Outside Investigation Services

The County of Sacramento Equal Employment Office (County) invites submission of written proposals from qualified individuals and/or firms specializing in investigating discrimination, sexual harassment, and whistle-blower claims, and/or other similar employment-related complaints, particularly in the public sector. Such qualified individuals and/or firms will provide investigative services to the County of Sacramento for those circumstances in which an investigation by a non-County employee is advisable and provide investigative services for similar types of claims where the County experiences a conflict of interest.

Contracted individuals and/or firms will be expected to investigate from the time the formal complaint is filed to completion of the investigation, which will include preparation of the report of findings to be submitted to designated County Officials. Contracted individuals and/or firms will also be expected to be available to testify and attend any administrative/judicial proceedings related to the investigation, if needed.

Qualified individuals and/or firms selected will be invited to enter into a contract with the County for three years, commencing on or about September 1, 2025. Contracts may be renewed for an additional three years (in one-year extension amendments) at the County’s discretion based upon this RFP process. The County reserves the right to retain additional individuals and/or firms during the contract period if deemed in the best interests of the County.

The County of Sacramento has approximately 12,000 employees, with an estimated payroll of approximately $872 million. There are over 38 different departments and offices that provide a variety of services to Sacramento County citizens. The functions which these employees perform include equipment operation and maintenance, motor vehicle maintenance and repair, janitorial services, plant operation and maintenance, animal care and regulation services, refuse collection, office/clerical support, professional, medical, administrative and managerial services, mental health, human assistance and health services, law enforcement and detention facility operation, building, restaurant, and other facility inspections, and field operations.

The County of Sacramento conducts its own investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. However, the County anticipates that there may be times when it is more appropriate that an investigation be conducted by an investigator who is not a County employee and seeks a mechanism to facilitate expediting access to such investigators when circumstances arise.

The County also, from time to time, encounters situations where it is a conflict of interest for a County employee to investigate. In those instances, an independent outside investigator is utilized to maintain the integrity of the investigative process.

The County’s Administrative Policy #601 - Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation includes an outside investigator provision. The need for such investigations may include circumstances other than those covered by Administrative Policy #601. This policy is attached in the RFP PDF.