DATE: November 5, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services in Washington D.C., effective January 1, 2025, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $408,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will authorize an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) to provide Federal legislative advocacy services for the County of Fresno. The current agreement is with Carpi & Clay, Inc. for Federal Legislative advocacy services and is set to expire on December 31, 2024. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may:
1) Forego Federal legislative advocacy services; or
2) Consider a bid submitted by another firm.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended agreement has an annual compensation of $78,000 per year for years 1 and 2, including expenses which is a decrease from the current agreement. For Years 3, 4, and 5 of the recommended agreement for Federal legislative advocacy services, the annual compensation amount would increase to $84,000, including expenses, which will bring the associated cost to the current level. Sufficient appropriations are included in the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget, Interest and Miscellaneous Expenditures Org 2540, and will be included in future requested budgets.
DISCUSSION:
On October 24, 2023, your Board executed an Agreement with Carpi & Clay, Inc., for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services in Washington D.C., effective January 1, 2024, not to exceed two consecutive years, which included a one-year base contract and one optional one-year extension. However, the optional one-year extension was not exercised, resulting in the subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP).
On July 15, 2024, the County of Fresno, on behalf of the County Administrative Office, issued RFP No. 25-002 for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services to 2,563 vendors registered in Public Purchase. The response period closed on August 16, 2024, and three vendors responded: TPA, Carpi & Clay, Inc., and McKeon Group.
An evaluation panel composed of representatives from the Probation Department, Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Public Health evaluated each proposal solely based on the requirements of the RFP. Each evaluator individually reviewed each proposal on its own merit based on proposer-provided data, capability, and qualifications.
The evaluation panel recommended the proposal submitted by TPA as the number one selection to provide Federal legislative advocacy services under the terms of the RFP. The recommendation for award is based on a complete and responsive bid, experience and expertise, knowledge of county Federal Advocacy needs, and the proposer’s ability to provide the requested services. In addition, TPA submitted a reasonable and adequate cost proposal. The evaluators concluded that TPA had the expertise, experience, and knowledge that would best benefit the County in meeting the RFP requirements. Overall, the evaluators concluded that the proposal from TPA better met the RFP requirements than the proposals received from Carpi & Clay, Inc. or McKeon Group.
It should be noted that the Professional Liability insurance requirement has not been included in the recommended agreement, as TPA does not employ licensed staff (e.g., attorneys, engineers, etc.) in providing services to the County. Risk Management has been apprised of the removal of the Professional Liability insurance requirements and has no concerns with the change.
REFERENCE MATERIAL
BAI #27, October 24, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai