Report Prepared by: Sarah Knoester, Management Analyst
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of a Services Agreement with Social Policy Research Associates, in the Amount of $49,075, to Perform a Local Evaluation Report for the City’s California Violence, Intervention, and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 Grant Program
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a Services Agreement with Social Policy Research Associates, in the Amount of $49,075, to perform a Local Evaluation Report for the City’s California Violence, Intervention, and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 grant program.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Services Agreement with Social Policy Research Associates, in the Amount of $49,075, to perform a Local Evaluation Report for the City’s California Violence, Intervention, and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 grant program; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to sign the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code Title 3 Article III Purchases Over Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
History and Past Actions
In alignment with City Council’s FY 22/23 Goals and Priorities, staff requested and were approved to apply for the California Violence, Intervention, and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 grant, funded by the Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) at their July 5, 2022, meeting. This 3-year, reimbursement-based grant provided wrap-around services for at-risk, or probation involved youth. This program, titled Pathways to Success, hired four, grant funded Peer Support Specialists to serve as mentors to the youth. As a partner in this program, Merced County Probation provided the youth referrals to the Peer Support Specialists.
The CalVIP grant required a 50% pass through to a non-law enforcement agency. To meet this requirement, the Office of Neighborhood Safety was created as part of the City Manager’s office.
Other past actions of note:
• Grant funds were accepted at City Council’s September 19, 2022, meeting.
• The appropriation of grant funds and the approval of four new Peer Support Specialist positions was approved at City Council’s January 3, 2023, meeting.
• The Memorandum of Understanding to partner with Merced County Probation Department was approved at City Council’s September 18, 2023, meeting.
• In November 2024, BSCC approved an extension of the grant programming from December 31, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The BSCC First Amendment contract to extend the grant program was approved at City Council’s January 21, 2025, meeting.
Current Actions
As part of the grant contract, staff was required to submit a Local Evaluation Plan at the beginning of the grant term. The Local Evaluation Plan identifies the goals and objectives of the program, program activities, and the expected outcomes and impacts of the program. City Manager staff developed the Local Evaluation Plan and submitted the plan to BSCC for their review and approval in June 2023.
In August 2024, City Manager staff requested a program modification to include an outdoor recreation program utilizing a Recreation Coordinator from the Parks and Community Services department. The additional programming services was approved by BSCC in the same month. A revised Local Evaluation Plan to reflect the outdoor recreation program was sent to BSCC October 2024 for their review and approval.
On December 31, 2025, all program activities and expenditures concluded. With the end of the grant, a Local Evaluation Report (LER) is required to determine the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the City’s Pathways to Success Program under CalVIP Cohort 4. The LER is due to BSCC no later than June 30, 2026.
On December 11, 2025, City staff advertised a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire a consultant to analyze the effectiveness of the Pathways to Success program and develop a LER on the City’s behalf. The RFP closed on January 8, 2026.
City staff reviewed and scored the seven proposals received. Proposals were evaluated and scored on six criteria. A total of 60 points was available, 10 points per criteria.
1. Did the consultant provide a good understanding of the project?
-proposal thoroughly explained the project
2. Is consultant’s approach reasonable and feasible?
-project timeline allows for staff participation without placing undue stress or additional workload and meets the BSCC deadline of June 30, 2026.
3. Does the consultant have the necessary capacity?
-consultant has the organizational, financial solvency, and resources to perform assignment
4. Does the consultant have the necessary experience?
-consultant demonstrates they have experience in the evaluation of a program, analyzing data, and writing a comprehensive report.
-experience working with BSCC is highly preferred
-experience with City of Merced or Merced County is a plus
5. Does the consultant and staff have the necessary professional qualifications?
-consultant demonstrates staff are qualified in data analysis and report writing
-education in the field of sociology, psychology, criminal justice or similar field is preferred
6. Is the fee proposal within the allotted budget?
-grant budget is $49,300
Based on staff review and scoring, Social Policy Research Associates ranked the highest.
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Summary Score Sheet |
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Consultant Name |
Score |
Fee Proposal |
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Black Hill Research, Inc. |
52.83 |
$ 49,000.00 |
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EVALCORP |
57.75 |
$ 48,720.00 |
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Alison Hamburg |
42.17 |
$ 48,883.00 |
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Precision Consulting Firm |
50.67 |
$ 49,300.00 |
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Raimia + Associates |
48.83 |
$ 49,300.00 |
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Social Policy Research Associates |
58.17 |
$ 49,075.00 |
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The Strategy Huddle |
45.67 |
$ 45,900.00 |
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All proposals demonstrated strong qualifications for criteria 1, 2, 5, and 6. The decision came down to criteria 3 and 4.
Criteria 3: Black Hill Research, Alison Hamburg, and The Strategy Huddle had one or two people on their team. City staff felt the development of the LER was a larger project than what one or two people could handle.
Criteria 4: All but two proposers (Precision Consulting Firm and The Strategy Huddle) have experience working with BSCC. The winning factor was that Social Policy Research Associates was the statewide evaluator and technical assistance provider for CalVIP Cohort 3 and are currently evaluating Fresno’s CalVIP Cohort 4 program - the same cohort as the City of Merced.
Staff is requesting City Council approval for the Services Agreement with Social Policy Research Associates in the amount of $49,075.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
As part of the grant budget, the City allocated $49,300 of grant funds to hire a consultant to perform the project evaluation. These funds are available in the City Manager Office of Neighborhood Safety Professional Services account line (10001020-511012). This is a reimbursable grant so once the consultant has been paid the city will request the reimbursement from the grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Services Agreement for Social Policy Research Associates