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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-15 - Request for Proposals - Federal Government Relations and Lobbying ServicesREQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LOBBYING SERVICES Due October 15, 2024, by 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) The City of Tukwila is requesting proposals from well qualified and experienced firms to advocate for the City at the federal level for grants, community project funding, and federal policies to advance the City's priorities. The selected firm will: • Assist the City in drafting its Federal Legislative Agenda. • Develop and implement strategies to successfully promote the City's legislative priorities. • Represent the City's legislative objectives to members of the federal legislative delegates, their staff, appropriate committees, and federal agencies. • Monitor Federal legislation, legislative committees, and federal agencies which pertain to the stated City interests, goals, and objectives including policy issues and funding opportunities. • Assist the City in finding grant opportunities and connect the City with appropriate agencies in applying for these grants. • Facilitate and schedule meetings with City officials and congressional members and their staff. • Provide regular updates to the City on federal grant opportunities and progress on City priorities. The contracted services are intended to begin January 1, 2025, contingent upon final adoption of the 2025-2026 Budget by the Tukwila City Council. Please review the full RFP following this notice for details All materials should be submitted by email to: Cheryl Thompson, Executive Coordinator, Mayor's Office Cheryl.Thompson@TukwilaWA.gov Subject: RFP for Federal Government Relations and Lobbying Services Questions regarding the proposal will be accepted by email ONLY to Cheryl Thompson, Mayor's Office Executive Coordinator at Cheryl.Thompson@TukwilaWa.gov Materials are due by 4 PM (Pacific Time) on October 15, 2024. No submittals will be accepted after this date and time. Published Seattle Times - September 16, 2024 Published Daily Journal of Commerce - September 16, 2024 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LOBBYING SERVICES Due October 15, 2024, by 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) The City of Tukwila is requesting proposals from well qualified and experienced firms to advocate for the City at the federal level for grants, community project funding, and federal policies to advance the City's priorities. The selected firm will: • Assist the City in drafting its Federal Legislative Agenda. • Develop and implement strategies to successfully promote the City's legislative priorities. • Represent the City's legislative objectives to members of the federal legislative delegates, their staff, appropriate committees, and federal agencies. • Monitor Federal legislation, legislative committees, and federal agencies which pertain to the stated City interests, goals, and objectives including policy issues and funding opportunities. • Assist the City in finding grant opportunities and connect the City with appropriate agencies in applying for these grants. • Facilitate and schedule meetings with City officials and congressional members and their staff. • Provide regular updates to the City on federal grant opportunities and progress on City priorities. The contracted services are intended to begin January 1, 2025, contingent upon final adoption of the 2025-2026 Budget by the Tukwila City Council. The City of Tukwila is an optional code city with a residential population of approximately 22,930. At the crossroad of two interstate highways 1-5 and 1-405 - and within five minutes of an international airport, Tukwila is a regional leader in retail/commercial sales, distribution and manufacturing which bring more than 150,000 visitors to the City each day. Tukwila is unique in that it is a small city on a residential population basis but with many of the same complex issues and opportunities faced by large cities. The City of Tukwila is a majority minority city, where 40% of the residents were born outside of the United States and more than 50% speak a language other than English at home. Tukwila is proud of its history welcoming new Americans, whether they be immigrants or refugees, and celebrates the rich diversity of culture, language and traditions found in the city. Tukwila is a full -service City, providing the complete range of municipal services including planning and zoning, police, municipal court services, street maintenance, utilities maintenance, park maintenance and recreation activities, and human services. Tukwila is a member of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority for fire and emergency medical services. Tukwila has 353 employees and operates under a mayor/council form of government. The City Council consists of seven members elected at -large. The Mayor is elected at -large and serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Information about current federal legislative priorities, including but are not limited to: 1. Responding to the evolving conditions and growing numbers of asylum seekers in the City and region 2. Funding for major capital improvements 3. Public safety 4. Levee and flood protection for the City's urban center and other areas 5. Access to federal services for Tukwila's diverse community members Tukwila is soliciting Requests for Qualifications and Proposals from a qualified individual or firm to provide federal government relations and lobbying services on a contractual basis. Proposals should identify who will serve as the primary contact person. PROJECT SCOPE AND DELIVERABLES The scope of work includes but may not be limited to the following: • Interact with City staff several times per month via email, phone, in -person, or virtual meeting. • Meet and correspond with members of congress, their staff, and other federal employees as needed to advocate for City projects and priorities. • Provide regular updates on upcoming federal grant opportunities for the City. • Advocate for the City's projects and priorities. • Annually assist the City with the development of its Federal Legislative Agenda. • Virtually attend Tukwila City Council meetings twice a year to assist in presenting the City's Federal Legislative Agenda for City Council adoption and report on progress and provide information on the landscape and changes in Washington DC. • At least once per year, set up and attend meetings with City officials and Tukwila's congressional representatives in Washington DC. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS To reply to this RFP please submit the following: A. Cover letter and statement of qualifications describing your firm's experience working with public entities, especially municipal government and your experience and success advocating for cities at the federal level. Competitive firms will possess experience and expertise lobbying on behalf of municipalities, and local connections to and experience with Washington State is preferred. B. Identify the proposed lead lobbyist and other key team members to be assigned to Tukwila and outline their responsibilities. The lead lobbyist will be the individual that staff interacts with directly, as needed. C. Number of years the individual or firm has been in business. D. Number of staff in the office with a description of their roles, experience and skills related to federal government advocacy. E. The City of Tukwila values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Describe the steps taken to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion within the firm. F. A minimum of three (3) professional references with addresses, phone numbers, and contact name for each organization including current municipal clients that the firm has represented in the past five (5) years. G. Disclose any potential conflict of interest due to any other clients or contracts. H. Provide a current listing of all clients utilizing your lobbyist services. I. Provide samples or electronic links to samples of documents you have produced that are similar to the documents your firm would provide under this contract. J. Any other documentation which the firm/individual deems necessary. COMPENSATION Proposals shall clearly set forth fees or fee structure to be charged for services. TIMELINE Event Date RFP Release September 16, 2024 Submittals Due October 15, 2024 Submittal Evaluation Complete October 22, 2024 Finalist Interviews (if necessary) November 7, 2024 Selection December4, 2024 City Council authorizes contract December 16, 2024 SELECTION PROCESS A. The selection committee will review all proposals and may invite the most qualified firms to an interview. If an interview is needed, the City will expect that the person identified as the lead lobbyist attend and be the person interacting with the City during the majority of the time during the interview. The committee will use the following criteria to review and evaluate all submitted proposals and interviews: 1. Knowledge and Local Understanding: Understanding of the City and its goals at the federal level. Direct experience with and knowledge of federal advocacy and/or federal legislative work for Washington State. 2. Qualifications and Experience: Experience with advocating municipalities at the federal level. Qualifications and technical competence of team members assigned to advocate on behalf of the City. 3. Past Performance and Reference results: Demonstrated ability of the firm, including the lead lobbyist assigned to the City to perform high quality work and get results at the federal level. 4. Proposed fee structure. B. Finalists may be invited to present to the City Council. C. Upon selection, the fee and contract will be negotiated by the Mayor's Office and presented to the City Council for approval. 1. The contract may be awarded for an initial period that correlates with the City's budget cycle and may then be renewed on a two-year basis. The City reserves the right to modify the selection criteria. AGREEMENT FORM The Proposer will be required to use the City of Tukwila Professional Services Agreement attached hereto and accept all language contained therein. While certain terms of the Agreement may be adjusted at the City's discretion, any proposer having significant concerns about the terms of the Agreement should not submit a request. This document is for informational purposes only. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Not all proposers may be interviewed. The proposer shall be responsible for the accuracy of the information supplied. The City of Tukwila reserves the right to request additional information concerning any proposal, to reject any and all proposals, to issue one or more agreement(s) for the intended scope of services, to waive minor irregularities, and to issue additional RFPs prior to the award of a contract. The City reserves the right to negotiate elements which comprise the apparent successful proposal to ensure that the best possible consideration is afforded to all concerned. The contract resulting from acceptance of a proposal by the City shall be in a form approved by the City and may go before the City Council for approval. The City is not responsible for any costs incurred by the firm in preparing, submitting or presenting a response to this RFP. All required materials shall be submitted by email to: Cheryl Thompson, Executive Coordinator, Mayor's Office Cheryl.Thompson@TukwilaWA.gov Subject: RFP for Federal Government Relations and Lobbying Services Hardcopy proposals or proposals transmitted using facsimile will not be accepted. Questions regarding the proposal will be accepted by email ONLY to Cheryl Thompson, Mayor's Office Executive Coordinator at Cheryl.Thompson@TukwilaWa.gov. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) ON October 15, 2024. No submittals will be accepted after this date and time.