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Finance and Management Services <br />www.santa-ana.org/finance <br />Item # 24 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />December 20, 2022 <br />TOPIC: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Consulting Services <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve an Agreement with Guidehouse Inc. for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) <br />Compliance Consulting Services (Revive Santa Ana Program) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Guidehouse Inc. for ARPA <br />Consulting Services for a two-year term, beginning December 20, 2022 through <br />December 19, 2024 with a provision for two one-year renewals exercisable by the City <br />Manager, for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $400,000, subject to non- <br />substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On July 20, 2021, the City Council authorized the Revive Santa Ana Spending Plan made <br />possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through U.S. Department of Treasury <br />(DOT) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). The spending plan <br />is intended to protect and revive the Santa Ana community as it emerges from the impacts <br />of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br />The City is responsible for the effective administration of these funds in accordance with <br />the SLFRF Compliance and Reporting Guidance and the Uniform Guidance of the Office <br />of Management and Budget (OMB). The City must implement robust internal controls <br />and effectively monitor the Revive Santa Ana projects to ensure compliance with all <br />applicable federal rules and regulations. In order to support City staff with these efforts, <br />City Council authorized a new consulting services agreement with Guidehouse Inc. <br />(Formerly Grant Thornton Public Sector, LLC) on December 21, 2021 after the Finance <br />and Management Services Agency performed a competitive process via Request for <br />Qualifications (RFQ) No. 21-093. The agreement was authorized for an initial trial period <br />of six-months plus a six-month extension, which expires on December 21, 2022. <br />Guidehouse Inc. has provided staff valuable assistance in addressing various compliance <br />questions and reporting requirements, and shared their in-depth knowledge of the SLFRF <br />guidelines with staff during the first year of the agreement. As the City continues to <br />expend the SLFRF funds on Council approved projects through December 2026, staff