding is requested at this time.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on March 2, 2010 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell, on March 8, 2010.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City council action on this matter is requested on March 23, 2010, as services under this agreement began on March 1, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed agreement will provide necessary funds to support program activities initially estimated at $95,444. A contingency to accept additional funds up to $9,544 (ten percent) of the initial award is requested to facilitate the contract amendment process. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the Health Fund (SR 130) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). No matching funds are required, and there is no impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RONALD R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |