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:...
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