County interim administrator notifies committee of three-year Maximus cost-allocation contract

Interim County Administrator Brandon Kalish told the Richland County Finance Standing Committee that the county will continue a three-year contract with Maximus US Services to prepare the central services cost allocation plan covering fiscal years 2024 through 2026.

Kalish said the contract runs April 15, 2025, through March 31, 2028, and that the firm's fees are $4,100 for the 2024'25 plan and $4,250 for the 2026 plan, for a total of $12,450. He said the plan identifies allowable centralized costs such as accounting, legal counsel and data processing and is used by multiple county departments to pursue reimbursements from federal and other funding sources.

Kalish said he has authority under the county procurement policy (section 4B, sub 3) to approve the contract and that he was informing the committee rather than requesting approval. "I have the authority to approve that. I've just given you the report because it is a 3 year contract and, just to make you all aware of what I'm doing," Kalish said.

Kalish also told the committee the county is typically behind a year on production of the plan, likening it to the audit schedule, and that Maximus has provided this service to the county since February 2013.

No formal committee action was taken during the presentation; Kalish said he would proceed under his delegated authority and provided the committee with the contract details for their information.