HomeMy WebLinkAboutP-21-421 Constant and Associates.pdf333 W. Pontiac Way, Clovis, CA 93612 / (559) 600-7110
* The County of Fresno is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer *
County of Fresno
INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Facilities • Fleet • Graphics • Purchasing • Security • Technology
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement Number P-21-421
October 22, 2021
Constant Associates, Inc.
3655 Torrance Blvd., Suite 430
Torrance, CA 90503
The County of Fresno (County) hereby contracts with Constant Associates, Inc. (Contractor) to provide
completion of a COVID response After Action Report (AAR) and Improvement Plan (IP) along with the
development of a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) in accordance with the text of this agreement and
Attachment “A” by this reference made a part hereof.
TERM: This Agreement shall become effective October 15, 2021 and shall remain in effect through June 30,
2022.
EXTENSION: This Agreement may be extended for two (2) additional one (1) year periods by the mutual
written consent of all parties.
MINIMUM ORDERS: Unless stated otherwise there shall be no minimum order quantity. The County
reserves the right to increase or decrease orders or quantities.
CONTRACTOR'S SERVICES: Contractor shall perform the services as described in Attachment “A”
attached, at the rates set forth in Attachment “A”.
ORDERS: Orders will be placed on an as-needed basis by Department of Public Health under this contract.
PRICES: Prices shall be firm for the contract period. Any pricing changes which may take place during the
life of the contract must be submitted in writing to the County of Fresno Purchasing Manager and received no
less than thirty (30) days prior to becoming effective.
MAXIMUM: In no event shall services performed and/or fees paid under this Agreement be in excess of One
Hundred Six Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars and Twenty Cents ($106,900.20).
ADDITIONAL ITEMS: The County reserves the right to negotiate additional items to this Agreement as
deemed necessary. Such additions shall be made in writing and signed by both parties.
DELIVERY: The F.O.B. Point shall be the destination within the County of Fresno. All orders shall be
delivered complete as specified. All orders placed before Agreement expiration shall be honored under the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
DEFAULT: In case of default by Contractor, the County may procure the articles/services from another
source and may recover the loss occasioned thereby from any unpaid balance due the Contractor or by any
other legal means available to the County. The prices paid by County shall be considered the prevailing
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market price at the time such purchase is made. Inspection of deliveries or offers for delivery, which do not
meet specifications, will be at the expense of Contractor.
INVOICING: An itemized invoice shall be sent to requesting County department in accordance with invoicing
instructions included in each order referencing this Agreement. The Agreement number must appear on all
shipping documents and invoices. Invoice terms shall be Net 45 Days.
INVOICE TERMS: Net forty-five (45) days from the receipt of invoice.
TERMINATION: The County reserves the right to terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days written
notice to the Contractor. In the event of such termination, the Contractor shall be paid for satisfactory
services or supplies provided to the date of termination.
LAWS AND REGULATIONS: The Contractor shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations whether they
be Federal, State or municipal, which may be applicable to Contractor's business, equipment and personnel
engaged in service covered by this Agreement.
AUDITS AND RETENTION: Terms and conditions set forth in the agreement associated with the purchased
goods are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the Contractor shall maintain in good and legible
condition all books, documents, papers, data files and other records related to its performance under this
contract. Such records shall be complete and available to Fresno County, the State of California, the federal
government or their duly authorized representatives for the purpose of audit, examination, or copying during
the term of the contract and for a period of at least three years following the County's final payment under the
contract or until conclusion of any pending matter (e.g., litigation or audit), whichever is later. Such records
must be retained in the manner described above until all pending matters are closed.
LIABILITY: The Contractor agrees to:
Pay all claims for damage to property in any manner arising from Contractor's operations under this
Agreement.
Indemnify, save and hold harmless, and at County's request defend the County, its officers, agents and
employees from any and all claims for damage or other liability, including costs, expenses (including
attorney’s fees and costs), causes of action, claims or judgments resulting out of or in any way connected
with Contractor's performance or failure to perform by Contractor, its agents, officers or employees under this
Agreement, and from any and all costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs), damages,
liabilities, claims, and losses occurring or resulting to any person, firm or corporation who may be injured or
damaged by the performance, or failure to perform, of Contractor, its officers, agents, or employees under
this Agreement.
INSURANCE: Without limiting the COUNTY's right to obtain indemnification from CONTRACTOR or any
third parties, CONTRACTOR, at its sole expense, shall maintain in full force and effect, the following
insurance policies or a program of self-insurance, including but not limited to, an insurance pooling
arrangement or Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) throughout the term of the Agreement:
A. Commercial General Liability: Commercial General Liability Insurance with limits of not less than Two
Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) per occurrence and an annual aggregate of Four Million Dollars
($4,000,000.00). This policy shall be issued on a per occurrence basis. County may require specific
coverage including completed operations, product liability, contractual liability, Explosion-Collapse-
Underground, fire legal liability or any other liability insurance deemed necessary because of the nature
of the contract.
B. Automobile Liability: Comprehensive Automobile Liability Insurance with limits of not less than One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per accident for bodily injury and for property damages. Coverage should
include any auto used in connection with this Agreement.
C. Professional Liability: If Contractor employs licensed professional staff, (e.g., Ph.D., R.N., L.C.S.W.,
M.F.C.C.) in providing services, Professional Liability Insurance with limits of not less than One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) annual aggregate.
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D. Worker's Compensation: A policy of Worker's Compensation insurance as may be required by the
California Labor Code.
Additional Requirements Relating to Insurance:
Contractor shall obtain endorsements to the Commercial General Liability insurance naming the County of
Fresno, its officers, agents, and employees, individually and collectively, as additional insured, but only
insofar as the operations under this Agreement are concerned. Such coverage for additional insured shall
apply as primary insurance and any other insurance, or self-insurance, maintained by County, its officers,
agents and employees shall be excess only and not contributing with insurance provided under Contractor's
policies herein. This insurance shall not be cancelled or changed without a minimum of thirty (30) days
advance written notice given to County.
Contractor hereby waives its right to recover from County, its officers, agents, and employees any amounts
paid by the policy of worker’s compensation insurance required by this Agreement. Contractor is solely
responsible to obtain any endorsement to such policy that may be necessary to accomplish such waiver of
subrogation, but Contractor’s waiver of subrogation under this paragraph is effective whether or not
Contractor obtains such an endorsement.
Within Thirty (30) days from the date Contractor signs and executes this Agreement, Contractor shall provide
certificates of insurance and endorsement as stated above for all of the foregoing policies, as required
herein, to the County of Fresno, Department of Public Health, Attn: Contracts Section – 6th Floor, P.O.
Box 11867, Fresno, CA 93775 stating that such insurance coverage have been obtained and are in full
force; that the County of Fresno, its officers, agents and employees will not be responsible for any premiums
on the policies; that such Commercial General Liability insurance names the County of Fresno, its officers,
agents and employees, individually and collectively, as additional insured, but only insofar as the operations
under this Agreement are concerned; that such coverage for additional insured shall apply as primary
insurance and any other insurance, or self-insurance, maintained by County, its officers, agents and
employees, shall be excess only and not contributing with insurance provided under Contractor's policies
herein; and that this insurance shall not be cancelled or changed without a minimum of thirty (30) days
advance, written notice given to County. Certificates of Insurance are to include the contract number at
the top of the first page.
In the event Contractor fails to keep in effect at all times insurance coverage as herein provided, the County
may, in addition to other remedies it may have, suspend or terminate this Agreement upon the occurrence of
such event.
All policies shall be with admitted insurers licensed to do business in the State of California. Insurance
purchased shall be purchased from companies possessing a current A.M. Best, Inc. rating of A FSC VII or
better.
COMING ON COUNTY PROPERTY TO DO WORK: Contractor agrees to provide maintain and furnish
proof of Comprehensive General Liability Insurance with limits of not less than $500,000 per occurrence.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: In performance of the work, duties and obligations assumed by Contractor
under this Agreement, it is mutually understood and agreed that Contractor, including any and all of
Contractor's officers, agents, and employees will at all times be acting and performing as an independent
contractor, and shall act in an independent capacity and not as an officer, agent, servant, employee, joint
venturer, partner, or associate of the County. Furthermore, County shall have no right to control or supervise
or direct the manner or method by which Contractor shall perform its work and function. However, County
shall retain the right to administer this Agreement so as to verify that Contractor is performing its obligations
in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. Contractor and County shall comply with all applicable
provisions of law and the rules and regulations, if any, of governmental authorities having jurisdiction over
matters the subject thereof.
Because of its status as an independent contractor, Contractor shall have absolutely no right to employment
rights and benefits available to County employees. Contractor shall be solely liable and responsible for
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providing to, or on behalf of, its employees all legally-required employee benefits. In addition, Contractor
shall be solely responsible and save County harmless from all matters relating to payment of Contractor's
employees, including compliance with Social Security, withholding, and all other regulations governing such
matters. It is acknowledged that during the term of this Agreement, Contractor may be providing services to
others unrelated to the County or to this Agreement.
NON-ASSIGNMENT: Neither party shall assign, transfer or sub-contract this Agreement nor their rights or
duties under this Agreement without the written consent of the other party.
AMENDMENTS: This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the Contractor and the County
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous negotiations, proposals, commitments,
writings, advertisements, publications, Request for Proposals, Bids and understandings of any nature
whatsoever unless expressly included in this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any and all terms set
forth in Contractor's invoice. This Agreement may be amended only by written addendum signed by both
parties.
INCONSISTENCIES: In the event of any inconsistency in interpreting the documents which constitute this
Agreement, the inconsistency shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order of priority: (1) the
text of this Agreement (excluding Attachment "A") and (2) Attachment "A".
GOVERNING LAWS: This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced under the laws of the
State of California. Venue for any action shall only be in County of Fresno.
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES: The parties agree that this Agreement may be executed by electronic
signature as provided in this section.
A. An “electronic signature” means any symbol or process intended by an individual signing this Agreement
to represent their signature, including but not limited to (1) a digital signature; (2) a faxed version of an
original handwritten signature; or (3) an electronically scanned and transmitted (for example by PDF
document) of a handwritten signature.
B. Each electronic signature affixed or attached to this Agreement (1) is deemed equivalent to a valid
original handwritten signature of the person signing this Agreement for all purposes, including but not
limited to evidentiary proof in any administrative or judicial proceeding, and (2) has the same force and
effect as the valid original handwritten signature of that person.
C. The provisions of this section satisfy the requirements of Civil Code section 1633.5, subdivision (b), in
the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (Civil Code, Division 3, Part 2, Title 2.5, beginning with section
1633.1).
D. Each party using a digital signature represents that it has undertaken and satisfied the requirements of
Government Code section 16.5, subdivision (a), paragraphs (1) through (5), and agrees that each other
party may rely upon that representation.
This Agreement is not conditioned upon the parties conducting the transactions under it by electronic means
and either party may sign this Agreement with an original handwritten signature.
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Please acknowledge your acceptance by returning all pages of this Agreement to my office via email or
USPS.
Please refer any inquiries in this matter to Bryan Hernandez, Purchasing Analyst, at 559 600-7117 or
bhernandez@fresnocountyca.gov
FOR THE COUNTY OF FRESNO
Gary E. Cornuelle
Purchasing Manager
333 W. Pontiac Way
Clovis, CA 93612
GEC:[click here - Buyer's Initials] :[click here - your initials]
Page 6
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PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER: P-21-421
Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021
CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE:
Company:
Type of Entity:
Individual Limited Liability Company
Sole Proprietorship Limited Liability Partnership
Corporation General Partnership
Address City State Zip
TELEPHONE NUMBER FAX NUMBER E-MAIL ADDRESS
Print Name &
Title: Print Name & Title:
Signature: Signature:
ACCOUNTING USE ONLY
ORG No.: 56201621, 56201622
Account No.: 7295
Requisition No.: 5622200315
(09/2021)
FRESNO COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 AFTER ACTION REPORT
AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR QUOTE
September 29, 2021
Resilience is CONSTANT™
ATTACHMENT A
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER: P-21-421
Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 1 of 58
September 29, 2021 Darrel Schmidt
PHEP Coordinator/HPP Coordinator
Fresno County Department of Public Health
dschmidt@fresnocountyca.gov
(559) 600-3149
RE: Request for Quote – COVID-19 After Action Report and Improvement Plan
Dear Mr. Schmidt,
Constant Associates, Inc. (“CONSTANT”) appreciates the opportunity to submit this quote to provide
a completed COVID-19 After Action Report (AAR) and Improvement Plan (IP) to the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH). CONSTANT is a highly reputable emergency management
and health security consulting firm headquartered in Southern California. Developing AARs in
response to disasters is a core service of our business and has been since the inception of our
company more than 17 years ago. We bring exceptional qualification aligned with this effort:
•Author of the COVID -19 Mid Action Report for Fresno
County Public Health: CONSTANT crafted FCDPH’s
COVID-19 Mid Action Report (MAR) and IP, capturing
actions taken and lessons learned from events betweenJanuary and September of 2020. This experience provides
us with the background information and relationships
necessary to develop an in-depth AAR that truly builds
upon the prior version. CONSTANT has first-hand
knowledge of the challenges that FCDPH experiencedduring early pandemic response including DOC activation
communication difficulties, testing result delays, lack of
consensus on the use of WebEOC, staffing and
organizational structure strain, the need for additional pre-
disaster DOC training, data interpretation discrepancieswith healthcare partners, and more. CONSTANT’sexperience developing the MAR and IP provides us withan advantage over other firms who would need to conduct
extensive research for the contextual information from
early COVID-19 response that we already have.
•Returning Team Members: Three (3) of CONSTANT’s
proposed team members for this effort worked on the
development of FCDPH’s COVID-19 MAR. This ensures
that FCDPH has team members who have strong
knowledge of the strengths exhibited and challenges
experienced during early COVID-19 response who can
also assess what areas for improvement may no longer be
valid given either FCDPH’s internal improvements or the
developing conditions of the pandemic.
Los Angeles: 3655 Torrance Blvd., Suite 430 Torrance, CA 90503
San Francisco: 388 Market Street, Suite 1300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (800) 745-3057
Facsimile: (424) 320-2581
Web: www.constantassociates.com/
Social: www.linkedin.com/company/constantassociates
CONSTANT’S COVID-19
PROJECTS
Relevant project
experience includes:
•Fresno County’s
COVID-19 Mid Action
Report
•San José’s COVID-19
Mid Action Report
•State of Washington’s
COVID-19 In Action
Report
•Maricopa County’s
COVID-19 After Action
Report
•Maricopa County’s
COVID-19 CASPER
Serosurvey After Action
Report
•Yuba and Sutter County
COVID-19 In Action
Report
•Los Angeles Community
College District COVID-
19 After Action Report
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER: P-21-421
Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 2 of 58
•Additional COVID-19 AAR Experience: In addition to the work that CONSTANT hasalready done for FCDPH, we have steadily grown our COVID-19 AAR portfolio to include
reports developed or in the process of development for the City of San José, the State of
Washington, Spokane County, Washington, Maricopa County, Arizona, Yuba County,
California, Sutter County, California, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and theLos Angeles Community College District. This body of experience has allowed us to developresources, tools, best practices, and lessons learned related to the COVID-19 AARdevelopment process and apply them to the response of jurisdictions across the West with
special care to ensuring each report captures the unique complexities that each jurisdiction
faced during response.
•Trusted COVID-19 AAR Developer: Fresno County is not the only jurisdiction that
CONSTANT has developed a COVID-19 Mid Action or In Action Report for that now seeks
to envelop a longer timeframe of response into an updated report. CONSTANT has been
contracted with two other local jurisdictions to build on previously developed COVID-19
MARs, speaking to the quality of work that we deliver to each and every one of our clients.
•Vaccination Expertise: Assessing FCDPH’s COVID-19 response from October 2020 to
July 2021 will require a focus on vaccination planning and dispensing efforts. In addition to
the previous medical countermeasure distribution and dispensing project that CONSTANT
conducted for FCDPH, we have also conducted similar projects for Maricopa County,
Arizona, Santa Clara County, the City of Long Beach, the County of Los Angeles, and
others. This experience ensures that we have the expertise necessary to examine the
actions and decisions that FCDPH made regarding vaccination response through a critical
lens. Our experience developing an Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Mass Vaccination
Blueprint for Cal OES will also aid in our analysis of FCDPH’s efforts to make vaccination
sites accessible to all.
•Disaster AAR Expertise: CONSTANT has also developed AARs for several types of
disasters outside of COVID-19. We have crafted hundreds of AARs for disasters such as
the Camp Fire, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, the Glass Fire, the Woolsey Fire, and the
H1N1 pandemic. Our staff are intimately familiar with developing AARs for jurisdictions
across California and the process and compliance requirements associated.
Based on experience with projects similar in scope and our direct experience in working with
representatives and jurisdictions across the region, CONSTANT represents a low-risk, high-value
solution. I am authorized to represent and bind CONSTANT to all commitments made in this quote.
This quote shall remain valid for a period of not less than 30 days from the date of submission.
Michelle Constant, MBA
Chief Executive Officer CONSTANT ASSOCIATES, INC.
D: (424) 320-2582 | E: michelle@constantassociates.com
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER: P-21-421
Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 3 of 58
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................. 4
QUOTE FOR SERVICES ............................................................................................................ 5
Understanding and Expertise ................................................................................................... 5
WORK PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 9
Project Initiation ...................................................................................................................... 9
Data Collection ......................................................................................................................10
AAR and IP Development and Finalization ...............................................................................14
AAR TEAM ...............................................................................................................................18
Key Staff Members .................................................................................................................18
Resumes ...............................................................................................................................19
PRICING ...................................................................................................................................31
Pricing Overview ....................................................................................................................31
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Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 4 of 58
Quote for Services
Understanding and Expertise
Understanding
CONSTANT developed Fresno County Department of Public Health’s (FCDPH) COVID-19 Mid
Action Report (MAR) to capture actions taken from January 2020 through September 2020. To develop this report, CONSTANT reviewed FCDPH documentation such as the Quarantine and
Isolation General Guidelines, the Infectious Disease Plan, Incident Action Plans, Press Releases,
Social Media, Blog Posts, and more. We also deployed a survey and held interviews with internal
and external stakeholders including FCDPH staff, DOC staff, behavioral health experts, healthcare
representatives, school district representatives, fire department, emergency management, and law
enforcement personnel, and others, and held a debriefing with key FCDPH personnel. Through the
collection of data, key themes emerged related to early COVID-19 response, including DOC
Operations, DOC-County Coordination, Healthcare Operations and Coordination, Responder Health
and Safety, Interagency Coordination, and Public Information and Community Engagement.
In developing the MAR following data collection, CONSTANT was able to assist FCDPH in detailing
strengths and areas for improvement exhibited during FCDPH’s early response to COVID-19 across
these themes. A COVID-19 Response Progress Plan was created to provide a roadmap for FCDPH
to follow as response to COVID-19 continued. However, as the COVID-19 environment constantly
changed, it was critical that FCDPH continued to review response efforts to implement
recommendations and/or identify new corrective actions that are necessary.
As such, FCDPH now seeks the assistance of a trusted contractor to document the MAR and
response to COVID-19 from October 2020 through July 2021 into a single After Action Report (AAR)
and consolidated and actionable Improvement Plan (IP) that encompasses the entire period of
response. As COVID-19 response vastly changed during this second time period with large-scale vaccine distribution and provision, care will need to be taken to examine the actions and decisions
that FCDPH made as they planned for, coordinated, and distributed the COVID-19 vaccine. Also
critical will be the development of organizational charts that outline the roles of personnel which
changed throughout response.
The final COVID-19 AAR will document the entire period of response and provide FCDPH with a
single IP. As some of the recommendations provided in the MAR may no longer be relevant or may
have already been attended to through process improvement, the surveys, interviews, and debriefing
will be oriented to not only capture key themes that emerged during this second phase of COVID-
19 response, but to also reflect back on any improvements that FCDPH was able to make
throughout response. This will ensure that FCDPH is able to move forward with one consolidated list
of forward-looking areas to improve and actions to take in order to do so.
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Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 5 of 58
Pandemic Response and After Action Report Expertise
To execute the development of the final COVID-19 AAR in a
manner that thoroughly addresses the numerous considerations that FCDPH has faced from October 2020
onward, CONSTANT has again assembled a highly qualified
team who is ready to begin work in early or mid-September.
Our team is comprised of experts in health security and
pandemic response who have extensive experience
developing COVID-19 AARs.
CONSTANT’s unique organizational structure is one of the
keys to our success. We build teams that are customized to
best answer the challenges of every project and its tasks.
We look to blend experience, expertise, and a familiarity with
local policies and organizational relationships to create
teams that are tailored yet flexible. We have created such a team for this project, bringing together experts with direct
experience in AAR development, meeting facilitation, and
response and placing them in leading roles. Our team includes three (3) returning team members from the
development of FCDPH’s COVID-19 Mid Action Report.
CONSTANT is currently developing the COVID-19 In Action Report for the State of Washington – where the first case
was identified in the U.S. Additionally, we have developed COVID-19 In, Mid, or After Action Reports for Spokane
County, Maricopa County, and the City of San José, and are
in the process of developing COVID-19 AARs for the Los
Angeles Community College District, Maricopa County, and
the counties of Yuba and Sutter. We have also supported
COVID-19 efforts for other clients, including the State of
California, with technical assistance, staffing, informational campaigns, and sector-specific trainings.
CONSTANT’s work has led our clients and their partners to
numerous best practices, local, national and international
awards, publications, and invitations to present at industry-
touted events such as the Homeland Security Conference,
and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Conference. We bring a demonstrated ability to
create realistic AARs that reflect Federal requirements and
the unique culture, systems, and relationships at the local level.
1000s
of Hours
of experience writing
COVID-19 AARs and
other health/medical
AARs
100s
of AARs written for
clients across the West
50+
Cities and
Counties
have worked with us
across the West
4
Western States
are currently working
with us on COVID and
disaster public health
endeavors
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Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 6 of 58
Sampling of AAR Related Past Performance
In addition to our previous experience developing FCDPH’s MAR, CONSTANT brings experience
writing hundreds of AARs including pandemic AARs for COVID and predecessor viruses. A sampling
of our AAR experience is provided below. For each AAR listed, we have aligned the areas that are
similar to the Fresno County COVID AAR across the following categories: Public Health focused AAR
(“Health”), written for the public sector (“Public Sector”), written for response (“Response”), and
developed for Western States such as California, Washington, Arizona, and Oregon (“West”).
Table 1. CONSTANT's Past Performance
Similarities to Fresno County
COVID-19 After Action Report
Disaster/
Scenario Client Health Public
Sector Response West
COVID-19
In Action Report State of Washington
COVID-19 Serosurvey
After Action Report Maricopa County, AZ
COVID-19
Mid Action Report San José, CA
COVID-19
In Action Report Spokane County, WA
COVID-19
In Action Report
Spokane County
Health Coalition, WA
COVID-19
In Action Report
Yuba County / Sutter
County, CA
COVID-19
After Action Report Maricopa County, AZ
COVID-19
After Action Report
Los Angeles
Community College
District
H1N1
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Public Health Disaster / Medical Countermeasures
After Action Report
Long Beach, CA
Public Health Disaster /
Medical Countermeasures
After Action Report
Maricopa County, AZ
Public Health Disaster /
Medical Countermeasures
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Lightning Fire
After Action Report Napa County, CA
Camp Fire
After Action Report Butte County, CA
Camp Fire (PH Dept.) After Action Report Butte County, CA
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Constant Associates, Inc.
October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 7 of 58
Similarities to Fresno County
COVID-19 After Action Report
Disaster/
Scenario Client Health Public
Sector Response West
Camp Fire
After Action Report Town of Paradise
Camp Fire
After Action Report
Paradise Irrigation
District
Woolsey Fire
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Statewide Medical and Health
Exercise
After Action Report
Santa Clara County,
CA
Emergency Operations
Center After Action Report Sonoma County, CA
Biohazard Detection System
After Action Report Long Beach, CA
Pandemic Influenza Exercise
After Action Report Long Beach, CA
Statewide Medical
and Health Exercise
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Complex Terrorist Attack
After Action Report San Diego County, CA
Complex Terrorist Attack
After Action Report Los Angeles City, CA
Earthquake
After Action Report Los Angeles City, CA
Maricopa Continuity
After Action Report Maricopa County, AZ
Family Assistance Center
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Mass Care / Shelter
After Action Report San Mateo County, CA
Medical Surge
After Action Report
Los Angeles County,
CA
Mass Care Shelter
After Action Reports Bay Area UASI, CA
Radiological Dispersal Device
After Action Report City of Hope, CA
Healthcare Recovery
After Action Report FEMA
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October 18, 2021 Attachment Page of 8 of 58
Work Plan
Project Initiation
In order to finalize and consolidate FCDPH’s COVID-19 AAR, CONSTANT has developed a work plan consisting of three phases of project development; 1) project initiation, 2) data collection, and
3) AAR and IP development and finalization. These steps ensure that CONSTANT and FCDPH are
in constant communication about the development of the AAR and IP and that the necessary
research and analysis are completed to formulate an actionable and recommendation-oriented
report.
Project Kickoff Meeting
To initiate the project, CONSTANT will conduct a Project Kickoff Meeting with FCDPH. The Project
Kickoff Meeting will re-introduce CONSTANT, confirm that the project is underway, provide an
overview, and present a draft Project Management Plan to include the work plan. The Project Kickoff
Meeting will also serve as an opportunity to identify stakeholders who need to be re-engaged with this iteration of AAR development and additional stakeholders who may be engaged for the first time,
to clarify the main areas or issues that should be covered in the AAR and IP, and review the proposed project timeline. Following the Project Kickoff Meeting, CONSTANT will refine the schedule and
deliver a revised Project Management Plan.
Deliverables
• Draft and finalized Project Management Plan
• Meeting agenda
• Meeting minutes
Project Management
Through our decades of combined project management experience, we have perfected our
management approach, creating a strategy for success for each – our Project Management Plan. As per our company’s best practices and the Project Management Institute, the Project Management
Plan will serve as our “road map” to carry out the effort, capturing the entire project end-to-end, covering all tasks. Our comprehensive Project Management Plan includes the work plan (i.e.,
schedule, approach), communication strategies, risk mitigation plan, quality control measures, and
the like.
Performance measurements will be tracked against the outlined objectives and associated tasks and deliverables contained in the Project Management Plan. Information from the Project Management
Plan will also be available electronically via our online project management platform, Teamwork®, to
which the FCDPH Project Manager will have 24/7 real-time access throughout the duration of the
project if desired. CONSTANT proposes the following management tools for use throughout the
project, however all elements of project management can be modified at the discretion and direction
of the FCDPH:
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• Online, Real-Time Project Management Systems. CONSTANT has implemented two project
management systems, Teamwork® and BigTime®, that enable us to provide enhanced
project management capability. Teamwork tracks tasks, milestones, and risks across all
projects and deliverables, while BigTime tracks timekeeping, expenses, and budgets.
• Regularly Scheduled Project Team Meetings. Regular review meetings will be conducted
with CONSTANT and the Project Managers and other persons as appropriate to ensure schedule, cost and the overall program goals are being achieved and open lines of
communication maintained.
• Written Status Report. The status reports, at a minimum, will include current project highlights, a summary of activity conducted during the reporting period.
• Internal Team Meetings. We will engage in weekly internal meetings with our analysts,
writers, and support staff, to ensure that deliverables are tracked and managed.
Quality Assurance
CONSTANT will ensure that all deliverables and services provided for this effort align with the
FCDPH’s standards and any quality assurance surveillance plans (QASPs). Our comprehensive
Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC) Plan will be implemented at the deliverable level by our
staff. QAQC efforts will address technical requirements (such as compliance with legislative or
programmatic mandates or guidance), project reporting channels, schedules and milestones, and
other unique project requirements (e.g., special tools, software, or editing methodologies).
Performance standards for timeliness, depth of content, professional quality, technical accuracy,
data quality and accuracy, meeting logistics (e.g., use of Microsoft Teams), and data and records management will be incorporated and we will remain at the ready for Government inspection.
Data Collection
In order to complete FCDPH’s COVID-19 AAR to be accurate and recommendation-oriented, the AAR will be crafted to help
increase the resilience of FCDPH in ongoing COVID-19 response following the discontinuation of the EOC and DOC
and to increase the resilience of FCDPH following the
conclusion of pandemic response-related programs and
services. To accomplish this objective, it is imperative that a
comprehensive system be again used to gather information
and data on the challenges incurred, response actions taken,
outcomes, and ongoing preparedness activities of FCDPH and other stakeholders from October 2020 to August 2021 (or until
execution of data collection for this project ends). CONSTANT
will utilize a multi-pronged approach to gather a wide breadth of information to develop the finalized AAR and IP.
Figure 1. CONSTANT gathers data from several sources in order to conduct in-
depth analysis.
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Surveys
FCDPH staff will continue to be very busy with ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery efforts as
COVID-19 operations have been consolidated back into the department’s community health division.
As such, CONSTANT will seek to collect information as efficiently as possible through the use of online survey tools that incorporate specific, targeted questions designed to gather insightful
feedback in a manner that is minimally invasive. Care will be taken in survey design to assure that these questions both account for the challenges identified in the MAR and any improvements that
may have been made thereafter and account for FCDPH’s focus on vaccination response that began
in October 2020. This step will ensure that the finalized AAR can be developed as a comprehensive report.
Online survey tools will be developed and distributed to many of the same stakeholders that the MAR
survey was distributed to, including FCDPH staff, medical provider and hospital staff, faith based
organizations, and EOC/DOC staff. Additional key stakeholders who are identified to have played a
critical role in FCDPH’s COVID-19 response post-October 2020, particularly with vaccination, will
also be engaged at this juncture, such as vaccination site staff and volunteers, as applicable.
As part of the survey process, CONSTANT can also create and release a short online survey available
to members of the public at large to determine how constituents felt about the response and the
government’s ability to serve the public, if desired by FCDPH.
Data from the survey(s) will be organized into recurring themes and presented to FCDPH Project
Managers. The online survey(s) serve two purposes: 1) they provide mechanisms for a wide net of
stakeholders to contribute to the AAR, and 2) they enable us to identify what the large and sensitive issues are ahead of the virtual debriefing so that we can structure and prepare for that meeting
accordingly.
Deliverables
• Survey questions
• Survey transmittal/cover language
• Anonymous survey data summary
• Survey data analysis for the final AAR/IP
Documentation Review
The foundational step of documentation review usually consists of the AAR writers spending hours
upon hours reading through plans, response documentation, and other open source information to
first get an understanding of the key incidents and decision points of the event, then seek to analyze
and communicate outcomes. This is an area where CONSTANT will shine for FCDPH. As we have
three (3) returning team members from the development of FCDPH’s COVID-19 MAR, CONSTANT
already has intense familiarity with early response actions, systems, relationships, and key lessons learned from January 2020 to September 2020, as well as knowledge of foundational FCDPH plans
and policies.
For this documentation review phase, we will focus on building on this information – adding layers of
complexity, data from the ongoing event, and a new lens of response and recovery as COVID-19
vaccination planning and response began soon thereafter. No time will be spent on getting “spun
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up” on what happened, and we will instead be able to use our time working on solutions for FCDPH.
To that end, CONSTANT will review the MAR and other relevant documents that were developed
and utilized to respond effectively from October 2020 through July 2021. This includes messaging from FCDPH about restrictions, testing, and vaccine availability, incident action plans (IAPs), situation
reports, resource requests, incident logs, and memos about response. Based on this documentation
review, our team will perform an analysis of activities and references to be utilized in development of the final, comprehensive COVID-19 AAR. CONSTANT will also work closely with FCDPH to gain
access to dashboards and other modeling tools that were used to monitor and track the disease
and its cascading effects as well as vaccination rates. CONSTANT will utilize technologies and visual
data resources to better facilitate analysis of complex issues and to visually communicate lessons,
trends, and outcomes. Our staff will work to create timelines that show how and when each surge
occurred. This will help us to better analyze how triggering events impacted policy decisions and community reactions.
While reviewing FCDPH’s documentation, CONSTANT will also analyze work flow documents and
note where these documents may be incomplete or require improvement. As part of the optional
extra services that we can provide, we may need to draft and/or finalize work flow documents at the
discretion of FCDPH. CONSTANT will discuss these additional services with FCDPH leadership in
more detail following review of the documentation and identification of workflow documents that require additional attention. The stakeholders interviews will also assist in this identification.
Deliverables
• Catalog of resources
• Summary of findings in the form of AAR themes
• Timeline of events
• Identification of workflow documents that require a rewrite, revision, and/or completion
Debriefing
We will also coordinate and facilitate a virtual after action debriefing that focuses on FCDPH’s
response post-September 2020, with emphasis on vaccination planning and response and
improvements made from challenges identified in the MAR. FCDPH staff who attended the MAR
Debriefing will be re-engaged alongside others as requested by the FCDPH Project Manager and
team. We will provide a lead facilitator and two notetakers for the meeting. CONSTANT will ensure
that our facilitator is well briefed on outcomes of the survey and prepared for the discussions. The
debriefing will be structured in a manner that allows for feedback, discussion, and provides a forum to ask questions. CONSTANT uses Microsoft Teams, which can accommodate this type of
interaction and include platforms that offer virtual breakout rooms for small group discussion;
Microsoft Teams was used without issue for the MAR Debriefing.
Deliverables
• Participant handout
• Participant worksheet
• Debriefing PPT deck
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Interviews
CONSTANT will also conduct virtual individual and/or small-group interviews with individuals,
agencies, and organizations that did not participate in the debriefing or who require additional discussion to get clarification on response areas. This may include interviews with internal and
external stakeholders such as FCDPH staff, medical providers, school representatives, the California
Department of Public Health, public safety and law enforcement, community-based organizations,
and others as requested. Interviewers will utilize interview tools to support comprehensive and
accurate data collection. Though specific interview questions will vary based on the person or people
being interviewed and their role in COVID-19 response, in general, these interviews will focus on
obtaining the following information for the AAR: 1) review of major events that drove response/recovery actions from October 2020 to July 2021, with an emphasis on vaccination efforts
2) discussion of self-identified areas for improvement as well as key strengths from response during October 2020 through July 2021 and 3) ongoing or recent improvements made post-MAR
development and post-incident, both near and long term. Work flow documents will also be
discussed with relevant stakeholders during these interviews to assist in our identification of documents that require a rewrite, revision, and/or completion.
Deliverables
• Interviewee list
• Interview questions
• Interview data summaries in form of AAR themes
CONSTANT Benefits and Value for the Data Collection Phase
In the table below, CONSTANT provides a summary of the unique benefits and value that we bring
to FCDPH in terms of data collection.
Table 2. CONSTANT's Benefits and Values for the Data Collection Phase
Feature Benefit and Value to FCDPH
Build directly from
MAR foundation
A key benefit that CONSTANT brings to the table is our understanding of
FCDPH’s early response, the trust that we’ve earned with the stakeholders in
conducting multiple interviews, meetings, and debriefings, and the analysis that has been performed to date which would serve as context and a bridge to the
information that would be analyzed for this next time period. We will “continue
the conversation” with the many stakeholders that we interfaced with to identify
outcomes of response efforts previously identified; discuss the introduction of additional complexities, such as tiered vaccine availability, and position FCDPH
for recovery and further resilience.
Use of smart,
dynamic online
surveys to collect
data at the start of
the project
Online surveys enable us to 1) cast a wide net of feedback from stakeholders which helps with a robust data pool, 2) help large groups of stakeholders feel
engaged and involved – generating buy-in, and 3) gather insights in a way that
is minimally invasive for participants. Gathering this baseline data will provide
direction about what to research further.
Thorough
documentation review
CONSTANT’s thorough approach to documentation review will enable FFDPH
to have a clear picture of the response so far, including trends, gaps, and
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Feature Benefit and Value to FCDPH
outcomes; it will help to identify what elements of plans were utilized, which were
not, and which need to be revised and how.
Conduct of a wide
net of interviews
CONSTANT’s work on prior COVID-19 AARs has shown us that interviews are
invaluable tools for getting critical data. Our approach to a comprehensive set of
interviews, across partners, FCDPH leaders and EOC staff, will provide FCDPH
with a complete data set from which we will build the finished AAR from.
AAR and IP Development and Finalization
CONSTANT will provide a comprehensive yet digestible AAR and IP that is reflective of the
information gathered and comprehensive analysis. When developing the completed and
comprehensive AAR, the MAR can serve as Chapter 1 of the report that documents FCDPH’s COVID-19 response from January 2020 to September 2020. Chapter 2 of the report can focus on
the vaccination rollout and other response actions taken from October 2020 to August 2021.
Assuring that the AAR flows as one comprehensive report will be a priority of CONSTANT’s throughout the development process, and this format will be adjusted as needed.
In addition to the final AAR including the MAR as Chapter 1, insights from the MAR’s IP will need to
be integrated so that the final AAR’s IP has a consolidated list of forward-looking areas to improve and actions to take in order to do so. This will involve reassessing improvement items that may have
been attended to since the MAR’s development or are no longer relevant as response has continued. This integration will start during the data collection phase when the surveys, debriefing, and
interviews each pose questions to stakeholders related to areas for improvement identified during
the MAR and where these items stand in terms of relevancy, attention to, and necessary change.
This approach will ensure that CONSTANT has the necessary information to truly assess FCDPH’s
areas for improvement that require attention post-August 2021 as opposed to areas for improvement
that may have already been attended to through process improvement during ongoing COVID-19
response.
Iterative Deliveries
As we did when drafting the MAR, we will
provide iterative deliveries of AAR content. This includes initial findings from the online surveys
such as themes and recurrent findings, a high-
level outline of the issues identified during the
debriefing, and key findings from interviews. We
will provide these items as each event is
completed so that FCDPH can immediately see what the issues are as they are identified. This will
also help FCDPH to make adjustments as needed in ongoing recovery and the recent demobilization efforts. Lastly, this provides FCDPH with an opportunity to provide additional insights where
clarification may be needed for the report’s content.
Figure 2. CONSTANT provides iterative deliveries of AAR
content.
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Report Outline
Based on the information gathered and corresponding analysis, CONSTANT will craft an outline for
the final AAR. This outline will include either the majority of the MAR in its entirety or concepts and
themes from the MAR that should be included in the final AAR, in addition to themes and recurrent
findings from data collection of FCDPH’s COVID-19 response from October 2020 to July 2021. A key area of focus will be examining vaccination planning and response during the second time
period. The outline will include heavy annotation so that FCDPH can readily see the concepts that
will be included under each heading and subheading and make adjustments as needed.
Deliverables
• Annotated AAR outline
Initial Draft
CONSTANT proposes to employ a similar writing process to this AAR as we did for the MAR – we
will provide iterative drafts. We believe that it is very important for FCDPH to review the draft from
an early stage to provide comment on the ways that the themes are emerging and how the MAR is being integrated into the final AAR. To that end, following the approval of the report outline,
CONSTANT will provide a 50% draft to FCDPH for review and comments by the Project Manager
and other stakeholders. This draft will provide an account of pandemic activities, identify areas of
near- and long-term improvement, and present a road map for improvements that are still needed.
Deliverables
• 50% draft of the AAR
Second Draft
Following the receipt and adjudication of comments, a second draft of the AAR will be developed as
a 70% solution, ready for stakeholder comment. This will also include draft concepts of graphics,
callouts, figures, and tables, including the requested organization chart of the various COVID-19 response roles and what FCDPH staff members did what. We will provide the AAR first to the County
to review for accuracy, political sensitivities, and to help inform the direction of the After Action
Meeting. We will incorporate any adjustments that need to be made to the draft AAR at this juncture
and note any areas that need to be further clarified or discussed during the After Action Meeting
Deliverables
• 70% draft of the AAR
After Action Meeting
The people who participated in the After Action Debriefing will be reengaged to review the draft AAR
including the IP during an After Action Meeting. The approved draft AAR will be shared with After
Action Meeting participants in advance of the meeting date at the discretion of FCDPH. As with the
debriefing, CONSTANT will coordinate and facilitate the virtual After Action Meeting for FCDPH. We
will prepare to have the same support staff from the debriefing serve for the After Action Meeting
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and ensure that the facilitator is intimately familiar with the draft AAR contents and prepared for the discussions.
During the meeting, CONSTANT will highlight key findings and outcomes in the AAR and solicit
feedback for the IP with emphasis again on ensuring that the IP serves as a consolidated and actionable plan of what areas for improvement FCDPH should prioritize given the entire COVID-19
response effort. Our goal will be to review, validate, and obtain support for the actions and strategies
outlined in the improvement plan matrix. CONSTANT recommends that all department heads and senior leaders for FCDPH and other external stakeholders as requested be engaged at this juncture
to provide feedback on the contents of the AAR before it is finalized. If they unable to attend the
(virtual) meetings, feedback can be provided via email.
Deliverables
• Meeting agenda
• Meeting PPT deck
• RSVPs
• Feedback survey
• Participant packet
• Improvement Plan Matrix
Final Draft
CONSTANT will refine and revise the AAR and IP based on After Action Meeting outcomes. Any
ambiguities in the revision will be vetted with the FCDPH Project Manager. The approved document will be professionally formatted to include style, graphics, and other aesthetics. Once approved,
CONSTANT will format the document, ensure 508 compliance, and then resubmit it for approval.
We understand that even after a document is final, there may be other tweaks that are requested from leaders to ensure that every detail and nuance is exactly as it should be. We understand the
importance of language choices, optics, alignment to funding requests, and adherence to
requirements, and we are prepared to make additional edits to the final version if necessary.
CONSTANT Benefits and Value for the AAR and IP Development Phase
In the table below, CONSTANT provides a summary of the unique benefits and value that we bring
to FCDPH in terms of the AAR and IP Development Phase.
Table 3. CONSTANT's Benefits during AAR and IP Development
Feature Benefit and Value to FCDPH
Forward-
looking report
Insights from the MAR’s Improvement Plan will be integrated so that the final AAR’s
IP has a consolidated list of forward-looking areas to improve and actions to take
to do so. This will involve reassessing improvement items that may have been attended to since the MAR’s development or are no longer relevant. This integration
will start during the data collection phase when the surveys, debriefing, and
interviews each pose questions related to areas for improvement identified during
the MAR and where these items stand in terms of relevancy.
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Feature Benefit and Value to FCDPH
Provision of
iterative
deliverables
CONSTANT will provide iterative deliverables as each event is completed so that
FCDPH can a) immediately see what the issues are as they are identified, b) make
adjustments as response continues and demobilization remains, and c) provide
additional insights where clarification may be needed for the report’s content.
Several
points of
feedback
FCDPH will have opportunities to review the AAR outline, first draft (50% solution),
second draft (70% solution), and a final draft so that stakeholders can see progress
being made, provide feedback, and offer guidance and insight where needed.
Organized,
focused AAR
Meeting
The people who participated in the debriefing will be reengaged to review the draft
AAR including the IP, so that they can see how their feedback and insights have
shaped the report, give feedback on the Improvement Plan, and offer any additional
insights that should be considered at that juncture.
Timeline
CONSTANT presents the below timeline for developing the AAR over a five month period.
Table 4. CONSTANT's Timeline
Fresno County COVID-19 AAR and IP
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5
Project Initiation Kickoff Meeting Project Management QAQC
Data Collection Surveys Documentation Review Debriefing Meeting Interviews
AAR and IP Development AAR Outline Initial Draft Second Draft
After Action Meeting Final Draft
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AAR Team
Key Staff Members
CONSTANT is excited to offer an overview of our experienced team members who are all exceptionally qualified to craft a well-thought-out COVID-19 AAR for FCDPH. Our team features
three (3) returning team members from the development of FCDPH’s MAR including Sloan Grissom, Cindy Beard, and Ashley Slight who will contribute as the Project Sponsor and Subject Matter
Experts, respectively.
CONSTANT’s proposed key team members are Executive Sponsor Sloan Grissom, MPH, CPH; Project Manager Hieu Vo, MA; Deputy Project Manager Tracy To, MPH, CPH; and Subject Matter
Experts Ashley Slight, MPH, CEM and Cindy Beard, MPH. Our team members have direct
experience working with FCDPH and developing COVID-19 AARs for other jurisdictions across the West. They will be supported with wrap around services providing assistance with administrative
duties, graphics, and research support. We reserve the right to make staffing adjustments pending
staff availability, if necessary, upon award.
Figure 3. CONSTANT Project Team
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Resumes
HIEU VO, MA – PROJECT MANAGER
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Mr. Vo brings a unique perspective with his experience and
knowledge across the public and private sector. Early in his career,
he was involved with facilitating safer communities with legal and
culture based civil rights policies and protections. As a policy and
public administration specialist, he developed and implemented
policy protections for individuals and communities against
harassment and violence.
Since then, Mr. Vo has lent his facilitation skills and writing ability towards promoting safety and equity for all communities in the
aftermath of complex incidents. He has been able to provide leadership and support on emergency management and public
health projects surrounding COVID-19 response evaluation,
vaccine planning, whole community outreach, community rapid
needs assessments, and crisis communications. Mr. Vo’s previous
and current experience developing COVID-19 AARs for
jurisdictions across the West ensures that he will be able to provide
an actionable and complete COVID-19 AAR for FCDPH. Mr. Vo earned a master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from
the University of Manchester.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 After Action Report – Spokane County
CONSTANT was engaged to develop two (2) COVID-19 AARs –
one for the health district and one for the healthcare coalition in Spokane County, Washington. Mr. Vo served as the Deputy Project
Manager coordinating the creation of an interim COVID-19 After
Action Report for Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD). In his role, he contributed to the SRHD Interim AAR. Additionally, he
served as principal writer and project lead for the REDi Healthcare
Coalition Interim AAR assessing their role and impact during COVID-19 response.
CASPER Serosurvey After Action Report – Maricopa County
Mr. Vo served as Project Manager and lead writer in the development of an After Action Report assessing Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s development and execution of a
Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) and serology survey. In
his role, he led a team to draft an After Action Report based on major themes outlined during the data and information gathering phase. The After Action Report detailed the development and
execution of the CASPER Serosurvey, as well as major areas of strengths and improvement.
HIEU VO, MA
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Emergency management
professional with
expertise in equity
solutions
• Experienced Project
Manager
• Hands-on support to
develop COVID-19
AARs across California,
Arizona, and
Washington
• Serves as a contributing
author for the
development of a Vaccination Guidebook
for Cal OES
• Authored multiple AARs
for California wildfires
• Demonstrated expertise
in whole community
outreach and integrating
those with DAFN in
planning efforts
• Master’s Degree in
Public Policy
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Additionally, recommendations were drafted to align with the client’s goals in the future. Speaking
to the testament of Mr. Vo’s work on the CASPER Serosurvey AAR, CONSTANT has been
reengaged by Maricopa County and is currently developing their COVID-19 AAR.
COVID-19 In Action Report – Yuba County & Sutter County
Mr. Vo is currently serving as the Deputy Project Manager coordinating the creation of an interim
COVID-19 After Action Report for Yuba County and Sutter County. In his role, he has contributed to
the development of the interim After Action Report outlining the bi-county response efforts to the
COVID-19 pandemic. This included coordinating and conducting stakeholder interviews with
contacts from both counties.
COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Guidebook for Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
– California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Mr. Vo served as contributing author to the Mass Vaccination Guidebook for Disabilities and Access
and Functional Needs for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. This guidebook
will serve as premier best practices and guidance for planners on including accessible means for
mass vaccination efforts in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidebook includes sections
about community outreach, transportation, physical access, registration, etc.
LNU Lightning and Glass Fire After Action Report – Napa County
Mr. Vo contributed to the Napa County LNU Lightning and Glass Fire After Action Reports. These
reports assess the county’s response to two congruent fires in the complex setting of COVID-19. As project support, he participated in facilitating several stakeholder interviews with groups from
mass shelter and care to the local assistance center. For the development of the report, he
contributed to multiple sections assessing strengths, areas for improvements, and recommendations, regarding mass care and sheltering and recovery operations.
Camp Fire After Action Report – Butte County
Mr. Vo contributed to two (2) After Action Reports that CONSTANT created in response to the Camp
Fire in Butte County, California. CONSTANT’s two AARs included one for the entire countywide
response effort as well as a separate one for public health and medical response. Mr. Vo contributed
to drafting elements of both the Countywide and the Public Health and Medical Camp Fire After Action Reports. Primarily, he authored the Incident Overview in the AAR and various other appendix
resources as well as provided editing and research support.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Arts, Political Science – Governance and Public Policy, The University of Manchester
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, California State University Long Beach
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SLOAN GRISSOM, MPH – PROJECT SPONSOR
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. Grissom is an interdisciplinary emergency management professional with expertise in EOC readiness, disaster public health,
emerging infectious diseases, and the use of medical
countermeasures at points of dispensing sites. Ms. Grissom led the
development of the Fresno County COVID-19 MAR, she has had
leading roles in the development of multiple real-world AARs for
catastrophic disasters, and she has provided POD planning and
training for numerous jurisdictions; therefore, she brings a strong breadth of experience to the development of FCDPH’s finished
COVID-19 AAR.
Ms. Grissom has supported clients at all levels of Government,
including multiple agencies across the West, the State of California,
and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Ms.
Grissom prides herself on developing feasible, comprehensive
reports that empower agencies to respond effectively to disasters and to build organizational resilience. She has a bachelor’s degree
from the University of Georgia in Environmental Health and a
master’s degree in Public Health from the University of South
Florida. She holds numerous specialized certifications in disaster
and crisis management.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 Mid Action Report – Fresno County
Fresno County continues to execute a measured response to COVID-19. This has encompassed
DOC and EOC activations, and collaboration with a myriad of partners – healthcare coalition
members, public safety partners, cities, and others, all while maintaining a constant state of agility and responsiveness. CONSTANT was engaged by Fresno County to develop an Interim COVID-19
AAR under a truncated timeline. Serving as the Project Manager and leading author, Ms. Grissom
led all aspects of the project to include oversight of project deliverables, stakeholder engagement,
and facilitation of response debriefings and the After-Action Meeting. Ms. Grissom synthesized all
data to include data from stakeholder interviews, online surveys, and review of incident and planning
documentation to identify the report themes which outline areas for improvement and strengths
exhibited during the response.
SLOAN GRISSOM, MPH
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Led the development of
FCDPH’s MAR –
therefore having strong
knowledge of FCDPH’s early COVID-19
response
• Leading roles to
develop COVID-19
AARs across California
and Washington
• Authored multiple AARs
for California wildfires
• Experience with POD
planning and training
• Provides support to
clients at all levels of
Government
• Master’s degree in
Public Health
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COVID-19 After Action Report – City of San José
Ms. Grissom served as Subject Matter Expert and leading author for the development of the City of
San José COVID-19 Preliminary Operational Assessment Report. This document serves as analysis of the City’s COVID-19 response efforts. Ms. Grissom developed the report to include the report
findings and associated recommendations which are designed to address areas for improvement
and codify strengths exhibited during response.
COVID-19 After Action Report – Spokane Regional Health District
Spokane Regional Health District’s response to COVID-19 included the operation of screening and
testing sites with the National Guard, healthcare surge capacity expansion, supporting high risk
populations, and engaging with tribal partners. CONSTANT was engaged to develop two (2) COVID-19 AARs – one for the health district and one for the healthcare coalition. Ms. Grissom served as a
Subject Matter Expert and reviewed incident documentation and planning documents as well as analyzed and synthesized stakeholder interview and online survey data. Ms. Grissom developed
thoughtful recommendations to better situate the health district and healthcare coalition to respond
to COVID-19 surges and maintain effective response.
COVID-19 In Action Report – State of Washington
Ms. Grissom is supporting the WA DOH COVID-19 In Action Operational Assessment. Ms. Grissom
assists in stakeholder engagement, conducting stakeholder interviews as part of the data collection
process. In addition, she provides strategic guidance and review of project deliverables such as interview facilitation and note-taking guides. Ms. Grissom also serves as writer for the assessment,
drafting, reviewing, and providing feedback on the document.
COVID-19 In Action Report – Yuba County & Sutter County
Ms. Grissom is supporting the Yuba-Sutter COVID-19 In Action Report. Ms. Grissom serves a writer
for the document, synthesizing interview, hotwash, and survey data to support findings, such as
strengths and areas for improvement exhibited during the response. Ms. Grissom also provides
strategic guidance to the project approach and execution.
After Action Report for Camp Fire – Town of Paradise
Ms. Grissom served as Deputy Project Manager for the Town of Paradise Camp Fire AAR. Ms. Grissom handled stakeholder correspondence, developed meeting materials, managed meeting and
project event logistics, interviewed stakeholders to inform the report, and was a lead writer for the
AAR. The AAR provides an in-depth analysis of the Town’s response to the 2018 Camp Fire and
suggests recommendations to better prepare the Town for future disasters.
After Action Report for Camp Fire – Butte County
Ms. Grissom served as the Deputy Project Manager for the Butte County 2018 Camp Fire AARs and
CAPs. Ms. Grissom handled stakeholder correspondence; assisted in planning meeting, hot wash,
and After-Action Meeting (AAM) planning, logistics, and facilitation; conducted stakeholder
interviews; and served as a lead writer for the AARs and CAPs, conducting an in-depth review of
open source data, incident documentation, and survey data.
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After Action Report for Woolsey Fire – Los Angeles County
Ms. Grissom served in a supporting role on the Woolsey Fire workshops and AAR project. Ms.
Grissom assisted in workshop execution, managing logistics, workshop registration, and taking workshop minutes. Ms. Grissom also assisted in the development of the AAR, conducting AAR
review meetings, identifying strength and areas for improvement of the Woolsey Fire Response, and
authoring AAR writeups.
COVID-19 Return to Work Plan – Alameda Alliance
Ms. Grissom served as the Public Health/Emergency Management Subject Matter Expert for the
Alameda Alliance Return to work effort. This project involved the production of a gap analysis where
Ms. Grissom led the evaluation of the Alameda Alliance’s posture on business continuity, emergency preparedness, and return to work readiness in the context of COVID-19. Ms. Grissom then
supported the development of a recommendations report aimed at providing Alameda Alliance with a roadmap to returning to work after COVID-19 and improving their business continuity and
emergency preparedness posture.
COVID-19 Vaccine POD Plan Template – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Grissom served as the Project Manager for the Maricopa County COVID-19 Vaccine POD Plan Template project. This project entailed the update of the MCDPH POD Plan template to
accommodate the requirements of the multiple COVID-19 vaccines. Ms. Grissom led project
meetings, served as a lead writer of the plan, integrated all stakeholder feedback, and insured client approval of the final deliverable. Ms. Grissom completed this project under a truncated timeline and
under budget, while keeping appraised of the rapidly evolving status of the COVID-19 vaccines’ Emergency Use Authorization approval and requirements for transportation, storage, handling,
reporting, and administration.
Medical Countermeasures Workshop and Tabletop Exercise After Action Report – Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health
Ms. Grissom served in a supporting role for the Los Angeles County DPH MCM workshop and TTX
to ensure the success of the workshop and TTX. Ms. Grissom handled logistical aspects of the events to include set up and break down, event registration, and other logistical concerns. Ms.
Grissom also facilitated breakout group discussions and helped develop the After Action Report.
Closed POD Partner Recruitment and Training – Santa Clara County
Ms. Grissom is served as the Deputy Project Manager for the County of Santa Clara Closed POD Project. Ms. Grissom conducted outreach to potential POD partners to include City emergency
management agencies, large, private employers, schools, and healthcare facilities in Santa Clara
County. Ms. Grissom also supported training development and facilitation by assisting in the
development of planning documents for POD partners and the execution of workshops to further
train partner agencies.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Public Health, Global Disaster Management, Humanitarian Relief, & Homeland Security, University of South Florida
• Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia
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ASHLEY SLIGHT, MPH, CEM – SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. Slight brings a tremendous depth of knowledge regarding
emergency management and public health. She is a skilled and practiced Subject Matter Expert with expertise in pandemics and
vaccination programs. Ms. Slight has contributed to past projects
on behalf of FCDPH including the COVID-19 MAR and the Closed Point of Dispensing Recruitment and Training Program, therefore
bringing strong familiarity with FCDPH’s systems and relationships.
In addition to her experience with FCDPH, Ms. Slight has contributed to several COVID-19 and wildland fire AARs and
vaccination plans for jurisdictions across the West, providing her
with a strong lens of experience to draw from when developing the
finished FCDPH COVID-19 AAR. She has also managed several
large projects for federal, state, and local jurisdictions and
agencies. As examples, she served as Project Manager for the
California Statewide Medical and Health Exercise Program multiple years in a row and as Project Manager coordinating regional
Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Summits for the Assistant
Secretary of Preparedness and Response. Ms. Slight has a
master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California,
Los Angeles and is a certified Emergency Manager.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 Mid Action Report – Fresno County Department of
Public Health
Ms. Slight served as the Project Sponsor on a project developing
the COVID-19 Mid-Action Report for the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH). On this project, Ms. Slight
provided quality assurance, supervised the finalization of all deliverables, and served as a subject matter expert and key
contributing technical writer.
Closed Point of Dispensing Recruitment and Training Program – Fresno County
Ms. Slight was the featured Instructor for Fresno County in conducting two Closed POD-related
workshops – a Closed POD Program Introduction Workshop (focusing on creating a Closed POD
Plan for participant’s agencies) and a Closed POD Operations Training (walking through a sample
Closed POD layout and associated roles and responsibilities). Ms. Slight assisted in the development of the training materials and presented the material using a combination of interactive activities and
lecture-based formats.
ASHLEY SLIGHT,
MPH, CEM
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Contributed to the
development of
FCDPH’s MAR –
therefore having strong
knowledge of FCDPH’s
early COVID-19
response
• Conducted POD
training for Fresno
County
• Provides project management and
subject matter expertise
to COVID-19 AARs for
jurisdictions across the
West
• Serves as a Subject
Matter Expert for the
development of a
Vaccination Guidebook
for Cal OES
• Master’s degree in
Public Health
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COVID-19 After Action Report – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight currently serves as the Project Sponsor for the development of Maricopa County’s COVID-
19 AAR. At this juncture, Ms. Slight has supervised the project kickoff, served as a facilitator for
several hotwashes with internal and external stakeholders, and provided technical support. This project is ongoing with the writing portion beginning shortly.
COVID-19 In Action Report – State of Washington
Ms. Slight currently serves as the Project Manager leading the development of a COVID-19 response In Action Report (titled the In-Action Operational Assessment) covering the January 2020 to June 2021
timeframe. The Assessment utilizes quantitative and qualitative data collection methods (e.g., surveys,
individual and group interviews, group workshops, and a literature review of response documentation) to
identify strengths and areas of improvement related to the Department’s response efforts. The
Assessment aims to not only better prepare the Department for future large-scale public health
emergencies but also to influence future staffing and funding decisions for the Department as a whole in order to better manage ongoing pandemic efforts. As the first state to have COVID-19 cases within the
United States, the state of Washington is committed to leading the way in evaluating response structures
used in COVID-19 and propose changes to public health systems and infrastructure.
Serosurvey After Action Report – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight served as the Project Sponsor supervising the project implementation and providing
technical support to the Maricopa County CASPER Serosurvey AAR. This report focused on the
MCDPH and Arizona State University COVID-19 CASPER Serosurvey project. During the creation of
the AAR, Ms. Slight reviewed deliverables, ensured quality control, and served as a subject matter
expert.
After Action Report for Camp Fire – Butte County
Ms. Slight served as part of consultant team developing two After Action Reports / Improvement
Plans (AAR/IPs) for the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, California. The consultant team created two AAR/IPs: one for the entire countywide response effort, as well as a separate one for public
health and medical response. Ms. Slight served as Lead Author and Manager for the Public Health
and Medical After Action Report / Improvement Plan, working closely with the Butte County Public
Health Department to identify gaps, review documentation, and facilitate interviews and working
groups. Ms. Slight facilitated a full day workshop with public health and medical stakeholders
involved in the Camp Fire to outline strengths and areas for improvement, as well as to offer staff an opportunity to debrief from their shared experience. Ms. Slight aligned AAR development efforts with
statewide audits and reporting while ensuring the local perspective and successes were highlighted
in a document representing the tremendous sacrifices made by the Butte County community.
COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Guidebook for Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
– California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Ms. Slight served as a key subject matter expert and Project Sponsor supervising the implementation of a project for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) related to access
and functional needs planning. The project aimed to create an “AFN Blueprint for Vaccination Planning” Guidebook which identified lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic with regards
to making mass vaccination sites accessible at every stage (planning, implementation,
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demobilization). On the project, Ms. Slight served as contributing writer, provided deliverable review,
and helped to provide subject matter expertise on project execution.
COVID-19 Vaccine POD Plan Template – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight served as the Project Sponsor for the Maricopa County COVID-19 Vaccine POD Plan
Template project. This project involved updating the MCDPH POD Plan template to accommodate
the requirements of the multiple COVID-19 vaccines and providing tools to healthcare facilities and
other public health partners to set them up for establishing COVID-19 vaccination sites. Ms. Slight
provided supervision of all deliverables and the contract as a whole, as well as served as a mass vaccination subject matter expert. The project was completed under a truncated timeline and under
budget, during the evolving status of the COVID-19 vaccines’ Emergency Use Authorization approval
and requirements for transportation, storage, handling, reporting, and administration.
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight worked with the MCDPH in 2019 to design and implement a program aimed at evaluating
the new pandemic influenza preparedness requirements for the PHEP grant. The project included reviewing their current Pandemic Influenza Plan, authoring a Gap Analysis Report and
Recommendations Report, coordinating and delivering a community stakeholder workshop, and
aligning efforts with the state of Arizona’s newly released Pandemic Influenza Plan. The workshop gathered members from local schools, volunteer groups, critical infrastructure partners, and
neighboring jurisdictions to discuss priorities for increasing pandemic preparedness at the policy
level. In addition, Maricopa County hired Ms. Slight and her team back on for an additional contract
to begin revisions to their existing Point of Dispensing (POD) training materials and adapting them
for pandemic influenza preparedness. Ms. Slight and her team created training materials, an updated
Closed POD Guidebook and Template, and guidelines for vaccinator competency and training as a
part of this project. Both projects were featured as part of a presentation for the 2020 National
Association of City and County Health Officials Preparedness Summit.
Closed Point of Dispensing Recruitment and Training – Coconino County
Ms. Slight worked with the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) to recruit and
train Closed POD partners throughout Flagstaff, Williams, Page, Sedona, Tusayan, and more, in
order to provide coverage to a rural and geographically wide area, which includes an influx of over
six million tourists a year for the Grand Canyon. Agreements were drafted and put in place with the national parks, local tribes, school districts, local employers, and cities/county departments. Ms.
Slight coordinated development of the agreement language, communication with Closed POD
partners, creation of a POD plan template, and delivery of POD training as well as Receipt, Store, and Stage (RSS) warehouse training to partner organizations. She served as one of the instructors
for the training, and continues to work with Coconino County to further deliver training and exercise
programming.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Public Health, Specialization in Emergency and Disaster Public Health, UCLA
• Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, UC Berkeley
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CINDY BEARD, MPH – SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. Beard brings a tremendous depth of knowledge regarding
infectious disease planning, after action report writing, health security, trend analysis, and program evaluation. She has served as
the lead contractor analyst for evaluation of implementation of the
National Health Security Strategy for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. She has also previously completed
projects for notable federal agencies such as ASPR and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency National Preparedness
Assessment Division. Additionally, Ms. Beard has supported local
agencies and jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Butte County, Yuba County, Sutter County, San Mateo County, and the
City of Long Beach. Ms. Beard was a main contributor to Fresno
County’s COVID-19 Mid Action Report, providing her with strong knowledge of FCDPH’s early COVID-19 response to be leveraged
in the final report.
Ms. Beard is currently pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health, focusing on emerging infectious diseases
and intervention implementation. She earned a master’s degree in
Public Health from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Virginia.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 Mid Action Report – Fresno County
Ms. Beard gathered and analyzed qualitative data to evaluate strengths and areas for improvement
in the FCDPH early COVID-19 response. This included coordinating and conducting stakeholder
interviews, developing and disseminating a stakeholder survey, and ultimately report writing.
COVID-19 In Action Report – State of Washington
Ms. Beard has completed project management tasks including coordination of stakeholder interviews and client communications. She conducted stakeholder interviews, analyzed interview
and survey data, and drafted sections of the report.
COVID-19 In Action Report – Yuba County & Sutter County
Ms. Beard provided project support for the COVID-19 In Action Report for Yuba and Sutter counties.
In this role, she supported workgroups and analyzed survey data from vaccine clinic workers at
County-run mass vaccination clinics. She conducted analysis in R and wrote a summary of survey
findings for inclusion in the final report.
CINDY BEARD,
MPH
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Contributed to the
development of
FCDPH’s MAR –
therefore having strong
knowledge of FCDPH’s
early COVID-19
response
• Leading roles for
COVID-19 AARs across California and
Washington
• Experience with AARs
for Ebola response
• Master’s degree in
Public Health
• Currently pursuing a
PhD in Epidemiology at
UCLA
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Ebola After Action Report – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Ms. Beard supported the development of a lessons learned report and associated materials
regarding HHS’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. She drafted interview questions and other materials for meetings with dozens of senior U.S. health officials such as Dr. Tom Frieden and
Dr. Tony Fauci and identified key findings that emerged from the response and drafted narratives of
various elements of the response, including a case study of the first case of Ebola in Dallas, TX.
Concepts of Operations Vaccine Distribution – San Mateo County Emergency Medical
Services
Ms. Beard provided subject matter expertise and writing support on the development of two Concept of Operations documents for the county’s early vaccine distribution efforts to first responders and
other emergency response personnel.
COVID-19 Research – UCLA-DRC Research Group
Ms. Beard is leading implementation of a survey-based study of risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens among animal health workers. She also supports study logistics for a large-
scale epidemiologic study of COVID-19 occupational risk in healthcare workers and first responders.
Ms. Beard also managed quantitative data from recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo and used ArcGIS, OpenStreetMap, and stakeholder GIS data to create more accurate
maps of remote areas of the DRC to improve future disease response efforts.
National Preparedness Report – Federal Emergency Management Agency
Ms. Beard worked with FEMA on the creation of the 2015 National Preparedness Report. For this project, she reviewed open-source data and data call responses from federal, state, local, and
private-sector stakeholders to identify trends, improvements, and emerging threats to national preparedness. Ms. Beard researched and developed 7 key findings for the final report, which was
disseminated to the President.
Ebola Response Plan – District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency
Management
Ms. Beard worked with DC HSEMA to develop a plan for synchronizing response actions across
agencies in the District should a case of Ebola present within DC borders. This plan served as one of the orientation documents provided to the new DC mayor upon her inauguration.
National Health Security Strategy – Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
As the lead analyst on the evaluation of national implementation of the NHSS, Ms. Beard served as the
primary on-site coordinator for all project management needs. She was the conduit between the project managers on the client side and on the contract side, and she developed monthly invoices and work
summaries.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• PhD, Epidemiology, UCLA (ongoing)
• Master of Public Health, Epidemiology, UCLA
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology and Spanish, University of Virginia
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TRACY TO – DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. To has a master’s degree in Public Health, specializing in Health Management and Policy, and is currently an Analyst at
Constant Associates. Ms. To has experience in community
outreach, project coordination, quality improvement, program evaluation, and communications. She brings years of healthcare
experience from her time volunteering in the hospital and an
occupational therapy clinic as well as working for the emergency
management department at a hospital. During her graduate
studies, she worked closely with the local health department and
university to evaluate a satellite clinic program in order to expand
accessibility and to analyze health screening policy for international students in order for the university to develop a new policy,
respectively. Additionally, she has participated in several emergency management projects, including outreach, hazard
annex development, and exercise facilitation and support.
Ms. To is currently supporting the development of several COVID-19 projects for jurisdictions across the West, including the Maricopa
County COVID-19 AAR, the Yuba and Sutter Counties COVID-19
In Action Report, and a California Primary Care Association COVID-19 Case Study, Symposium, and Webinar.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 After Action Report – Maricopa County
Ms. To currently serves as project support for the development of a COVID-19 After Action Report
for Maricopa County, Arizona. In this role, Ms. To has led the documentation review and the
development of a timeline that captures Maricopa County’s COVID-19 response in the context of
local, state, and federal actions. Ms. To also has facilitated several hotwashes with key stakeholders,
served as a notetaker for interviews, and she will begin drafting sections of the report in upcoming
weeks.
COVID-19 In Action Report – Yuba County & Sutter County
Ms. To served as key project support for a COVID-19 In Action Report for Yuba County and Sutter County. Ms. To served as a notetaker for stakeholder interviews, conducted research, and reviewed
documentation in order to draft sections of the report. She was a contributing author to sections of
the report and also conducted a technical edit of the assembled draft report.
TRACY TO,
MPH
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Contributing to COVID-19 AARs across
California, Washington,
and Arizona
• Strong project
management
experience, including
the coordination of
Emergency
Preparedness Fairs
• Experience in health
security with
tuberculosis and flu
planning
• Master’s degree in
Public Health
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COVID-19 Case Study, Symposium, and Webinar – California Primary Care Association
Ms. To served as project support for the development of a COVID-19 Case Study that outlined the
best practices and areas for improvement for Community Health Centers in California during the pandemic. She created project templates, drafted webinar materials, organized webinar
presentation scheduling, and provided a thorough technical edit of the assembled Case Study.
COVID-19 In Action Report – State of Washington
Ms. To serves as project support for the COVID-19 In Action Report for the Washington State
Department of Health (WADOH). She has provided graphic support for sections of the final report as well as key interview facilitation with multiple stakeholders.
Emergency Preparedness Coordination and Exercises – Providence Health
Ms. To coordinated and managed the first Emergency Preparedness Fairs for six hospital locations
in the Oregon region in her previous position before CONSTANT. She created materials and
collaborated with the marketing department to promote the fairs for all employees at each hospital
location. She was the point of contact for internal partners and the vendors, which include local
emergency management, law enforcement, fire, and much more. She interacted with staff across
different departments internally as well as local partners. The fairs will be held annually building off
Ms. To’s work and help Providence raise awareness surrounding emergency preparedness amongst employees. Ms. To further assisted with creating the materials for Mass Casualty Exercises in the
Emergency Department for clinicians and administrators at different hospital locations as well as
helped facilitate the exercises. She conducted an exercise debrief meeting with volunteers for the exercise.
Tuberculosis Screening Policy Analysis – Portland State University
Ms. To collaborated with Portland State University’s (PSU) Director of Health Services to conduct
research, analyze policies, and best practices for Tuberculosis (TB) screening for international students on college campuses to provide recommendations. She drafted and delivered a policy
analysis with recommendations for PSU to develop a TB screening policy for international students.
Flu Vaccination Quality Improvement Project – Portland State University
Ms. To led a team of five individuals online to develop a quality improvement plan for increasing flu vaccination in PSU’s community. She coordinated with the team remotely to research, draft, and
deliver a flu vaccination quality improvement plan utilizing SMART goals and the PDSA cycle.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University
• Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science, University of California, Irvine
• Certified in Public Health (National Board of Public Health Examiners)
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Pricing
Pricing Overview
CONSTANT has provided a project budget, outlining our rates, hours and other direct costs (ODC)
by phase of the AAR development. Labor is provided for each labor category by phase. ODCs include costs for supplies and systems (including technologies). In addition to the considerations
identified in the narrative, the following are noted:
• All interviews, weekly check-ins, debriefings, and meetings will be performed virtually.
• Payment for this work shall be on a Firm Fixed Price basis.
• CONSTANT assumes that it may need to adjust the staffing levels (e.g. hours per person
and/or rate) and personnel within the scope of the contracted amount in order to best
accommodate the changing needs of the project.
• CONSTANT will begin work after the contract has been executed and will complete the
work across a five (5) month period of performance.
Table 5. CONSTANT's team includes a deep bench of experts in disciplines involved in COVID-19 response and recovery.
Labor Category Name Rate Project
Kickoff
Data
Collection
and
Analysis
AAR and
IP
Total
Hours Total Cost
Labor
Executive Sponsor Sloan Grissom 152.10$ 2 12 8 22 3,346.20$
Project Manager Hieu Vo 118.30$ 4 32 40 76 8,990.80$
Deputy Project Manager Tracy To 125.00$ 4 32 40 76 9,500.00$
Subject Matter Expert Ashley Slight 185.40$ 0 8 4 12 2,224.80$
Subject Matter Expert Cindy Beard 112.49$ 0 24 40 64 7,199.36$
Researchers/Editors 125.00$ 0 32 16 48 6,000.00$
Data Analysts 145.00$ 0 32 0 32 4,640.00$
Graphics/Admin Support 110.00$ 0 0 16 16 1,760.00$
10 172 164 346 43,661.16$
Other Direct Costs
Systems and Maintenance 1,650.00$
Admin and Operations 2,000.00$
Printing 350.00$
4,000.00$
Optional Extra Services
Work Flow Documentation
Updates 10,000.00$
TOTAL PRICE 57,661.16$
To be further discussed with FCDPH Leadership following documentation review
and stakeholder interviews
Eight paper copies and 1 electronic copy of the final report
Fresno County, CA Department of Public Health
COVID-19 After Action Report and Improvement Plan
September 29, 2021
Total Labor:
Total Other Direct Costs:
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CONSTANT ASSOCIATES, INC. 3655 Torrance Blvd., Suite 430, Torrance, CA 90503
388 Market Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco CA 94111
California Small Business Enterprise
www.ConstantAssociates.com
FRESNO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN UPDATE
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR QUOTE
September 29, 2021
Resilience is CONSTANT™
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September 29, 2021
Darrel Schmidt
PHEP Coordinator/HPP Coordinator Fresno County Department of Public Health dschmidt@fresnocountyca.gov
RE: Request for Quote – Continuity of Operations Plan Update
Dear Mr. Schmidt,
Constant Associates, Inc. (“CONSTANT”) appreciates the opportunity to submit this quote to provide a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) update to the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH). CONSTANT is an award-winning and highly reputable emergency management consulting firm headquartered in California. Emergency planning is a core service of our business and has been
since the inception of our company more than 17 years ago. We bring exceptional experience and
qualification directly aligned with this effort:
• COOP Expertise: CONSTANT has supported COOP development, trainings, and exercises
for clients including the State of California, the International Medical Corps, the Arizona
Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER), the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health, the International Medical Corps, Maricopa County, Arizona,
Multnomah County, Oregon, and more.
• COVID-19 Mid Action Report Development: CONSTANT was honored to support
FCDPH with the development of a COVID-19 Mid Action Report (MAR). When developing
the MAR, it was recommended that FCDPH updates its Continuity of Operations Worksheet
with essential services as determined by COVID-19 response. CONSTANT’s experience
developing FCDPH’s COVID-19 Mid Action Report (MAR) and the recognition of necessary
updates to the COOP provides us with a defining advantage due to our familiarity with the
current needs and practices of the department, assuring a product expressly designed to
meet FCDPH’s expectations and needs.
• Executive Qualification: CONSTANT’s plan writing and readiness works have earned
eighteen (18) awards from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Association of Counties
(NACo), among others. We attribute this to our ability to provide innovative, realistic solutions
that reflect the capabilities, specific needs, and input of stakeholder groups.
Based on experience with projects similar in scope and our experience in working with representatives across FCDPH, CONSTANT represents a low-risk, high-value solution. I am
authorized to represent and bind CONSTANT to all commitments made in this quote, and the quote shall remain valid for a period of not less than 30 days from the date of submittal.
Michelle Constant, MBA Chief Executive Officer
CONSTANT ASSOCIATES, INC.
D: (424) 320-2582 | E: michelle@constantassociates.com
Los Angeles: 3655 Torrance Blvd., Suite 430 Torrance, CA 90503
San Francisco: 388 Market Street, Suite 1300 San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (800) 745-3057
Facsimile: (424) 320-2581
Web: www.constantassociates.com/
Social: www.linkedin.com/company/constantassociates
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................. 3
QUOTE FOR SERVICES ............................................................................................................ 4
Understanding and Expertise ................................................................................................... 4
WORK PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 7
Project Initiation ...................................................................................................................... 7
Research and Data Collection ................................................................................................. 8
COOP Development ................................................................................................................ 9
PROJECT TEAM ......................................................................................................................13
Key Staff Members .................................................................................................................13
Resumes ...............................................................................................................................14
PRICING ...................................................................................................................................27
Pricing Overview ....................................................................................................................27
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Quote for Services
Understanding and Expertise
Understanding
The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH)
seeks to promote, preserve, and protect the well-being of
the community and ensure optimal health of the public. To act in accordance with this mission, FCDPH needs to
maintain critical functions and operations during and after
incidents and emergencies. A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) ensures that policy, guidance, and procedures
have been planned for and outlined when facing natural, manmade, or technological disasters. A COOP enables
response to these disasters, outlines continuation of
essential functions during an emergency, organizes
restoration of programs after an emergency, drafts
leadership succession, considers staffing implications
during response activities, delegates authority, pinpoints
continuity facilities and communications, and more.
The COVID-19 pandemic response has been unprecedented and as such, FCDPH and other
agencies, departments, and jurisdictions across the Country have had the opportunity to truly put
their continuity planning into action. This stretched period of response to COVID-19 has tested the practicality of actions and responses that were previously identified to mitigate disasters and
emergencies, including pandemics. As FCDPH has recently consolidated COVID operations back
into its community health division, FCDPH now seeks the assistance of a trusted contractor to update its incomplete COOP to reflect the current needs and practices of the department and
address two potential continuity of operations scenarios – limited or short-term emergency response (up to 2-3 months) and sustained response (18-24 months). Also of particular importance in the
COOP’s development is addressing continuity as applicable to each of FCDPH’s current six (6)
divisions and encompassing elements of a continuity of government (COG) plan for both the
department and each division, including succession planning.
For this project, we understand that success will be based on close collaboration and ‘buy in’
between CONSTANT and FCDPH staff, and that FCDPH staff who comprise the Planning Team will
be intimately involved in all phases. Our vision is to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and
expertise of the FCDPH staff while being respectful of FCDPH’s time constraints given continued
response to COVID-19 and other primary responsibilities. CONSTANT seeks to bring depth and
breadth of emergency management, healthcare preparedness, and health security expertise, research and analytical capabilities, and planning experience to assist FCDPH with this important
project, updating the COOP to be actionable and reflective of recent experiences.
“CONSTANT staff have
consistently produced deliverables
that demonstrate an understanding
of our threats, hazards, and grant
requirements. I have found their
staff to be dedicated, responsive,
and generally a pleasure to work
with.”
- John Wogec, MPH, DO
Emergency Preparedness Office
California Dept. of Public Health
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Constant Associates, Inc.
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Continuity of Operations Planning Expertise
CONSTANT is uniquely positioned to serve FCDPH in this capacity, given that we have completed
nearly identical scopes of work for other clients across public health and healthcare and have
firsthand knowledge of FCDPH’s COVID-19 response through development of the COVID-19 Mid
Action Report (MAR). CONSTANT is an award winning and highly reputable disaster public health and healthcare preparedness consulting firm. Since our company’s inception in 2004, our mission
has remained steadfast: Preparing our clients for the unthinkable. COOP and the provision of health
and healthcare preparedness related projects have always been core components of our services. We have worked with all levels of the government as well as an expansive list of private sector clients
including Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the State of California Department of Public Health, the State of Washington Department of Health, the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare
Emergency Response, Providence Health Services, Sutter Health, and Omni Family Health. We are
adept at writing plans that align to requirements put forth by ASPR and State plans. The plans reflect
the capabilities, resources, and specific needs of each planning partner. We can provide access to
an extensive collection of lessons learned, checklists, and disaster-tested resources.
CONSTANT’s approach for updating the COOP for FCDPH will involve utilization of the FEMA
Continuity Guidance Circular, FEMA’s Continuity Plan Template, the ASPR Healthcare COOP &
Recovery Planning document, and several other plans, checklists, and best practices that we have
gathered from implementing continuity programs for clients across the West Coast.
Sampling of COOP Related Past Performance
Our efforts have resulted in a hard-earned reputation for
doing great work, maintaining strong relationships with our
clients, and facilitating relationships between our clients,
their partners, and constituents. We bring demonstrated ability to create plans that are technically accurate, easy to
use, and built upon a common understanding of response capabilities of those involved. A sampling of our continuity
related projects is provided below:
• COOP Planning and Training – CONSTANT
recently finalized the development of a COOP for the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency
Response (AzCHER) that ensures the ability of the coalition to continue essential business operations
and ESF-8 support functions across a range of potential emergencies. We also provided a training product for AzCHER to support member
healthcare organizations with the ability to continue to operate that underscored key
elements of the coalition’s COOP and its relationship to member plans.
• Continuity Training – CONSTANT developed COOP Training for the International Medical
Corps focused on business continuity planning for healthcare settings. The target audience
includes healthcare facility staff, healthcare coalitions, local health departments (primarily
aimed at Federally Qualified Health Center level and potentially resource-constrained
settings). Topics address the intersection with Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVAs),
Business Impact Analyses, legal and regulatory requirements, patient care, scenario-
specific considerations and additional resources to utilize.
“CONSTANT was absolutely
fantastic. Communication was
great and there was an extremely
high level of professionalism – while
still having fun. Great team and
great company that I hope we can
partner with again in the future.”
- Laura Dix
Executive Director
AzCHER
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Constant Associates, Inc.
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• COOP Training – CONSTANT was engaged to conduct COOP training and update the COOP Plan for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health in Arizona. We worked
closely with staff to ensure that the training followed the information contained in the plan
while weaving in case studies and best practices from real-world experiences. Following the
training program, CONSTANT was engaged to update the department’s COOP plan to
reflect feedback from the training.
• COOP Planning – CONSTANT is leading the development of the COOP for Multnomah
County, Oregon. This includes addressing lines of succession, alternate work locations, the
conduct and examination of assessments, determination of essential functions, and more.
• Continuity Planning – CONSTANT was engaged by the State of California to craft a suite of
continuity resources for healthcare service providers across the state. As part of this project,
we created a toolkit comprised of a video, slide decks, case studies, and more.
• Continuity and Supply Chain – CONSTANT facilitated high-level workshops for Los Angeles
County to examine continuity issues with critical infrastructure partners to include supply chain management. Issues examined included multiple entities relying on a small pool of
vendors for critical supplies, inaccessibility of roadways, emergency purchasing and more.
• Continuity of Business – CONSTANT worked with the SBA and other local partners to craft
a Continuity of Business Plan Template specifically for small businesses. The template provided instruction of the completion of a BIA, identification of essential functions, key staff,
and concepts for keeping important areas of a business operational. We also facilitated a
series of workshops to introduce the template to the community and explain its use.
• Continuity of Nonprofits – CONSTANT worked with nonprofits such as the Red Cross, and Salvation Army to create a Nonprofit Continuity Plan Template and accompanying resources
toolkit. The Template served as a resource for nonprofits to walk through the continuity
planning process and document their strategies. CONSTANT also facilitated a series of
workshops to introduce and provide instruction on the use of the template.
• Continuity of Government – CONSTANT staff oversaw the development of the COG Plan
for Los Angeles County. This included addressing lines of succession, alternate work
locations, the conduct and examinations of assessments (e.g., THIRA, BIA), determination
of essential functions, and more.
• Continuity Program – CONSTANT staff supported roll out of Kaiser Permanente’s continuity
program. Kaiser’s program was a national effort that included the conduct of BIAs, a
comprehensive software implementation, plan development and maintenance program.
• Continuity of Business – CONSTANT staff developed a business continuity plan for the
Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center and presented it at the Association of
Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals conference to highlight opportunities to
integrate healthcare employees often deemed non-essential into response plans.
• Continuity Planning – CONSTANT staff developed and implemented continuity plans and systems for multiple operations support functions at all levels of the organization for Team
Rubicon, a disaster recovery non-government organization. These systems and plans
addressed continuity for both remote teams and site-specific functions at the National
Operations Center. The processes and systems developed were ultimately utilized to
maintain all-day, year-round coverage of operations planning, mobilization, logistics, finance, administrative support, and remote incident management support functions.
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Work Plan
Project Initiation
Overview
CONSTANT will work collaboratively with FCDPH to update FCDPH’s COOP based on two
scenarios – limited or short term emergency response (up to 2 to 3 months) and sustained response (18 to 24 months) – that will rest on a clear understanding of its unique capabilities, systems,
organizational structure, and operating procedures as well as industry best practices. CONSTANT’s experience developing FCDPH’s COVID-19 MAR provides us with a defining advantage due to our
familiarity with the current needs and practices of the department, assuring a product expressly
designed to meet FCDPH’s expectations and needs.
Project Kickoff Meeting
CONSTANT will develop and conduct an initial Project Kickoff Meeting with FCDPH to set
expectations for the development and delivery of the project, outline roles and responsibilities, and clarify the purpose, goals, and objectives. We will present a draft Project Management Plan for review
that includes the Work Plan, the QAQC Plan, and the proposed timeline for completing the project. CONSTANT will then refine the Project Management Plan in accordance with the discussion and
agreements reached during the meeting.
Deliverables
The following deliverables will result from this component:
• Project Management Plan
• QAQC Plan
• Kickoff Meeting
• Meeting Materials and Minutes
FCDPH’s Role
CONSTANT anticipates the following actions for the FCDPH Project Manager at this juncture:
• Provide all available documentation related the existing COOP
• Provide insight issues that may affect the project
• Provide feedback on the Project Management Plan
Planning Team
CONSTANT will work with the FCDPH Project Manager to form the COOP Planning Team consisting
of key FCDPH staff who understand the department and can provide insight into capabilities and critical functions. CONSTANT anticipates holding monthly meetings with the Planning Team, and we
understand the vital importance of an active, engaged Planning Team to support and inform the
planning process. We will elicit active participation from Planning Team members while keeping the
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planning process on track understanding that key FCDPH staff continue to respond to COVID-19.
However, it will be critical to have FCDPH staff who were involved in the sustained response to COVID-19 to ensure the COOP effectively addresses the realities experienced with a longer term
disruption to normal operations.
As part of our commitment to making the most out of each meeting, we incorporate the following
preparation efforts:
• Create a collegial atmosphere while advancing conversation and driving to decisions
• Know high/low priority items on the agenda (e.g. tabling non-essential items)
• Study and familiarity with all documents being referenced in the meeting
• Diplomatic navigation of political dynamics
• Planned time allocation for each agenda item
• Understanding as to whether something is best reviewed with the group versus offline
CONSTANT is prepared to provide the following for each monthly meeting:
Meeting Deliverables
• Planning Team Member Roster
• Schedule of Meetings
• Meeting Materials and Minutes
Research and Data Collection
Overview
CONSTANT will produce an updated COOP that accurately reflects the capabilities and resources
of FCDPH, incorporates best practices and lessons learned from sustained response to COVID-19,
aligns to State plans and ASPR requirements, and ultimately exceeds FCDPH’s expectations. As
such, we would use a multi-pronged approach to gather the information necessary to inform the
elements of inclusion in the COOP as identified on page 9. Our approach to data collection is below:
Documentation and Requirements Review
The first step is collection of information that should inform the update of the COOP including
baseline documents and references to examine such as the State’s COOP, PHEP/HPP
requirements, ASPR guidance, current learnings from COVID-19, and FCDPH’s 2017 COOP
Essential Functions Worksheet. Since CONSTANT completed the COVID-19 MAR for FCDPH and
identified elements that needed to be updated in the COOP, we have a baseline of information to
work from for the sustained response COOP scenario, and we will seek to build on that while also
applying lessons learned from our experiences with other clients across the West.
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Template Development
CONSTANT will develop an on-line custom template to gather the basic information relating to the
two scenarios for input into the COOP. The template will be specifically tailored to FCDPH needs
and designed to allow user friendly direct input of data by designated staff from each of the six (6)
FCDPH divisions. The information from the template will feed directly into the COOP draft following
approval by division management and the Planning Team. As part of the template development
process, CONSTANT will provide a training session as needed for these designated personnel to
navigate the template and provide on-going technical support. Upon the conclusion of the project, the template will be provided to FCDPH in a format that can reside on the FCDPH IT system to allow
for future updates.
Interviews
While the use of the online template will yield most of the required raw data, in some cases there will
be a need to supplement with (virtual) face-to-face interviews. CONSTANT will conduct virtual
individual or small group interviews as required to fill in data voids and/or obtain clarifications.
Meetings/Deliverables
• Template development, review and approval
• User training
• Technical support
• Template summary report
• List of interviewees and interview questions
• Management and Planning Team Review
FCDPH Role
CONSTANT anticipates the following actions for the FCDPH Project Manager at this juncture:
• Provide documentation related to continuity planning, response, and requirements
• Facilitate the template development process to ensure it is tailored to FCDPH’s needs
• Identify template users, assist in scheduling training, and provide appropriate training venue
• Assist in scheduling interviews and division management reviews of data
COOP Development
Overview
Following the research and data collection phase, CONSTANT will begin drafting FCDPH’s COOP
update under the oversight of the Planning Team. Development of the final COOP will proceed in accordance with the steps described below, and will address two potential continuity of operations
scenarios – limited or short term emergency response (up to 2-3 months) and sustained response (18-24 months). The lessons learned from response to previous shorter term emergencies and
sustained incidents, such as COVID-19, will be implemented in the development of the COOP.
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Hazard Vulnerability Analysis
Development of the COOP requires an understanding of potential hazards and how they may affect
FCDPH operations. CONSTANT will work with the Planning Team to conduct a Hazard Vulnerability
Analysis (HVA) (or reference other local HVAs that may already be in place) to identify potential
hazards, the probability of their occurrence and their potential impact on FCDPH facilities and
operational structure. Completion of the HVA will be informed by the State’s Hazard Mitigation Plan
(HMP), the County’s HMP, the State’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, and
the FEMA National Risk Assessment Index for Natural Hazards.
Identification and Categorization of Services
FCDPH’s 2017 COOP Essential Functions Worksheet outlines organizational functions and
categorizes them as red (emergency response actions, 0-24 hours for recovery time objective), orange (high impact on public safety, 24-72 hours for recovery time objective), yellow (moderate
impact on safety, health or department critical operations, 1-3 weeks for recovery time objective), or
green (low impact, 3 weeks or longer for recovery time objective). However, the COVID-19 MAR identified new essential services based on COVID-19 response. These services will need to be
categorized as either essential or non-essential in order to identify the limited set of critical
department or division-level services that must be continued throughout, or resumed rapidly after, a
disaster.
In addition to the color classification that FCDPH has used, another methodology for categorizing each service as essential or non-essential is the “4 R’s” categorization is described below:
• Reinforce: services that continue and may even expand during a disaster or an emergency. For example, surveillance activities not only continued, but rapidly expanded during
response to COVID-19.
• Run: services that must continue to run during a disaster or an emergency and have high priority. These services typically align to the needs of the community, regulations, and/or
health outcomes, prompting their continuation.
• Reduce: services that incorporate some critical functions but can be reorganized to reduce
or remove the majority. The reduction of such services allows for consolidation of services and a shift in resource use.
• Remove: services that can be removed. The removal of such services allows for resources
to be shifted to other priorities that are more critical at the time.
Utilization of either the “4 R’s” categorization or FCDPH’s color methodology will allow for ranking and prioritization of additional Public Health services identified during COVID-19 and since the
creation of the 2017 COOP worksheet to be integrated into the two continuity of operations scenarios.
Identification of Key Personnel and Succession Planning
CONSTANT will work with the Planning Team to update and/or identify key personnel, leadership,
and succession plans for the department and each FCDPH division. CONSTANT is aware from its development of the COVID-19 MAR that succession planning was challenging for FCDPH during
response to COVID-19 as staff members who may have been able to fill certain positions were
already pulled into different roles. As such, CONSTANT has strong familiarity with potential solutions
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that may need to be employed in the planning process to rectify this challenge when considering a
sustained response operation.
When creating the succession plan by division, CONSTANT will work closely with the Planning Team
to ensure that those with aligning knowledge and skills are identified in the succession plan. Two (2)
or three (3) successors will be selected for leadership positions department wide and by division in
order to ensure appropriate coverage. Succession planning will also include an outline of what
conditions necessitate succession, how those on the succession plan will be notified in the event
that their leadership is required, and any limits that successors have in terms of authority.
Delegation of Authority
After FCDPH’s key personnel and successors are identified, CONSTANT will collaborate with the
Planning Team to update or establish delegations of authority. This will ensure that there is documentation of the authority that key officials and successors have to make and perform key
policy decisions during a short-term or sustained disaster or emergency that requires activation of
the COOP. As emergencies are often fast-paced and require rapid response, it is critical that leaders are clear as to the actions they can and cannot take in response to a given situation.
This delegation of authority will also include the executive decision process that is required to activate
the COOP.
Communications Systems and Emergency Contact Lists
CONSTANT will work with the Planning Team to identify and update the various communications
systems that FCDPH has access to and utilizes during disasters and emergencies, both internally
and externally. FCDPH’s response to COVID-19 resulted in the use of new systems such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, REDCap, and WebEOC. These systems will be incorporated into the
COOP based on the strengths and/or challenges associated with each.
FCDPH’s emergency contact lists will also be updated. The emergency contact lists need to not only
include employee contact information, but also contact information for entities related to the
operation of FCDPH including insurance agencies, telephone companies, media outlets, state and local government entities, service vendors, and more. These lists will be updated to ensure that any
decisions related to the activation of the COOP can be communicated accordingly to personnel and
stakeholders.
Data Support Systems and Vital Records
Vital records include files, records, and databases, and there must be systems put into place to
ensure that they are maintainable and retrievable. CONSTANT will work with FCDPH to document
its systems and records, but also account for any back up or protections that are in place in the event that restoration or recovery of vital records is required. Also critical at this juncture will be
ensuring that any records vital to critical functions are available at alternative facilities, if necessary,
as described below.
Alternate Facilities
CONSTANT will assist FCDPH with identifying alternate facilities in the event of the COOP activation
resulting from an event that has required evacuation of the primary workspace. Selection of an
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alternate facility will require identification of geographic impacts of various disasters and how this
might impact selection criteria.
Drafting the Updated COOP
To support drafting the updated plan, CONSTANT will conduct regular Planning Team meetings following a sequential building block approach. As drafts of the plan update are developed,
CONSTANT will provide them to FCDPH Project Manager and the Planning Team for review and
comment. Each review period will last for two (2) weeks.
Meetings/Deliverables
• Planning Team plan review meetings
• Intermediate iterative drafts for review and comment in electronic format
• An initial draft plan for review and comment in electronic format
• A final draft plan for review and comment in electronic format
• A completed comment matrix in electronic format showing the resolution of each comment
FCDPH Role
CONSTANT anticipates the following actions for the FCDPH Project Manager at this juncture:
• Coordinate with Planning Team members to produce timely reviews of drafts
• Coordinate with CONSTANT for scheduling of Planning Team meetings
• Provide feedback and approval of stakeholder comments for adjudication
Final COOP with Attachments
After consolidating and incorporating comments provided by the Planning Team, CONSTANT will
develop the final updated COOP and attachments. We will assure that the FCDPH Project Manager and/or the Planning Team review and approve all documentation prior to distribution and
presentation. The delivery of this digital version of the COOP can reside on FCDPH’s servers and be
updated post project using the template that we will develop earlier in the update process.
Deliverables
• Final print ready plan in MS Word and PDF
• Electronic copies of final files, include meeting minutes, COOP template, and interview
questions
FCDPH Role
CONSTANT anticipates the following actions for FCDPH Project Managers at this juncture:
• Confirm receipt of final files
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Project Team
Key Staff Members
CONSTANT is excited to offer an overview of our experienced team members who are all exceptionally qualified to craft a well-thought-out COOP update for FCDPH. Our proposed key team
members are Executive Sponsor Evan Koepke, MPL, MPA, CEM, PMP; Project Manager Susie Schmitz, MA; Deputy Project Manager Hieu Vo, MA; and Subject Matter Experts Jim Sims, MURP,
and Ashley Slight, MPH, CEM. Our team members have direct experience developing and/or
updating COOPs for jurisdictions across the West and have worked together on previous efforts. They will be supported with wrap around services providing assistance with administrative duties,
graphics, and research support. We reserve the right to make staffing adjustments pending staff
availability, if necessary, upon award.
Figure 1. CONSTANT's organizational chart
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Resumes
EVAN KOEPKE, MPL, MPP, PMP, CEM – PROJECT SPONSOR
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Mr. Koepke is an IAEM Certified Emergency Manager and a
certified PMI Project Management Practitioner. He has spent the last twelve (12) years developing and leading disaster programs at
the local, state, national, and international levels. He has
demonstrated experience excelling in complex, fast-paced
environments through his work on projects with government,
major entertainment industry players, and nationwide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involving project
management, plan development, plan writing, and facilitation. His
continuity of operations/government qualification includes the
Multnomah County COG, Illumination Entertainment Evacuation
Plan Update, Continuity Planning for Team Rubicon, the Evacuation Planning Project for Santa Clara Social Services, the
Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center Emergency Planning
project, and more. Additionally, he has strong experience
developing other types of emergency plans including hazard
mitigation plans (HMP) and emergency operations plans (EOP).
Mr. Koepke has deployed to dozens of disasters, worked on
policy-level issues, and crafted highly technical analyses of
emergency management programs. He completed dual master’s degrees in Planning and Public Administration, and possesses a
Homeland Security Certification from the University of Southern California. He completed a bachelor’s degree in Urban and
Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, and is
certified as a Lean Six-Sigma Green Belt.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Continuity of Government Plan – Multnomah County
Mr. Koepke is currently leading the development of a continuity of government plan and a
catastrophic earthquake annex for the Multnomah County Department of Emergency Management.
In addition to developing these plans, the project team is conducting assessments of existing
continuity and catastrophic event planning, identifying best practices and regulatory requirements,
creating a continuity of government field guide, and building a training course for each plan - targeted
to elected officials and emergency management staff respectively.
Continuity Planning – Team Rubicon
As Lead National Operations Planner, and while serving as Deputy Manager of the National Operation Center, Mr. Koepke was responsible for developing and implementing continuity plans and systems
for multiple operations support functions at all levels of the organization. These systems and plans
EVAN KOEPKE,
MPL, MPP, PMP,
CEM
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• 12+ years of experience
developing and leading
disaster programs at the
local, state, national,
and international levels
• Previous COOP/COG
projects for jurisdictions
across the West
• Expertise in emergency
plan development
including EOPs and
HMPs
• Dual master’s degrees
in Planning and Public
Administration
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addressed continuity for both remote teams and site-specific functions at the National Operations
Center. The processes and systems developed were ultimately utilized to maintain all-day, year-
round coverage of operations planning, mobilization, logistics, finance, administrative support, and
remote incident management support functions.
Continuity Planning – Illumination Entertainment
Mr. Koepke worked with Illumination Entertainment to assess the evacuation plans the company had
created for its new Los Angeles office. This assessment, supported by on-site and remote data collection, evaluated facility preparations, evacuation routes, and assembly sites for efficiency,
potential hazards, and likely coordination issues. It additionally provided recommendations for facility improvements, plan adjustments, external stakeholder coordination, equipment purchases, and
special event planning.
Continuity Recommendations – Santa Clara Social Services
Mr. Koepke provided project management, research, mapping, and planning services toward the
development of two facility evacuation plans for Santa Clara County Social Services. In doing so, he
led an in-depth facility hazard and risk analysis, conducted research on local regulations and disaster
recovery capabilities, helped develop concept infrastructure improvements, created continuity recommendations, and supported evacuation planning.
Risk Assessment – Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center
Mr. Koepke developed a catastrophic emergency plan, and supported training for the Donald E.
Long Juvenile Detention Center. Specifically, Mr. Koepke assessed the facility’s hazard risk,
operating environment, and regulatory environment; facilitated collaborative planning efforts; and
developed early release criteria for incarcerated youth; and generated plan content regarding mass
care, sheltering in place, evacuation, and detainee relocation. This groundbreaking project not only
developed one of the first emergency plans for a juvenile justice facility in the United States, but also
triggered broader regional planning efforts – to include creation of the first state-wide mutual aid
agreement among juvenile justice facilities.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Planning, Sustainable Land Use Concentration, University of Southern California
• Master of Public Administration, University of Southern California
• Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Public Policy, University of Southern California
• Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning, Professional Concentration in Emergency
Management and Hazard Mitigation, University of Virginia
• Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute
• Certified Emergency Manager, International Association of Project Managers
• Six-Sigma Green Belt, University of Southern California
• Professional Continuity Practitioner, FEMA
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SUSIE SCHMITZ, MA – PROJECT MANAGER
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. Schmitz is a disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
professional with twelve (12) years of experience blending operational
experience and research into planning and training. She has a passion
for building community resilience at the local, national, and
international levels. Ms. Schmitz specializes in integrating behavioral health into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. She has
strong previous experience in continuity planning and training for agencies such as the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency
Response, the International Medical Corps, the Veterans Emergency
Management Evaluation Center, and the San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disasters, providing her with expertise on
how to develop COOPs and ensure that employees effectively train to
their use.
Ms. Schmitz’s experience also encompasses the development of several COVID-19 After Action Reports (AAR) for jurisdictions across
the West such as the Hospital Association of Southern California, the
Los Angeles Community College District, Yuba County, Sutter County, Fresno County, and Maricopa County, Arizona. This experience
provides her with lessons learned from the pandemic to be implemented in further emergency planning efforts. Ms. Schmitz
earned a master’s degree in International Disaster Psychology from
the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from
the University of Iowa.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 Mid Action Report – Fresno County Department of Public Health
Ms. Schmitz provided support to the development of a COVID-19 Mid Action Report for Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH). On this project, Ms. Schmitz provided detailed interview
notetaking and assisted in designing a structure for interview data analysis. During the creation of the Mid
Action Report, Ms. Schmitz analyzed interview transcripts and notes as well as FCDPH plans and
documentation to identify strengths and areas for improvement to report to FCDPH. In a section
summary, Ms. Schmitz provided an overview of the importance of the section of the report, compiled
and explained the section findings, and provided recommendations on how to maintain or improve COVID-19 response areas based on the information identified in the report.
Continuity of Operations Planning and Training – Arizona Coalition for Healthcare
Emergency Response
Ms. Schmitz served as the Deputy Project Manager on a two-part project for the Arizona Coalition
for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER). The project included the 1) creation of an AzCHER
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and 2) development of a training on continuity of operations for AzCHER member organizations. During this project, Ms. Schmitz contributed to the COOP by
conducting a references and resources review, drafting sections of the COOP, providing technical
SUSIE SCHMITZ,
MA
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• 12+ years of disaster
preparedness and
response experience
• Continuity expertise
through planning and training development for
agencies across the
West
• Contributed to the
development of several
COVID-19 After Action
Reports
• Sought-after Project
Manager
• Master’s degree in
International Disaster
Psychology
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editing, and formatting content. She also assisted in the creation of the training outline and edited the presentation content. Administrative functions that Ms. Schmitz filled included assisting with
project coordination, budget management and invoicing, quality assurance of materials, and meeting
material development.
Continuity Training – International Medical Corps
Ms. Schmitz was the Deputy Project Manager on two training development projects for the
International Medical Reserve Corps. One project goal was to design a course for Continuity of
Essential Services for Health Centers. The course provided information for health facilities on the
components of a business continuity plan, detailed steps to identifying essential services, and
examples of continuity planning in health facilities. Ms. Schmitz assisted in the development of slide
notes, designed a course worksheet, created an example of completed essential services worksheet
based on a federally qualified health center, developed a pre/post-test, and supported content
editing and review.
Continuity Planning – Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center
Ms. Schmitz served as the Center Preparedness Committee Project Manager for the Veterans
Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC) at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The goal of this project was to develop emergency response procedures and business continuity
plans for the research center. Ms. Schmitz was a lead author on the response plan and conducted
outreach to healthcare system emergency management representatives to identify ways VEMEC employees could support a facility-wide response. This project process was presented at the
Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals annual conference to highlight
opportunities to integrate healthcare employees often deemed non-essential into response plans.
Continuity Planning Workbook Development – Veterans Emergency Management
Evaluation Center
Ms. Schmitz served as Project Manager for the VA Grant and Per Diem (VA GPD) Emergency Operations Plan Workbook and Manual project at VEMEC. The VA GPD program funds over 200
nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the United States serving Veterans experiencing homelessness. This project was coordinated with the National VA GPD Office. Ms. Schmitz
developed the project plan and assisted the investigator to identify deliverables. She conducted an
extensive literature review of over 50 continuity planning documents and created a reference crosswalk to compare to the workbook and manual outlines. To ensure content covered
accreditation standards, she developed a crosswalk of emergency management standards from six
national accreditation programs. She contributed to content development by leading the creation of
workbook and manual outlines, authoring numerous sections, developing planning templates, and
copy-editing documents.
Continuity Planning Workshop Series – San Francisco Community Agencies Responding
to Disaster
As the Director of Programs at San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster (SF
CARD), Ms. Schmitz managed the completion of grant funded projects, including the Walter & Elise
Haas Fund Disaster Preparedness Grant project. The goal of the project was to increase the
preparedness of community and faith-based organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area through
disaster continuity planning and training. Ms. Schmitz assisted in the development of a continuity
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planning workshop series for nonprofit and faith-based organizations and led two of the three
workshops. She also supervised the logistics and planning of each workshop and provided follow-
up technical assistance to the organizations who attended. Additionally, she assisted in future
funding negotiations and deliverable identification with the granters.
Continuity Planning, Training, and Exercises – San Francisco Community Agencies
Responding to Disaster
Ms. Schmitz managed the completion of the San Francisco Foundation Community Resilience Grant Program. The program’s goal was to increase the San Francisco Bay Area’s level of community
resilience by ensuring continuity of essential social service organizations in the counties of Marin, San Francisco, and Contra Costa. This was a multi-year funded project that tracked 30 community based
social service organizations and provided them technical expertise and preparedness guidance. The
three components to the project included 1) technical assistance updating continuity plans, 2) one facility-wide training, 3) one facility-wide exercise or drill. Ms. Schmitz provided consultation and
support to the enrolled organizations to ensure these deliverables were met. Additionally, she created
a preparedness assessment tool to measure program the impact of the program on organizational
preparedness and track the progress of organizations over time. Ms. Schmitz regularly met with the
funding agency to update them and identify future funding opportunities.
Continuity Planning, Training, and Exercises – San Francisco Community Agencies
Responding to Disaster
Ms. Schmitz managed the AAA Foundation Community Organization Preparedness Grant Program.
The purpose of this project was to increase the disaster preparedness levels of up to 25 nonprofit or
faith-based organizations within San Francisco and Contra Costa counties. The program
components included 1) technical assistance updating continuity plans, 2) one facility-wide training,
3) one facility-wide exercise or drill. Ms. Schmitz was the sole employee on this project and was
responsible for enrolling 24 organizations, providing technical assistance to each organization to
complete required components, including writing continuity of operations plans, designing and leading staff trainings, and developing and facilitating exercises or drills. Additionally, she tracked
enrollee progress, wrote program reports, and corresponded with the funding agency.
Pandemic Response Emergency Planning – Hospital Association of Southern California
Ms. Schmitz is the CONSTANT lead for the subcontracted portion of a Hospital Association of Southern California COVID-19 After Action Report (AAR). On this project, Ms. Schmitz will contribute
to the development of a survey for hospital members of HASC, healthcare partner agencies, and
non-healthcare partners. She will also assist in the creation of workgroup and interview guides as well as facilitating and supporting meetings. Upon collection of the relevant data, Ms. Schmitz will
support the development of the AAR and IP. Throughout the duration of the project, Ms. Schmitz
will coordinate and assign CONSTANT staff and manage programmatic responsibilities on the
subcontract.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Arts, International Disaster Psychology, University of Denver
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Global Health Certificate, University of Iowa
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JIM SIMS, MURP – SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Mr. Sims is an award-winning plan writer and project manager with
deep expertise and over thirty five (35) years of experience. He has
led or participated in development and/or update for numerous Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government plans. Plans
developed under Mr. Sims’ leadership include Multnomah County, the City of Long Beach and the private sector. Mr. Sims also has a
large portfolio of experience with other emergency planning efforts,
including HMPs, EOPs, and annexes and appendices, for
jurisdictions across the West.
Mr. Sims previously served in executive-level positions with city,
county and regional government agencies, providing him with deep
insights into the challenges facing local governments. His previous
positions include serving as the Interim Director of the Los Angeles
County Department of Public Health, Director of Fiscal Analysis for
the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, and President and CEO of Commuter Transportation Services. He earned both
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration and
Urban Planning respectively from Auburn University. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an ICBM Missile Launch Commander.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Continuity of Government Plan – Multnomah County
Mr. Sims serves as Subject Matter Expert for preparation of a COG plan for Multnomah County Oregon, which includes the City of Portland. Located along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ),
Multnomah County is subject to a potential catastrophic earthquake and tsunami causing
widespread destruction and disruption of government operations. The Multnomah County COG plan
details procedures for ensuring that County government has the capability to continue to function
and provide critical services to the population.
Continuity of Operations Plan – Illumination Entertainment
Ms. Sims developed a comprehensive Continuity of Operations plan for a U.S. subsidiary of a large private sector international entertainment firm. The plan addressed the unique issues of the firm
including protection of sensitive data, work-at-home policies, and orders of succession.
Continuity of Operations Plan – City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human
Services
Ms. Sims assisted the Department in the development of a continuity of operations plan
encompassing all departments and functions within the department.
JIM SIMS, MURP
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• 35+ years of emergency
plan writing experience
• Award-winning planner
for COOPs, COGs,
EOPs, HMPs, and
others
• Previously served as
Interim Director of the
Los Angeles County
Department of Public
Health
• Master’s degree in
Urban Planning
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Point of Dispensing Local Distribution Site Annex – Los Angeles County Department of
Public Health
Mr. Sims served as the primary writer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to
develop the strategy and procedures for distribution of MCM assets to PODs using Local Distribution Sites. The effort included close collaboration with the three area health departments: Los Angeles
Department of Public Health, Pasadena Public Health Department, and Long Beach Department of
Health and Human Services. The Annex included site diagrams, flow, the CONOP, and staffing requirements.
City of Torrance Emergency Operations Plan Revision
Mr. Sims assisted the City of Torrance to complete a comprehensive rewrite of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. In addition to updating the plan to reflect latest OES and FEMA guidance, and
industry best practices, the update includes the addition of critical functional and threat-specific
annexes not included previous versions.
Plan Annex Updates - Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management
Mr. Sims completed the revision and development of several annexes for the Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) including the Resettlement Annex, the Dam Failure Annex,
the Landslide Annex, the Earthquake Annex, and the Resource Management Annex, as well as the
design of the standard annex template. The projects involved collaborative efforts with OEM and a
wide range of Los Angeles County stakeholder groups to include social services, NGOs, people with
DAFN, law enforcement, fire, and others. The projects also involved the coordination of a working
group of SMEs for each annex that met regularly to comment on updated annex drafts.
Disaster Distribution Plan - Los Angeles County Internal Services Department
Mr. Sims served as a Subject Matter Expert assisting Los Angeles County ISD to develop a plan for
large scale distribution of commodities following a disaster. The plan addresses the processes and logistics challenges of activating, deploying and managing the resources necessary to distribute
critical commodities to cities and communities following a catastrophic disaster.
Disaster Recovery Annex – County of Ventura’s Sheriff’s Department
Mr. Sims assisted the County of Ventura Sheriff’s Department, Office of Emergency Services, in the
preparation of the Disaster Recovery Annex to the Ventura County Emergency Operational Area
Emergency Operations Plan. Mr. Sims served as Lead Writer in this effort.
Medical Countermeasures Transportation Annex – Long Beach Department of Health and
Human Services
Mr. Sims served as the primary author of the MCM Transportation and Security Annex for the Long
Beach Department of Health and Human Services. This effort involved close coordination with the police department, County Sheriff’s department, and the health department. The Annex outlines
roles, logistics needs for the warehouse and transportation vehicles, reporting requirements, security
protocols, and more.
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Hazard Mitigation Plan – City of Hawthorne
Ms. Sims worked with the City of Hawthorne to update their HMP based on threat, hazard, and risk
information specific to their jurisdiction, reflective of the geographies, demographics, relationships, resources, and practices of the city. The HMP provides mitigation strategies that further reduce
disruption to critical services, reduce the risk to human life, alleviate damage to personal and public property, and provide a mitigation strategy to address its exposure to identified hazards. Mr. Sims
interfaced with a planning team comprised of individual representatives from city departments, local
businesses, social institutions, and community neighborhood groups.
Hazard Mitigation Plan - City of Lynwood
Mr. Sims worked with the City of Lynwood to update their HMP. He executed this effort across four
phases: 1) HMP Planning/Development Process; 2) Risk Assessment (Hazard Identification,
Vulnerability Assessment, and Capability Assessment); 3) Hazard Mitigation Strategy; and 4) Plan Maintenance Process. The stakeholder participation element is considered a critical component and
entails a cross-section of public input through various planning activities to stimulate public participation. Mr. Sims interfaced with a planning team comprised of individual invitees from city
departments, St. Francis Medical Center, local businesses, social institutions, and community
neighborhood groups.
AWARDS
• California Emergency Services Association Gold Award
• California Emergency Services Association Silver Award
• California Emergency Services Association Award of Recognition
• National Association of Counties Achievement Award
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Auburn University
• Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Auburn University
MILITARY SERVICE
• Captain, United States Air Force
• ICBM Crew Commander
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HIEU VO, MA – DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Mr. Vo brings a unique perspective with his experience and
knowledge across the public and private sector. Early in his career,
he was involved with facilitating safer communities with legal and
culture based civil rights policies and protections. As a policy and
public administration specialist, he developed and implemented policy protections for individuals and communities against
harassment and violence.
Since then, Mr. Vo has lent his facilitation skills and writing ability
towards promoting safety and equity for all communities in the aftermath of complex incidents. He has been able to provide
leadership and support on emergency management and public
health projects surrounding COVID-19 response evaluation,
vaccine planning, whole community outreach, community rapid
needs assessments, and crisis communications. Mr. Vo’s previous
and current experience developing plans for jurisdictions across the West ensures that he will be able to provide an actionable and
complete COOP for FCDPH. Mr. Vo earned a master’s degree in
Public Policy and Governance from the University of Manchester.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Public Health After Action Reports – County of Santa Clara Public Health Department
Mr. Vo served as project support for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department 2019
Statewide Medical Health Exercise. Primarily, he served as lead writer in the development of the After Action Reports. These After Action Reports detailed the conduct of both the tabletop and full-scale
public health exercise concerning a flood scenario. Due to COVID-19, the After Action Reports outlined the external circumstances that affected typical exercise conduct. In addition, the After
Action Reports identified lessons learned and resources the Public Health Department would be able
to use during their pandemic response.
Crisis Communications Plan – County of Santa Clara Public Health Department
Mr. Vo currently serves as the Deputy Project Manager on a project with Mesa Water District. In his
role, he assists and coordinates the creation and development of a crisis communications plan for
the Southern California based water supply company. He contributed to the development of the Policy and Procedures Posture Analysis. Additionally, he contributed to sections regarding social
media and communications guidance during an incident. At this time, the project is ongoing.
COVID-19 After Action Report – Spokane County
CONSTANT was engaged to develop two (2) COVID-19 AARs – one for the health district and one for the healthcare coalition in Spokane County, Washington. Mr. Vo served as the Deputy Project
Manager coordinating the creation of an interim COVID-19 After Action Report for Spokane Regional
Health District (SRHD). In his role, he contributed to the SRHD Interim AAR. Additionally, he served
HIEU VO, MA
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• Emergency
management
professional with
expertise in equity
solutions
• Hands-on support to
develop COVID-19
AARs across California,
Arizona, and Washington, lending to
lessons learned
• Master’s Degree in
Public Policy
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as principal writer and project lead for the REDi Healthcare Coalition Interim AAR assessing their role
and impact during COVID-19 response.
CASPER Serosurvey After Action Report – Maricopa County
Mr. Vo served as Project Manager and lead writer in the development of an After Action Report
assessing Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s development and execution of a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) and serology survey. In
his role, he led a team to draft an After Action Report based on major themes outlined during the
data and information gathering phase. The After Action Report detailed the development and execution of the CASPER Serosurvey, as well as major areas of strengths and improvement.
Additionally, recommendations were drafted to align with the client’s goals in the future. Speaking
to the testament of Mr. Vo’s work on the CASPER Serosurvey AAR, CONSTANT has been
reengaged by Maricopa County and is currently developing their COVID-19 AAR.
COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Guidebook for Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
– California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Mr. Vo served as contributing author to the Mass Vaccination Guidebook for Disabilities and Access
and Functional Needs for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. This guidebook will serve as premier best practices and guidance for planners on including accessible means for
mass vaccination efforts in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidebook includes sections
about community outreach, transportation, physical access, registration, etc.
LNU Lightning and Glass Fire After Action Report – Napa County
Mr. Vo contributed to the Napa County LNU Lightning and Glass Fire After Action Reports. These
reports assess the county’s response to two congruent fires in the complex setting of COVID-19. As project support, he participated in facilitating several stakeholder interviews with groups from
mass shelter and care to the local assistance center. For the development of the report, he
contributed to multiple sections assessing strengths, areas for improvements, and recommendations, regarding mass care and sheltering and recovery operations.
Camp Fire After Action Report – Butte County
Mr. Vo contributed to two (2) After Action Reports that CONSTANT created in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, California. CONSTANT’s two AARs included one for the entire countywide
response effort as well as a separate one for public health and medical response. Mr. Vo contributed
to drafting elements of both the Countywide and the Public Health and Medical Camp Fire After Action Reports. Primarily, he authored the Incident Overview in the AAR and various other appendix
resources as well as provided editing and research support.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Arts, Political Science – Governance and Public Policy, The University of Manchester
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, California State University Long Beach
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ASHLEY SLIGHT, MPH, CEM – SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Ms. Slight brings a tremendous depth of knowledge regarding
emergency management and public health with twelve (12) years
of experience in the field. She is a skilled and practiced Subject
Matter Expert with expertise in continuity planning and training from
past projects with the International Medical Corps and the Arizona
Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response. She has also contributed to several additional emergency planning efforts across
the West for jurisdictions such as Los Angeles County, Maricopa
County, Arizona, the City of Long Beach, the State of California, and more, providing her with a strong lens of experience to draw
from when updating FCDPH’s COOP.
Ms. Slight has familiarity with the operations of FCDPH and has contributed to past projects on its behalf including the COVID-19
MAR and the Closed Point of Dispensing Recruitment and Training
Program. Ms. Slight has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a certified
Emergency Manager.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Continuity Training – International Medical Corps
Ms. Slight worked with the International Medical Corps to develop a new program aimed at improving
domestic healthcare preparedness and helping smaller healthcare facilities to meet the new Centers
for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness Rule. Using funds from recent
hurricane recovery efforts across Florida, Texas, and North Carolina, this project created four six-hour, in-person training programs for the following topics: Emerging Infectious Disease Response,
Hazard Vulnerability Analyses (HVAs) for Healthcare, Medical Care in Shelters, and Continuity of
Operations Planning. Ms. Slight managed the project overall and contributed as the main author for all training materials. She conducted key stakeholder interviews, resource literature reviews, and
training pilot tests. Materials included a Course Design Handbook, Participant Handbook, Instructor
Handbooks, Pre/Post Tests, Feedback Forms, Case Studies, Resource Appendices, and Course
Worksheets. All materials are 508 compliant and have been translated into Spanish and/or French,
as well as condensed into smaller, four-hour versions as optional modules.
Continuity of Operations Planning and Training – Arizona Coalition for Healthcare
Emergency Response
Ms. Slight served as a Trainer and the Project Sponsor on a two-part project for the Arizona Coalition
for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER). The project included the 1) creation of an AzCHER
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and 2) development of a training on continuity of operations
for AzCHER member organizations. During this project, Ms. Slight contributed to the COOP by
conducting a references and resources review, drafting sections of the COOP, providing technical editing, and formatting content. She also served as one of the main trainers and facilitators for the
COOP Training.
ASHLEY SLIGHT,
MPH, CEM
Strengths and expertise
highlights are:
• 12+ years of emergency
management and public
health experience
• Past project experience
with FCDPH
• COOP planning and
training expertise
• Master’s degree in
Public Health
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COVID-19 Mid Action Report – Fresno County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight served as the Project Sponsor on a project developing a COVID-19 Mid Action Report for
the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH). On this project, Ms. Slight provided quality assurance, supervised the finalization of all deliverables, and served as a Subject Matter Expert.
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Ms. Slight worked with the MCDPH in 2019 to design and implement a program aimed at evaluating
the new pandemic influenza preparedness requirements for the PHEP grant. The project included reviewing their current Pandemic Influenza Plan, authoring a Gap Analysis Report and
Recommendations Report, coordinating and delivering a community stakeholder workshop, and
aligning efforts with the state of Arizona’s newly released Pandemic Influenza Plan. The workshop
gathered members from local schools, volunteer groups, critical infrastructure partners, and
neighboring jurisdictions to discuss priorities for increasing pandemic preparedness at the policy level. In addition, Maricopa County hired Ms. Slight and her team back on for an additional contract
to begin revisions to their existing Point of Dispensing (POD) training materials and adapting them for pandemic influenza preparedness. Ms. Slight and her team created training materials, an updated
Closed POD Guidebook and Template, and guidelines for vaccinator competency and training as a
part of this project. Both projects were featured as part of a presentation for the 2020 National
Association of City and County Health Officials Preparedness Summit.
Hospital Preparedness Program and Statewide Medical and Health Exercise – State of
California
Ms. Slight worked on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Emergency Medical
Services Authority (EMSA)’s Statewide Medical and Health Exercise over three recompete contracts.
This project with CDPH and EMSA includes maintenance of a new CDPH Emergency Preparedness
website, the implementation of medical surge webinars, the development of planning tools to aid
healthcare organizations in overall preparedness, and the facilitation of all planning efforts for the
SWMHE. Ms. Slight’s duties on the project included authoring exercise documents, providing essential expertise on the funding requirements and accreditation standards, designing the Medical
and Health Coordination Center’s internal exercise operations, and evaluating the program with
online surveys and an After Action Report.
Guidebook for Inclusive Strategies in EOC Operations – Los Angeles County Department
of Public Health
Ms. Slight led the authorship of a groundbreaking new guidebook and toolkit on integrating access
and functional needs planning into DOC/EOC operations, based on the best practices utilized in Los
Angeles, New York, and Seattle. The guidebook was based on a collaborative workshop with participants from public health and emergency management of all three locations coming together
to discuss different approaches. These were combined into one toolkit, complete with sample EOC
position checklists, inventory lists, and training curricula.
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Plan Annex Updates - Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management
Ms. Slight worked with the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management in early 2016 to
update four annexes to the County’s Emergency Operations Plan. This included the creation of two new annexes: Dam Failure and Land Subsidence; as well as updates to two existing annexes:
Earthquake and Animal Emergency Response. She also led another effort in 2017 with the same
department to create four new annexes: Donations Management, Spontaneous Volunteer
Management, Mass Feeding, and Repatriation. Finally, she served as a writer again in 2019 to create
a new Resource Management Annex. These projects were a collaborative effort with the department
and a wide range of Los Angeles County stakeholder groups to include law enforcement, fire, public health, emergency medical services, and animal services to include a few. The project involved the
coordination of a working group of subject matter experts for each annex who met regularly to
comment on updated annex drafts. Ms. Slight continues to be called upon each year to support additional plan development.
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS
• Master of Public Health, Specialization in Emergency and Disaster Public Health, UCLA
• Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, UC Berkeley
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Pricing
Pricing Overview
CONSTANT has provided a project budget, outlining our rates, hours and other direct costs (ODC) by phase of the COOP development. Labor is provided for each labor category by phase. ODCs
include costs for supplies and systems (including technologies). In addition to the considerations
identified in the narrative, the following are noted:
• All meetings will be performed virtually.
• Payment for this work shall be on a Firm Fixed Price basis.
• CONSTANT assumes that it may need to adjust the staffing levels (e.g. hours per person
and/or rate) and personnel within the scope of the contracted amount in order to best accommodate the changing needs of the project.
• CONSTANT will begin work after the contract has been executed.
Figure 2. CONSTANT's budget
Labor Category Name Rate Project
Kickoff
Review
Existing
COOP
Plans
Analyze
Mission
Functions
Produce
COOP and
Resource
Directory
Total
Hours Total Cost
Labor
Executive Sponsor Evan Koepke 152.10$ 2 4 8 8 22 3,346.20$
Project Manager Susie Schmitz 141.96$ 4 24 32 24 84 11,924.64$
Deputy Project Manager Hieu Vo 118.30$ 4 24 16 24 68 8,044.40$
Subject Matter Expert Jim Sims 353.50$ 0 4 2 4 10 3,535.00$
Subject Matter Expert Ashley Slight 185.40$ 0 24 16 32 72 13,348.80$
Researchers/Editors 125.00$ 0 4 12 8 24 3,000.00$
Data Analysts 145.00$ 0 0 8 0 8 1,160.00$
Graphics/Admin Support 110.00$ 0 0 0 8 8 880.00$
10 84 94 108 296 45,239.04$
Other Direct Costs
Systems and Maintenance 1,650.00$
Admin and Operations 2,000.00$
Printing 350.00$
4,000.00$
TOTAL PRICE 49,239.04$
Total Labor:
Total Other Direct Costs:
Eight paper copies and 1 electronic copy of the final report
Fresno County, CA Department of Public Health
Continuity of Operations Plan
September 29, 2021
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