Independent Medical Examination Services for In-Custody Deaths

Napa County is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for Independent Medical Examination Services for In-Custody Deaths in order to be in compliance with Government Code Section 27491.56(a)(2). It is anticipated that this will be a 1 year contract that renews each year, and per AB1108, must be re-approved by the Board of Supervisors annually prior to January 1 for the coming calendar year.

Napa County operates a combined Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. Effective January 1, 2027, California Government Code Section 27491.56 — enacted by AB 1108, the FACTS Act of 2025 — prohibits a combined Sheriff-Coroner from determining the circumstances, manner, and cause of death for any in-custody death. In compliance with Government Code Section 27491.56(a)(2), the County seeks to contract with a qualified Third-Party Medical Examination Provider that is:

• Separate and independent from the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office;
• Qualified to determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death for all in-custody deaths as defined in Penal Code Section 10008; and
• Staffed by physicians meeting the qualifications described in Government Code Section 24010.

Project Details

• Reference ID: CEO072601
• Department: County Executive Office
• Department Head: Rebecca (Becky) Craig (Assistant CEO)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-09-05T00:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Organizational Description (10 pts) —

  Describe your legal structure, governance, and how the organization is structured to operate independently of law enforcement clients.

• Independence Attestation (1 pts) —

  Provide a signed statement attesting that no one employed by your agency nor any assigned forensic pathologist is currently employed by or under contract with the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.

• Forensic Pathologist Credentials (1 pts) —

  For each pathologist assigned to Napa County cases, provide their current California medical license number, board certification documentation, CV, and attestation of compliance with Section 4 qualifications.

• Experience and Case Volume (35 pts) —

  Provide a description of experience performing forensic autopsies in California, including the number of in-custody or law-enforcement-related autopsies performed annually in the past three (3) years

• Facilities Description (5 pts) —

  Provide identification of the autopsy facility or facilities to be used, including accreditation status and location(s).

• Policies and Procedures (1 pts) —

  Provide copies of written policies governing independence of forensic determinations, conflict-of-interest, and autopsy suite access controls. Documents must show evidence of compliance with legal requirements.

• References (1 pts) —

  Provide a minimum of three (3) professional references from California counties or government entities for which the company has performed in-custody or law-enforcement-related forensic autopsy services.

• Fee Schedule (30 pts) —

  Provide itemized pricing per case type, including autopsy, toxicology, scene response, expert testimony, and any additional services.

• Staffing Model Statement (15 pts) —

  Provide a written disclosure identifying whether the company operates as a direct forensic pathology service provider or as a staffing intermediary/placement firm. If a staffing intermediary, the response shall also describe its candidate vetting process, its mechanism for ensuring continuity of assigned pathologists across cases, and its process for presenting and obtaining County approval of individual pathologist candidates prior to case assignment.

• Governing Law Attestation (1 pts) —

  Provide a signed statement confirming the company agrees this proposal and any resulting contract shall be governed by California law, with exclusive venue in Napa County Superior Court, and that the Proposer’s proposal contains no conversion fee, placement fee, or finder’s fee provision, and no jury trial waiver.

Submission Requirements

• Cover Page and Company Information (required) —

  See Organization of Proposal and Project Organization Requirements for Required Information.

• Organizational Description (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Independence Attestation (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Forensic Pathologist Credentials (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Experience and Case Volume (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Facilities Description (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Policies and Procedures (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• References (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Fee Schedule (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Staffing Model Statement (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• Governing Law Attestation (required) —

  See Evaluation Criteria for required information that must be provided.

• You are required to disclose any alleged significant prior or ongoing contract failures, any civil or criminal litigation or investigation pending which involves the Proposer or a verification of no responsive incidents. (required) —

  Failure to comply with the terms of this provision may disqualify any proposal. The County of Napa reserves the right to reject any proposal based upon the Proposer’s prior history with the County of Napa or with any other party, which documents, without limitation, unsatisfactory performance, significant failures to meet contract milestones or other contractual failures. 

  Please disclose below. If you have no disclosures to report please write that you have no reportable disclosures.

• The proposer accepts the County’s standard Agreement; and is willing and able to meet the County’s insurance requirements, found in the draft Agreement, Sections IV, V, and Exhibit C ( Agreement attached) (required)
• If no was selected, please provide reasons/exceptions: (required) —

  PSA: Respondents should clearly note in their proposals whether they take exception to any of the PSA requirements and should include a detailed explanation of the reason for the exception and a counterproposal or alternative suggestion(s) for the County’s review. However, after review of any respondent’s exceptions, the County reserves the right to reject any and all exceptions taken to the County’s PSA.

  Insurance: Respondents who are unable to meet all the County’s insurance requirements may submit with their proposal an alternative plan for obtaining insurance that will adequately mitigate the risks associated with providing the services. Any alternative insurance coverage request is subject to review and approval by County Counsel and the County’s Risk Management Officer.

  Failure to meet the County’s insurance requirements (as determined by County Counsel and County Risk Management) may be sufficient reason for disqualification from the selection process.

• AB339 RFx Review ID Number (required) —

  (Please note a second AB339 review will be required for any potential contract drafted as a result of this RFx)

• What is the estimated end date of the awarded contract? (required) —

  Ex. May 4, 2025

• What is the not to exceed project value? (required) —

  Ex. $10,000

• Federal Funds may or will be used. (required)