Independent Medical Examination Services for In‑Custody Deaths under Assembly Bill (AB) 1108

The County of Santa Barbara is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to gather letters of interest from qualified providers who can perform independent medical examinations for deaths that occur while individuals are in custody, as required by California Assembly Bill 1108 effective January 1, 2027. The County seeks to contract with a provider—either a county with an independent coroner/medical examiner or a private medical examiner—to conduct unbiased examinations, determine cause and manner of death, and comply with specific physician qualification, insurance, and indemnification requirements. Providers must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by the October 9, 2026 deadline outlining their experience, fee structure, operational plan, and willingness to meet the statutory obligations. No award is guaranteed; this RFI is purely informational and may lead to a future formal solicitation. • Required service: Independent medical examinations for in‑custody deaths under AB 1108. • Target providers: County medical examiner offices or private medical examiner firms meeting physician‑specialist qualifications. • Submission: LOI via Public Purchase portal by 10/9/2026; must include organization description, relevant contracts, fee structure, operational plan, and compliance attestations. • Contact: Nicole Parmelee (Bid Contact), (805) 568‑3550, [email protected]. • No contract award date or duration disclosed; contract expected to be in place before 1/1/2027.