LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: April 9, 2025
Subject: Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for State and Federal Advocacy Services
Submitted For: Legislation Committee
Department: County Administrator’s Office
Referral Name: RFQ for State and Federal Advocacy Services
Presenter: E. Struthers
Contact: (925) 655-2045
Referral History:
The County currently contracts with two firms to provide State and Federal advocacy and governmental relations services. Nielsen Merksamer provides State advocacy services in Sacramento. The firm has served as the County’s State advocates since 2002. Thorn Run Partners provides the County’s federal advocates in Washington, DC. While Thorn Run as a firm has only served as the County’s federal advocate since 2022, partner Paul Schlesinger has represented the County for approximately 24 years through his tenure at Thorn Run and his prior firm, Alcalde & Fay. Both State and Federal advocacy contracts currently expire on June 30, 2025.
Referral Update:
The County plans to issue two requests for qualifications (RFQs) to solicit proposals for advocacy services in April in order to ensure continuous representation. The proposed calendar of major events related to the RFQs is below:
|
Event |
Date/Location |
|
Request Issued |
April 15, 2025 |
|
Written Questions Due |
by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on April 25, 2025 |
|
Response Due |
by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on May 5, 2025 |
|
Interviews |
Week of May 19, 2025 via Zoom |
|
Legislation Committee Recommendation |
May 28, 2025 |
|
Board Award Date |
June 10, 2025 |
|
Contract Start Date |
July 1, 2025 |
The RFQ process is the best time to incorporate any desired changes to the scope of services or approaches to advocacy services. Prior to the release of the formal solicitation, the Legislation Committee is asked to provide input on the desired experience and qualifications, as well as any other areas to be considered.
The attached draft RFQs use the prior process as a basis, with several proposed changes.
Proposed changes to the RFQs include:
• Revised issues of particular concern to the County to reflect current events and adopted priorities.
• Emphasis on experience representing several of the specialized county units and functions that are unique to Contra Costa, such as a public hospital, health plan, clinic system, fire district, and Head Start preschools.
• Removal of requirements to provide a hardcopy proposal and incorporate directions regarding the transition to the Bidnet platform.
The Legislation Committee is asked to provide feedback on any contained within the RFQs, or to provide direction on additional elements that should be contained within the RFQs. Following the Committee’s direction, all changes will be incorporated into the draft RFQs, which will be released on the timelines directed by the Committee.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
DISCUSS the request for qualifications (RFQs) for state and federal advocacy and government relations services, and DIRECT staff on next steps.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
The RFQ itself has no direct fiscal impact. Together, the two advocacy contracts have a current fiscal impact of $288,000 annually.