At its February 2017 meeting, the Finance Committee was provided a listing of POST Recurring Contracts (Attachment 1).  During the meeting, the Committee discussed the importance of POST maximizing its use of contract funds to ensure training participants are provided the best training possible.  At the meeting, the Committee directed POST staff to:

1) perform an analysis of contracts; and

2) identify opportunities to increase the pool of training providers, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of the training provided. 

POST has historically received approximately $20 Million in annual funding for Training Contracts.  Approximately sixty to seventy percent of these funds have been expended to contract with other governmental agencies for "recurring" needs.  Since these contracts are with governmental agencies, they are not subject to the same State scrutiny as contracts with private vendors. As a result, POST has historically been more focused on enhancing its contracts with non-agencies; which represent only a small percentage of the expenditures.   

Agency contracts were originally established to ensure there was both mandated and non-mandated training available statewide for courses in Supervision, Management,  Leadership, Institute of Criminal Investigation, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Tools for Tolerance, and other POST certified training.  Many of these contracts have been in place for many years with the same training providers and little effort has been made to research other potential agencies who can offer these courses. 

In Budget Year 2017/18, POST anticipates only $16.2 Million in State Budget funding will be available for all Contracts.  As a result, POST is planning to further analyze these contracts to determine where opportunities for savings, without reductions to the quality of training, may exist.  

As noted in February's discussions, POST has identified approximately $3 to $5 Million of funding for competitive contracts.  To enhance POST's use of contract funding, POST is planning to bring in a small group of State Contract experts (non-POST staff) to help POST devise guidelines and standards for ensuring healthy competition and innovation.  These standards will be used for all competitive contracts.  Additionally, POST and this group will devise a plan and protocols for expanding the listo of potential agencies for non-competitive contracts.  Please note Attachment A is a copy of the "Recurring Contracts" listing shared at the February Finance Committee Meeting (edited to identify specific types of contracts we have already identified as those which could benefit from an enhanced POST Contract process).