title
Approve the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission Master List of Contracts and Contract Amendments of four expenditure contracts totaling $5,373,000 and one revenue contract totaling $150,000, effective July 1, 2025; Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute all agreements and subsequent amendments, with concurrence from County Counsel, that remain within budget appropriations up to $74,999 annually; Authorize the Executive Director of First 5 Solano, with concurrence from County Counsel, to execute any subsequent amendments which are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to authorize grant submissions equal to or over $75,000 to secure funding to maintain or expand programs which further the Commission's strategic plan
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
First 5 Solano recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission Master List of Contracts and Contract Amendments of four expenditure contracts totaling $5,373,000 and one revenue contract totaling $150,000, effective July 1, 2025;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute all agreements and subsequent amendments, with concurrence from County Counsel, that remain within budget appropriations up to $74,999 annually;
3. Authorize the Executive Director of First 5 Solano, with concurrence from County Counsel, to execute any subsequent amendments which are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact; and
4. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to authorize grant submissions equal to or over $75,000 to secure funding to maintain or expand programs which further the Commission's strategic plan.
SUMMARY:
The First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission is currently in the third year of implementing its Program Investment Plan, which is guided by its foundational documents: the Strategic Plan, Long-Term Financial Plan, and Program Investment Plan. These documents serve as the framework for determining the Commission’s funding allocations for services that support families with children ages 0-5. The contracts included in this Board Item reflect investments from both the Commission’s funding portfolio and the Board of Supervisors’ Community Investment Fund portfolio(s).
Included in this item are four new contracts:
1. A contract with Bay Area Community Resources to operate the First 5 Center, Vallejo, with additional funding in year 1 from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
2. Solano County Office of Education for activities related to Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
3. A revenue Memorandum of Understanding with the Solano Transportation Authority related to the Community Investment Fund.
Contract amendments include:
1. Child Start Funding agreement to include additional funds from First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission and a Federal Earmark from Congressman Garamendi.
2. United Way California Capital Region to receive an additional $150,000 from the Solano Transportation Authority and $587,510 of FY2024/25 All Home funds to be used for services in FY2025/26 related to the Community Investment Fund.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The contracts and amendments are included in the First 5 Solano and the Community Investment Fund FY2025/26 Recommended Budgets. One contract, with United Way California Capital Region, is funded through the Board of Supervisors Community Investment Fund, however the increase in expenditure is from outside funding sources so therefore there is no impact to the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
The First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission is dedicated to catalyzing change that strategically advances innovative, prevention-focused approaches across systems that improve the lives of young children and their families. To achieve this mission, the Commission utilizes a strategic planning process to develop its priorities, goals, results expected, and program or initiative areas to be funded. The Commission also relies on its Long-Term Financial Plan and Program Investment Plan to allocate funds and establish services.
In January 2022, the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission approved its 2022 Strategic Plan Update. In December 2022, the Commission approved a new Program Investment Plan (PIP) for a five-year funding cycle (2023-2028), allocating funding in priority areas: Health and Well-Being, Early Childhood Learning and Development, Family Support and Parent Education, and Systems Change.
FY2025/26 represents the third year of the 2023-2028 Funding Cycle. Many multi-year contracts are already in place to fulfill the Commission’s Program Investment Plan. This item includes four new contracts and two contract amendments. Additionally, one of the new contracts is funded solely through the Board of Supervisors’ Community Investment Fund. The contracts and amendments are as follows:
1. Bay Area Community Resources - A three-year contract to operate the Vallejo First 5 Center: Year 1 (FY2025/26): $741,000 (includes an additional $100,000 in funding from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to expand services), Year 2 (FY2026/27) $641,000, Year 3 (FY2027/28) $641,000, Total: $2,023,000. Note: The $100,000 contribution from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation was received in FY2024/25 to support expanded services at the First 5 Center, Vallejo.
2. Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) - A contract in the amount of $100,000 to support school readiness activities related to Universal Pre-Kindergarten. This funding will help develop a strategic roadmap to build and sustain childcare providers and centers as the Universal Kindergarten initiative is implemented.
3. A revenue Memorandum of Understanding with the Solano Transportation Authority, for up to $150,000 in Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 funding to support the development and implementation of housing stabilization services and legal referral programs for the period July 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025.
4. Contract Amendment with Child Start, Inc. - An amendment to increase the contract by $3,100,000 for the completion of renovations at Rise Vallejo Early Learning Center: $2,600,000 from First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission Program Investment Plan, $500,000 from a federal earmark secured by Congressman Garamendi. Revised contract total: $12,680,000 from First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission and $4,114,843 from Child Start, Inc.
5. Contract Amendment with United Way California Capital Region - Approval of an amendment to Contract No. 2024-209 with United Way California Capital Region to increase the total contract amount to $4,200,000, incorporating an additional $150,000 in funding from the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) for Housing Preservation and Protection efforts; and rolling-over $587,510 of FY2024/25 All Home funds to be used for services in FY2025/26.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to address some or all of these contracts individually, request clarification or remand these contracts back to First 5 Solano for revision. This is not recommended because these contracts and contract amendments are necessary to implement the Commission’s Strategic Plan and continue the work of the Board of Supervisor’s Community Investment Fund and would result in the delay of services for children and families.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Office of Education and Solano Transportation Authority have been involved in the development of these contracts. The contracts have also been approved by County Counsel as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION