Budget committee backs $10.6M amendment for SF Public Health Foundation to expand community health engagement

The Budget and Finance Committee voted Jan. 5 to forward to the full Board a resolution approving Amendment No. 2 to the Department of Public Health contract with the San Francisco Public Health Foundation to increase the contract by about $10.6 million, for a total not-to-exceed amount of approximately $20 million and a term through Dec. 31, 2024.

Michelle Ruggles of the Department of Public Health told the committee the additional funding is intended to support COVID-19 response and capacity building in priority neighborhoods through the Foundation's community health engagement program. The Foundation acts as a program administrator: it issues solicitations, subcontracted 23 community-based organizations and provides monitoring and support, Ruggles said. For COVID-specific funds the Foundation will take a 5% administrative fee instead of its usual 10%.

Nick Menard of the Budget and Legislative Analyst's Office recommended approval, noting the amendment increases the not-to-exceed amount by $10.6 million and that the Foundation manages 23 subcontractors delivering services including testing, vaccination access, prevention information and linkage work.

Supervisor Mark asked why DPH uses an intermediary rather than direct contracting. Ruggles said the Foundation structure helps smaller grass-roots organizations that lack the infrastructure to contract directly with DPH and enables the city to issue mini-RFPs and award to local providers.

No public callers were heard on the item. Chair Matt Haney moved to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation; a roll-call vote recorded three ayes and the item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for Jan. 11.