Specifications include, but are not limited to: The objective of this study is to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of Pierce County’s procurement and contract approval process for contracts administered by the Human Services Department. The report shall focus specifically on the steps in the procurement process between contractor procurement and contract execution. The evaluation shall include: A. Review of policies and procedures and contract documents from the years 2019-2023, and interviews with staff and service providers; B. Review of county staff roles and positions in the contracting process; C. A determination of the reasonableness of the planned and actual schedules for procuring services; D. Analysis of the impact of delays on service provision; E. Review of best practices in comparable jurisdictions in professional services procurement and contracting to identify potential opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness; F. Recommendations to improve the efficiency of the procurement process and reduce the time between contract award and contract execution; and G. Assess policies regarding reimbursement for indirect and administrative costs, deliverable based funding agreements to front-load payment when possible, and compensating individuals for lived experience; and H. Review of staffing levels, training, and establishment of consistent steps in the review, approval and execution process, and their effects on the overall contracting process and timelines.
