Agenda

Return

C. 49

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Date:	May 26, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Federal Legislative Advocacy Services Contract with Alcalde & Fay

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/26/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, 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: May 26, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Alcalde & Fay to increase the payment limit by $208,592 to a new payment limit of $1,001,030 and extend the term from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2022 for continued federal advocacy services, approved as to form by County Counsel, and recommended by the Legislation Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The annual cost of the contract for federal advocacy services is $104,296. The appropriations for the expenditures are included in the County Administrator's Office budget.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Alcalde & Fay, minority-controlled/employee-owned firm, is the County’s current federal representative and advocate. Paul Schlesinger, the County’s point person at Alcalde & Fay, has established the County’s presence in Washington, D.C. and developed excellent relationships with staff of our congressional delegation, resulting in a positive return on investment for the County for its appropriation and authorization requests. The contract with Alcalde & Fay provides for a monthly retainer of $8,458, plus expenses.

In August 2018, pursuant to its contract solicitation policies, the Legislation Committee directed staff to undertake a procurement process early in 2019 for the state and federal advocacy services for the period FY 2019-20 through FY 2021-22. CAO staff issued a Request for Qualifications on March 27, 2019 for the federal legislative advocacy services, to which three firms responded, including the incumbent firm. The Request for Qualifications anticipated a contract award for a three-year period, with two single year options to renew to the successful responder.

The Board of Supervisors considered the matter on June 11, 2019 and rejected the recommendation from the County Selection Committee, acting instead to extend the contract with Alcalde & Fay through June 30, 2020. The Board of Supervisors further directed the Legislation Committee to develop performance measurements to be incorporated into a new or amended contract. The County Administrator's Office was directed to seek the input of County departments to prioritize federal legislative initiatives and inform the development of performance metrics for federal legislative advocacy, which was accomplished.

At its March 9, 2020 meeting, the Legislation Committee (Chair Mitchoff, Vice Chair Burgis) considered the matter and directed staff to send this matter to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to extend the contract through the RFQ period.

Alcalde & Fay continues to provide valuable information and advocacy efforts on behalf of Contra Costa County's federal legislative agenda. Paul Schlesinger routinely provides the County with relevant federal news and information, Federal Register entries, a weekly Grant Alert for Local Governments, appropriations requests support, consultation on advocacy and community engagement efforts, federal legislation summaries and fact sheets, Administration Budget Summaries, draft legislation support letters, notices of funding opportunities, and advocacy aligned with our adopted Federal Platform.