COVID-19 REQUEST FOR CARES ACT FUNDS FOR ONLINE TRAINING-FALCON PROGRAM
Submitted For:
Jim Skinner
Submitted By:
Rebecca Zimmerman
Department:
Sheriff's Office
Request Type:
GENERAL
Information
Department Action
The Sheriff's Office is respectfully requesting approval for CARES Act Funds in the amount of $146,650 to purchase online classes on officer wellness and crisis leadership from Falcon, Inc. This program will train 250-300 officers in remote video sessions as a part of the Sheriff's Office COVID-19 response. If approved, it is also requested to grant an exemption from the usual bidding requirements of state purchasing law.
Purchasing Department Action
No action by Purchasing at this time. If approved, purchasing policies and procedures will apply. Purchasing will need to review agreement for training prior to execution and purchase order issue.
Note: Budget and Auditor's office to confirm whether or not training can be paid for prior to receipt of services as indicated in the memo attached.
HR and/or IT Action
Budget Department Action
Department is requesting $146,650 in CARES Act funding for the purchase of online classes. The training program payment would cover 24 months of training. Per CARES Act Guidance updated June 30, 2020, "CARES Act provides that payments from the Fund may only be used to cover costs that were incurred during the period that begins March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020." The Guidance was updated June 30, 202 to clarify cost incurred. "Treasury is clarifying that for a cost to be considered to have been incurred, performance or delivery must occur during the covered period but payment of funds need not be made during that time (though it is generally expected that this will take place within 90 days of a cost being incurred)." Based on clarifications of the CARES Act guidance, the Budget department does not recommend the use of CARES Act funding for this request.
Auditor's Office Action
The prepayment of training does not fit within the Cares Act funding guidelines. Per the guidelines, the "performance or delivery must occur during the covered period", which is only through December 30, 2020. Therefore, prepayment for 24 months training is not an allowable expenditure utilizing the Cares Act funding.
Commissioners Court
Utilization of CARES Act funds for wellness and leadership training in the amount of $146,650, Sheriff.