Contract Management System Business Model

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Annually, Los Angeles County’s Community and Senior Services (CSS) receives approximately $60,000,000 in Federal, State and local grant funds, which are used to provide critical community-based program services throughout Los Angeles County. These services include senior meals/supportive services, youth and adult employment and training, adult protective services, dispute resolution services and supportive services to American Indian populations. Through contracts, CSS partners with approximately 100 community-based agencies, primarily non-profit entities, who provide these services. Annually, CSS executes over 500 contracts and amendments with these partners and their success depends on quickly executing these contracts and amendments so that their partners can provide services. However, several key challenges faced by CSS made the contracting process time-consuming, error-prone and labor-intensive. Therefore, CSS developed and implemented the Contract Management System (CMS) to address their challenges. The CMS is a business model that provides a new way of managing and administering contracts using information technology resources and innovative business practices. Implementation of CMS has allowed CSS to standardize processes, reduce the time and effort required to complete contracts, increase efficiency and accuracy, and maximize resources. The county maintains greater control over the administration of their contracting operations, allowing them to develop virtually paperless contracts, thus connecting with their partners more efficiently and become more transparent in the way we do business. Through this program, the agency developed new contract protocols and was able to eliminate five positions and save about $300,000 a year.