Committee forwards First 5–WestEd $10.9M contract amendment with BLA conditions

The Budget and Finance Committee voted to forward a resolution approving a sixth amendment to the First 5 San Francisco contract with WestEd for citywide technical assistance, coaching, training and quality‑rating services, for a sum not to exceed $10,900,000 for the period covering earlier contract years through 6/30/2017.

Supervisor Norman Yee, sponsor of the item, praised the city’s long‑running efforts to improve early‑childhood education quality. Lisa Lee, representing First 5, told the committee the amendment extends the contract through fiscal year 2016–17 and noted that the extension will cause the contract to exceed First 5’s $10,000,000 policy threshold. “Therefore we are requesting this approval so that we can continue and maintain these essential services throughout the close of the fiscal year,” Lee said, and added that First 5 plans to competitively bid the contract in March.

The Budget Legislative Analyst reported that the FY2016–17 contract budget increases by $888,911 to a total of $2,638,911 (about 15% over FY2015–16) and noted the original WestEd contract term and that the number of permitted extensions was not specified. The analyst recommended amending the proposed resolution to require First 5 San Francisco to issue a competitive request for proposals and to specify the original term and each extension option in any future contract. Supervisor Yee moved to accept the BLA recommendations; the committee approved the amended item unanimously and forwarded it to the full Board with a positive recommendation.