HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.d. Authorize GM to Execute an Amendment to the Existing Professional Consulting Agreement for Bernardo M. Ferdman NTE $417,356 through April 30, 2024Page 1 of 5
Item 3.d.
DCENTRALSAN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
DRAFT
MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2023
SUBJECT: REVIEW DRAFT POSITION PAPER TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
BERNARDO M. FERDMAN, DBA FERDMAN CONSULTING IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $74,000 INCREASING THE TOTAL COST
CEILING TO $417,356 TO CONTINUE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION (DEI) CONSULTING AND FACILITATION SERVICES
THROUGH APRI L 30, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
TEJI O'MALLEY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER -
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
ISSUE
Board Policy No. BP 037 - Delegation of Authority to General Manager requires Board approval for the
General Manager to sign agreements exceeding $200,000.
BACKGROUND
In August 2021, the Board established an Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE I) Committee to
receive initial background information on DEI and directed staff to procure a consultant to begin the
exploring the DEI initiative at Central San.
In December 2021, staff selected Bernardo Ferdman, Ph.D., of Ferdman Consulting after a competitive
Request for Proposal process.
Since the inception of the contract, Dr. Ferdman has completed the following tasks:
Several sessions/workshops with DEI Ad Hoc Committee as well as the full Board, and most
recently held a Board workshop in November 2023.
Interviewed Central San's leadership team and used that feedback to design and lead several DEI-
related workshops with the group.
Building, educating, and bringing together the DEI Task Force which currently consist of 12 volunteers
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from multiple levels and departments of Central San. The DEI Task Force has helped drive the initiative
and communicate its efforts District wide.
• Launched the DEI initiative District -wide in July2022.
• Developed and conducted a District -wide DEI Assessment Survey.
• Analyzed, compiled, and shared the themes and results of the Survey with the leadership team, all
District staff, and the Board.
• Began the work on the development of the DEI strategic plan which is currently underway.
The next phase of this contract can continue the work that has already begun so that the DEI strategic plan
and its subsequent goals, initiatives, and deliverables are developed, defined, and implemented in the
spring of 2024. The proposed scope of work (Attachment 1) details nine tasks, including the following:
• Finalize the DEI Assessment Report.
• Support the DEI task force to develop and finalize the draft DEI strategic plan.
• Hold workshops with the leadership team to solicit input on the draft strategic plan and plan for
implementation.
• Hold workshops with District staff to roll out the final DEI strategic plan.
Dr. Ferdman's associates - Karen Harris, M.A. and Sophia Sung, Ph.D., along with other potential partners
will be brought in to provide support on some these tasks as outlined in Attachment 1.
ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS
The Board could elect not to enter into this contract and seek another consultant for the D E I initiative. This
alternative is not recommended as Dr. Ferdman has experience and has gained knowledge of Central
San's organizational culture and structure, and continuity is needed to ensure successful completion of the
DEI strategic plan.
While some of the proposed work could conceivably be done in house, the neutrality of a third party expert
performing this work is integral to the success of the initiative. Eventually, Central San may be able to
sustain its own DEI efforts and Ferdman Consulting's involvement could be minimal.
Another alternative is for the Board Ad Hoc Committee and/or full Board's to pare down the proposed
scope of work.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The work completed under this agreement is not to exceed $417,356 over the remaining duration of the
contract.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Administration Committee reviewed this matter at its meeting on December 5, 2023 and
recommended
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Authorize the General Manager to execute an amendment to an existing professional consulting services
agreement with Bernardo M. Ferdman, DBA Ferdman Consulting, in an amount not to exceed $74,000,
increasing the total cost ceiling to $417,356 to continue DEI consulting and facilitation services through
April 30, 2024.
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Strategic Plan Tie -In
GOAL THREE: Workforce Diversity and Development
Strategy 4 - Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Scope of Work and Fee Schedule
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Attachment 1
Ferdman
CONSULTING
https://ferdmanconsu[ting.com
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CONSULTATION & FACILITATION
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
PROPOSED BUDGET ADDENDUM (PURCHASE ORDER P1748)
NOVEMBER 6, 2023
The current amount remaining in the budget for P01748, for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consulting
Services (Agreement 32101) is $33,670.57, with an additional $7,350 (approximately) expended to date
but not yet billed, leaving a balance of approximately $26,320.
Based on current projections, the following is the work that we anticipate remains to be done between
now and March 2024, togetherwith estimates of consultingtime needed (and travel funds required) for
each component:
Estimate of required
Work Component
consulting time
Budget
(+ travel costs if needed)
1. Finalize the formal DEI assessment report
Ferdman -10 hours
(including all appendices and technical
documents).
Harris - 4 hours
$6,380
Sung- 8 hours
2. Support the DEI Task Force in developing and
finalizing the DEI strategic plan, including
design, preparation for, and facilitation of 2 to 3
Ferdman - 20 hours
meetings of the strategic planning sub -group, as
$9,700
well as revision, integration, editing, and other
Harris - 5 hours
consultation.
3. Support for Task Force engagement sub -group
as it plans and implements ways to engage staff
Ferdman - 5 hours
in December, January,and February.
ry.
Harris - 10 hours
$5,050
4. Design, prepare for, and facilitate an in -person
Task Force meeting in December to finalize the
DEI plan, as well as follow-up to get the plan
Ferdman - 30 hours
ready to disseminate, design of initial
Harris - 20 hours
$19,700
implementation options, document
(Travel: $1400)
preparation, etc.
*1 Ferdman
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Estimate of required
Work Component
consulting time
Budget
(+ travel costs if needed)
5. Planning & coordination; individual & group
Ferdman -15 hours
meetings, as needed (including regular meetings
$7,650
with Roger Bailey & Teji O'Malley)
Harris - 5 hours
6. Workshops with management team to get input
Ferdman - 20 hours
on plan outline (December, virtual) and to plan
Harris - 5 hours
$10,500
for implementation (January or February, in
person)
(Travel: $800)
7. Workshop with Board (to present plan and
Ferdman - 20 hours
discuss implementation) - if needed (January or
Harris - 3 hours
$9,900
February)
(Travel: $800)
Ferdman - 25 hours
8. Roll -out workshops for staff (or similar
Harris - 20 hours
$18,250
approach, as needed) - (February/March)
(Travel: $2000)
9. Other support as needed to move forward with
Ferdman - 20 hours
action planning and implementation of the plan
Harris -10 hours
$12,550
and its various components.
Sung -10 hours
The total for all components listed above is $99,680.
To be able to accomplish all of them, we request an additional allocation of $74,000.
**' Ferdman
2
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