Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Monica Cepero
Department: County Administration
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO DIRECT AND AUTHORIZE County Administrator, in consultation with the County Attorney’s Office, to take all actions necessary pursuant to Sec. 21.30 of the Broward County Administrative Code, for a time period not to exceed six months, with respect to the maintenance and repair services required to ensure continuity of operations at the County-owned Joseph V. Conte Facility, North Broward Bureau, Paul Rein Detention Facility, Stockade Facility and the Main Jail Bureau (collectively referred to as the “Detention Facilities”); direct and authorize the County Administrator, subject to review and approval as to legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office, to negotiate and execute contracts, amendments and threshold increases to existing County contracts to the extent necessary to timely provide maintenance services at the Detention Facilities commencing on October 1, 2026; and authorize the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement these contracts, amendments, and threshold increases.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board direction and authorization is requested due to the policy considerations associated with undertaking maintenance of the Detention Facilities.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes the County Administrator, in consultation with the County Attorney’s Office, to take all necessary actions to execute contracts, contract amendments and increase contract thresholds necessary for the provision of maintenance services at the Detention Facilities.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
The County owns five facilities that support correctional services: Joseph V. Conte Facility (1351 NW 27th Ave., Pompano Beach), North Broward Bureau (1550 NW 30th Ave., Pompano Beach), Paul Rein Detention Facility (2421 NW 16 St., Pompano Beach), Stockade Facility (5400 Powerline Rd., Fort Lauderdale) and Main Jail Bureau (555 SE 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale), collectively referred to as the “Detention Facilities”. Historically, and as of the date of this agenda item, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) has operated and maintained the Detention Facilities. Medical care at the Detention Facilities is contracted to Wellpath Care. On May 27th, via email communication BSO notified County Administration that, effective July 1st, 2026, billing for inmates admitted to the hospital for care would come directly to the County for processing. Broward Health was notified separately by letter. In a letter dated June 8th, BSO notified County Administration of its intent to stop managing and providing maintenance services at the Detention Facilities effective September 30, 2026. Upon receipt of BSO’s notifications, County Administration commenced negotiations aimed at identifying workable solutions on all fronts. This is a standard approach noting that all requests received require review by staff.
On the topic of the transition of billing related to medical services, County Administration and the Human Services Department (HSD) worked with BSO and Broward Health to develop a new process for receiving, reviewing, approving, and paying invoices. Significant progress has been made, inclusive of addressing the payment of lagging invoices that Wellpath Care had in its backlog. A new payment framework has been established and is being followed by all stakeholders (i.e., BSO, Wellpath, Broward Health, and County). HSD has received the first group of invoices and Broward Health has expressed that it is looking forward to a marked improvement in payment timeliness.
As it relates to maintenance services at the Detention Facilities, County Administration and the Public Works and Environmental Services Department’s (PWESD) exchanges with BSO led to identifying three subcomponents of the request: utilities accounts, maintenance and repair contracts, and maintenance personnel. Staff have commenced transition of the utilities accounts and foresee no further issues to meet the September 30th deadline established by BSO. Last week, it became evident that a phased transition plan would not be possible for the maintenance contracts due to two key reasons. First, BSO has indicated that effective September 30th they will terminate the existing contracts it holds and that new purchase orders will not be issued for those services not covered under contract. Second, upon staff’s review of the limited contracts BSO has provided, none are recommended for assumption as the procurement methods followed by BSO do not meet County requirements. Succinctly stated, eight days from the deadline established by BSO upon which the County is to take over maintenance of the Detention Facilities, there are no contracts that the County could assume and rely on to ensure continuity of services.
Inherent to their function, continuity of services is essential when it comes to Detention Facilities; and their operations must be continuously sustained (i.e., 24/7). A failure could result in a threat to property or to the health, welfare, or safety of the County's residents, visitors, or employees. Detention Facilities’ building systems are specialized in nature; as a result, so are the parts required to maintain them and the skills of the technicians that provide the services. PWESD’s Facilities Maintenance Division (FMD) cannot seamlessly absorb the added workload with its current workforce and contractual resources, both must be expanded to secure the type of skills, services and materials required.
Through this item, County Administration seeks authorization from the Board to proceed, pursuant to the emergency procurement provisions of the Broward County Administrative Code (Sec. 21.30), with the implementation of a transitional framework that will allow for the retention of the required maintenance services while simultaneously working on increasing, expanding, and establishing a portfolio of maintenance contracts in compliance with the County’s Procurement Code. If approved, the authorization will expire on March 31, 2027. Within 30 days after the expiration date, County Administration will submit to the Board a report detailing actions taken and the status of the transition process.
County Administration and PWESD continue to work with BSO on a transition plan for personnel-related matters, with the intent of having BSO maintain the 34 positions recommended for funding in Fiscal Year 2027, allowing then for an orderly transition into the County’s personnel system (i.e., subject to standard hiring processes). The plan proposed by County Administration to BSO, aims to minimize negative impacts to personnel while facilitating continuity of operations at the Detention Facilities.
This item is being added as a supplemental item to the September 22, 2026, agenda because the circumstances necessitating submission arose after the deadline. Deferral to a subsequent meeting would have an impact on the County’s ability to assume maintenance of the detention Facilities by September 30, 2026.
Source of Additional Information
Michael W. Ruiz, Assistant County Administrator, 954-357-7333
Isamí Ayala-Collazo, Assistant County Administrator, 954-357-7579
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The total fiscal impact of procurement under the requested authority will only be fully understood once the County assumes responsibility over maintenance of the Detention Facilities and has an opportunity to complete condition assessments.