South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contract for Media Relations/Public Relations Services

SYNOPSIS: 

On December 15, 2000, the Board approved the release of an RFP for media relations/public relations consulting services. Ten proposals were received in response to the Dec. 15, 2000, RFP. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on February 9, 2001, and recommended executing a contract with Strategy Workshops for an amount not to exceed $120,000 and TLC MediaWorks for an amount not to exceed $55,000. Since this request exceeds the current budget for media services, it is further requested that the Board authorize an appropriation of $175,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance.

COMMITTEE: 

Administrative, February 9, 2001. Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute a one-year contract with Strategy Workshops for media relations/public relations services for an amount not to exceed $120,000 and with TLC MediaWorks for an amount not to exceed $55,000. Authorize the Executive Officer to amend the FY 2000-01 Budget by appropriating $175,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the account for Professional and Special Services.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

AQMD’s Media Communications Office handles all media contacts with AQMD, advertising, publications, graphics, presentations, web site content and management, and other duties. In light of the increased rulemaking and mobile source program activity, as well as increased emphasis on environmental justice and public outreach, AQMD needs outside assistance in handling proactive news conferences and media campaigns, while the Media Communications Office staff handles ongoing and day-to-day activities. On Dec. 15, 2000, an RFP was released to seek proposals from interested consultants.

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD's consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting proposals was published in the following publications:

1.	Antelope Valley Press	10.	La Opinion	19.	Precinct Reporter
2.	Black Voice News	11.	La Voz	20.	Rafu Shimpo
3.	Chinese Daily News	12.	Los Angeles Daily News	21.	Riverside Press Enterprise
4.	Eastern Group Publications	13.	Los Angeles Sentinel	22.	San Bernardino Sun
5.	El Chicano	14.	Los Angeles Times	23.	Santa Clarita Signal
6.	The Excelsior	15.	M/W/DVBE Source	24.	State of California
7.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	16.	Orange County Register		Contracts Register
8.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	17.	Palm Springs Desert Sun	25.	LA Daily Journal
9.	Korea Central Daily	18.	Philippine News

Additionally, potential bidders were identified using Los Angeles County MTA Directory of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Empire Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. In addition to advertising, ten copies of RFP #P2001-27 were mailed out to requestors. RFP notices were mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon]; and on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Ten proposals were received when the bidding closed at 1:00 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2001. The bids were reviewed by an ethnically and gender-diverse panel of three (3) AQMD employees: the Executive Officer, the District Counsel, and one Assistant Deputy Executive Officer (two Caucasians; one Hispanic; one female and two male). In addition, Enrique Chiock, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Lung Association, Los Angeles, participated on the panel. The panel scored the proposals according to criteria outlined in the RFP, without an oral interview, and forwarded the four highest-ranking proposals to the Administrative Committee for review. The Administrative Committee interviewed representatives from Manning Selvage & Lee; PS Enterprises; Strategy Workshops, Inc.; and TLC MediaWorks at their meeting on February 9, 2001. The committee is recommending award of contract to Strategy Workshops and TLC MediaWorks and is forwarding this recommendation to the full Board for consideration.

Attachment A reflects the listing of top four proposals, ranked by the panel in order by score.

Resource Impacts

Funding for these services will be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance.

Attachment

Attachment A – Evaluation of Top Four Proposals for Administratiave Committee Review for RFP #2001-27

ATTACHMENT A

EVALUATION OF TOP FOUR PROPOSALS
PRIOR TO ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REVIEW
FOR RFP #P2001-27
 

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