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C. 31

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Legislation Committee
Date:	December 11, 2012

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

State and Federal Advocacy Contracts: Recommendations from the Legislation Committee

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 12/11/2012

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 11, 2012
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

CONSIDER the recommendation from the Legislation Committee of the Board of Supervisors to authorize contracts for state and federal advocacy services with Nielsen Merksamer and Alcalde & Fay.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed two-year contract for state advocacy services would be an impact to the General Fund of $360,000. The proposed two-year contract for federal advocacy services would be an impact to the General Fund of $205,392.

BACKGROUND:

At its April 5, 2012 meeting, the Legislation Committee recommended that the current contracts for the state and federal lobbyists be extended through December 31, 2012 to allow time for staff to conduct an RFP process to solicit for new service contracts. The Legislation Committee also requested that staff return with a schedule for accomplishing this task, which was done at its August meeting. The new contracts are intended to be two-year contracts with three (3) one-year renewal options.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

After consultation and collaboration with the County’s Purchasing Manager, Mr. David Gould, CAO staff finalized the Request For Proposals (RFP) for state and federal advocacy services in September and issued the RFPs through the County’s Bidsync system on September 28, 2012. Responses were due to the County on October 31, 2012. (Due to Hurricane Sandy and its effects on the East Coast, the deadline for the federal responses was extended an additional week to Nov. 7, 2012.)

The County received three responses to its RFP for State advocacy services and two responses to its RFP for federal advocacy services. According to the Purchasing Manager, there were 566 firms invited by Bidsync to view the federal RFP and 580 firms invited to view the state RFP. (He notes, however, that this is exaggerated because the code used to identify this type of consultant is listed as "Lobby Services". As a result, we get some contractors thinking this is for decorating and cleaning of lobbies.)

The responses received for the State advocacy services included (in alphabetic order):

1. Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP
2. Smith, Watts & Martinez, LLC
3. Townsend Public Affairs

The responses received for the Federal advocacy services included (in alphabetic order):

1. Alcalde & Fay
2. Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.

In accordance with the RFP, staff assembled a County Selection Committee to evaluate the proposals. The Committee consisted of the following individuals:

• Supervisor Karen Mitchoff
• County Administrator David Twa (for the State services)
• Chief Assistant County Administrator Terry Speiker (for the Federal services)
• Patricia Tanquary, Chief Executive Officer, Contra Costa Health Plan
• Arielle Bourgart, Director of Government and Community Relations for CCTA
• Steven Goetz, Deputy Director of Department of Conservation & Development

CAO staff facilitated the evaluation and interview process but was not included on the County Selection Committee. The interviews with the State advocacy firms were held on November 14, 2012. The interviews with the Federal advocacy firms were conducted via Skype on November 19, 2012.

Upon conclusion of the interviews and review of the RFP responses, the County Selection Committee made the following recommendations which are transmitted to the Legislation Committee for its consideration and action:

1. For the State advocacy services: Retain Nielsen Merksamer.
2. For the Federal advocacy services: Retain Alcalde & Fay.

The recommendations were made largely on the firms’ superior knowledge of Contra Costa County and its issues, their proposed scope of services, and the assurance that there would be no conflicts of interest with other clients.

The bid forms submitted by Nielsen Merksamer and Alcalde & Fay request no increase in price over their current contracts.

At its December 3, 2012 meeting, the Legislation Committee considered the recommendation of the County Selection Committee and concurred with their recommendations. The Legislation Committee also recommended that the firm Smith, Watts & Martinez be further retained by the County for transportation advocacy services.

Copies of all responses received, as well as the RFPs, are available upon request.

Should the Board of Supervisors concur with the recommendation of the Legislation Committee, authorization for each contract will come to the Board of Supervisors on their January 8, 2013 meeting agenda.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Contra Costa County will not have state and federal advocacy services in 2013.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.