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Approve the first amendment with the Foundation for California Community Colleges for $225,405 for a new total contract amount of $300,000 for employer of record services for the current term through June 30, 2027; Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee, with County Counsel concurrence, to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments up to $74,999 annually; and Authorize the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to execute amendments to this agreement that are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact
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Published Notice Required? Yes _X _ No _ _
Public Hearing Required? Yes _X _ No _ _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the first amendment with the Foundation for California Community Colleges for $225,405 for a new total contract amount of $300,000 for employer of record services for the current term through June 30, 2027;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee, with County Counsel concurrence, to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments up to $74,999 annually; and
3. Authorize the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to execute amendments to this agreement that are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact.
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION:
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County (WDB) develops and administers several contracts each fiscal year based on federal, state and local funding for regional and local program services. This amendment increases the WDB’s employer of record contract with the Foundation for California Community Colleges to support an increased number of transitional jobs and work experience placements.
The WDB uses the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) Career Catalyst program as the employer of record for participants in its Transitional Jobs and Work Experience (WEX) programs. FCCC manages onboarding, payroll, workers’ compensation, and compliance with California employment law for each participant and assumes the associated employment liability. The WDB has used FCCC continuously since March 2020. The current contract was procured by piggybacking off the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board’s employer of record competitive procurement.
The original contract amount of $74,595 was based on the previous three-year average of services and projected up to nine participants. Since then, the need for paid work opportunities has increased significantly. Solano County has experienced seven major closure and layoff events across petroleum refining, brewing, shipbuilding and repair, public education, biomanufacturing, and residential construction, placing additional pressure on local employment opportunities. In addition, Solano County Health and Social Services has determined that approximately 40,000 residents may be at risk of losing CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits unless they meet work requirements under House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1).
To help participants meet these requirements and reconnect to the labor market, the WDB is expanding Transitional Jobs for Adult and Dislocated Worker participants, along with WEX opportunities across its programs, which provide paid work hours, current work experience, and skill development. Because these participants are employed through the employer of record, the contract amount must increase to support the additional placements.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The WDB’s FY2026/27 budget includes the necessary funding to cover the cost of this amendment. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could not to approve the amendment, leaving the contract at $74,595. This would limit the number of Transitional Jobs and WEX participants the WDB can serve at a time of increased local need. Alternatively, the WDB could resume serving as the employer of record itself; however, this would add employees for WDB human resources and finance staff to manage and significantly increase the WDB’s liability for workers’ compensation, unemployment, and related employment costs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the contracts for legal sufficiency.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION