Subject:
Title
Request Approval to Advertise a Request for Proposal for State Lobbying Services
End
Fiscal Impact:
The County’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget includes $60,000 for state lobbying services.
Dept/Office:
Central Services/Purchasing Services
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners (the Board) provide the following directions:
1. Advertise an RFP for the County’s lobbying services pursuant to Board Policy BCC-25, “Procurement,” and the below Selection and Negotiation Committee to evaluate proposals received by the County with their recommendation back to the Board for consideration; or
2. Negotiate terms and professional services fees with the County’s current lobbying firm and bring back a contract to the Board for consideration; or
3. Other direction for the procurement of state lobbying services.
End
Summary Explanation and Background:
There are significant benefits to having the services of a state lobbyist in assisting with representing Brevard County in policy, legislative, appropriations, and technical matters that come before the Governor, Cabinet, Legislature, state agencies, workforce development representatives, and aerospace industry representatives. The County’s current contract for state lobbying services is with Ronald L. Book, P.A. This contract ends on May 30, 2024. Ronald L. Book, P.A. has been providing state lobbying services to the County since October 1, 2016. The County’s current and previous services under contract with Ronald L. Book, P.A. is $5,000/month or $60,000/year.
The attached Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) will evaluate proposals received by the County based on a firm's organizational profile, experience, qualifications, and proposal annual professional services fees. The Board may wish to consider the following options for procuring state lobbying services:
1. Issue an RFP to be advertised pursuant to Board Policy BCC-25, “Procurement,” and appoint the following members to a Selection and Negotiation Committee comprised of Jim Liesenfelt, Assistant County Manager, Community Services Group, Jill Hayes, County Budget Director, and Virginia Barker, Natural Resources Management Department Director, to evaluate the responses that the County receives with their recommendation brought back to the Board for consideration and final approval.
2. Negotiate terms and professional fees with the County’s current lobbying firm and bring a contract back to the Board for consideration and final approval.
3. Other direction for the procurement of state lobbying services.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: