RFQ #SHARC-641 - AB1108 FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST SERVICES

The County of Riverside Purchasing Department on behalf of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau is seeking competitive bids to establish a contract for forensic pathologist services in compliance with AB 1108, and as outlined in Exhibits “A” and “B” of this RFQ. AB 1108 was passed on October 6, 2025, and commences becomes effective on January 1, 2027. This law requires counties where the duties of the Sheriff and the Coroner are the same personcombined to outsource certain death investigation cases, via contract, with to an independent coroner or medical examiner, or a private, third-party medical examination provider. Mandatory outsourcing excludes private contractors third-party medical examiners who are hired to conduct autopsies for that same county during the contract term. Outsourcing is required to determine cause, manner, or circumstances of any in-custody death. Deaths requiring mandatory outsourcing include deaths of individuals who are detained, under arrest, or in the process of being detained/arrested; in transit to or held in a jail, prison, or detention facility (including federal or immigration facilities); or under law enforcement custody when death occurs. Riverside County Coroner estimates an annual average of 35-40 cases that fall under the criteria for mandatory outsourcing. Alternative actions were taken previously, entering into a reciprocal agreement with San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner; however, AB 1108 prohibits contractual agreements involving these specific case types with another Sheriff-Coroner System. There are only 10 Coroner or Medical Examiner Offices in the State of California and geographical distance and/or declination from those offices prohibits the use of other counties. Potential Bidders are hereby notified that SB 1379 signed into law in September 2026 requires the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to split the sheriff and coroner offices by July 1, 2027. After which time the contract(s) that result from this RFQ may be amended to best meet the County’s needs.