Subject:
Title
Recommendation of Legal Counsel Services for the Brevard County Charter Review Commission (CRC)
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Fiscal Impact:
- Charter Review Commission Meetings - All inclusive rate of $500.00 per meeting
- Litigation only Hourly Rate - $250.00
- CRC approved tasks outside of CRC Meetings Hourly rate - $225.00
- Necessary and Reasonable Legal Expenses incurred on behalf of the CRC at cost (i.e. court costs, filing fees, etc…)
Budget for Legal Counsel Services is $50,000.00 (Total Cost of Contract will be based on total number of meetings attended, and any hours of legal counsel (litigation or CRC approved tasks) during the Charter Review Commission).
Funding is currently budgeted under Fund and Cost Center 0001-200540
Dept/Office:
Central Services Department / County Manager’s Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is Requested the Board of County Commissioners:
- Accept the recommendation of the Brevard County Charter Review Commission to enter into a contract for Legal Services with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman P.L.;
- Authorize the BoCC Chair to execute a contract for services upon review by the County Attorney’s Office, Risk Management, and Purchasing Services; and
- Authorize the BoCC to execute any necessary Contract Amendments or Extensions upon review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, Risk Management, and Purchasing Services.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On May 4, 2021, the Board authorized Purchasing Services to develop and advertise a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Legal Counsel Services to Serve as Counsel for the Brevard County Charter Review Commission.
On August 12, 2021 the Charter Review Commission approved the RFQ to obtain legal counsel services. The RFQ was advertised via Florida Today, DemandStar and Vendorlink on Thursday August 19, 2021 with a due date of September 10, 2021.
Purchasing Services received 5 responses to the RFQ. The responses were presented to the Charter Review Commission during their regularly scheduled meeting on September 23, 2021 for evaluation and ranking.
The Charter Review Commission, acting as the selection committee, evaluated and ranked all the responses received. As indicated on the attached consolidated score sheet, the selection committee then motioned to enter into negotiations with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman Law Firm as the highest ranked firm (receiving 8 of 13 first place votes and five second place votes). The motion passed unanimously.
The Charter Review Commission, acting as the negotiation committee, then entered into negotiations with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman Law Firm and upon completion of negotiations, motioned to accept the negotiated rates as outlined below; the motion passed unanimously.
Negotiated Rates:
Charter Review Commission Meetings - All-inclusive rate of $500.00 per meeting
Litigation only Hourly Rate - $250.00
CRC approved tasks outside of CRC Meetings Hourly rate - $225.00
Necessary and Reasonable Legal Expenses incurred on behalf of the CRC at cost (i.e. court costs, filing fees, etc…)
Based on the information above the Charter Review Commission recommends that the Board accept and approve their recommendation to award the contract for Legal Counsel Services to the Brevard County Charter Review Commission to the law firm of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None