I. INVITATION

The County of Sacramento Equal Employment Office (County) is inviting submission of written proposals from qualified individuals, and/or firms specializing in the area of investigating discrimination, sexual harassment, whistle-blower claims, and/or other similar employment-related complaints, particularly in the public sector, to provide investigative services to the County of Sacramento for those circumstances in which an investigation by a non-County employee is advisable, and to provide investigative services for similar types of claims where the County experiences a conflict of interest.

Contracted individuals, and/or firms will be expected to conduct an investigation from the time the formal complaint is filed to completion of the investigation, which will include preparation of the report of findings to be submitted to designated County Officials. Contracted individuals and/or firms will also be expected to be available to testify and attend any administrative/judicial proceedings related to the investigation if needed.

Qualified individuals, and/or firms selected will be invited to enter into a contract with the County for three years, commencing on or about August 1, 2022. Contracts may be renewed for an additional three years, with one-year amendments, at the County’s discretion based upon this RFP process. The County reserves the right to retain additional individuals, and/or firms during the contract period if deemed in the best interests of the County.

The County will accept proposals until Friday, April 22, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. (PST).

II. BACKGROUND

General work description: The County of Sacramento has approximately 12,000 employees, with an estimated payroll of $872 million. There are over 38 different departments that provide a variety of services to Sacramento County citizens. The functions which these employees perform include plant operation and maintenance, equipment operation and maintenance, motor vehicle maintenance and repair, janitorial services, animal care and regulation services, refuse collection, office/clerical, professional, medical, administrative and managerial services, mental health, human assistance and health services, law enforcement and detention facility operation, building, restaurant, and other facility inspections, and field operations.

The County of Sacramento conducts their own investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. However, the County anticipates that there may be times when it is more appropriate that an investigation be conducted by an investigator who is not a County employee and seeks a mechanism to facilitate expediting access to such investigators when circumstances arise.

The County also, from time to time, encounters situations where it is a conflict of interest for a County employee to conduct an investigation. In those instances, an independent outside investigator is utilized to maintain the integrity of the investigative process.

The County’s Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (Administrative Policy #601), which includes an Outside Investigator policy (Exhibit C). The need for such investigations may include circumstances other than those covered by Administrative Policy #601.

The following chart represents the total amount paid for investigative services in previous fiscal years:

Fiscal Year Total Paid

2018 - 2019 $ 6,687

2019 - 2020 $38,548

2020 - 2021 $77,266