BOARD MEETING DATE: December 1, 2006
AGENDA NO. 9

Execute Contracts for Legislative Representation in
Sacramento, California

SYNOPSIS:

The Legislative and Administrative Committees recommend contracting with Tres Es, Inc., for legislative representation in Sacramento, in an amount not to exceed $160,000.  It is also recommended that a contract be issued with Gonzalez Public Affairs for support on day to day activities in Sacramento under the direction of Tres Es, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $100,000.  Both contracts are for a 12-month period commencing in December 2006, with options for two one-year term renewals, upon satisfactory performance, and at the Board’s discretion.  In addition, it is recommended that $79,600 be reserved for potential additional subcontractors on an as-needed basis, subject to approval by an ad-hoc Board Committee.  Total expenditures for legislative contracts for Sacramento for the next twelve months shall not exceed $339,600, which is available in the Public Affairs FY 2006-07 Budget.  Funding for the two optional one-year extensions is contingent upon future Board approval of the Budget for the respective fiscal years.

COMMITTEES:

Legislative and Administrative, November 9, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Authorize the Chairman to execute contracts with Tres Es, Inc. for $160,000 and with Gonzalez Public Affairs for $100,000 for legislative consulting services in Sacramento, California from December 2006 to December 2007, with options to renew for two additional one-year terms. 
2. Authorize the creation of an ad-hoc Board Committee consisting of the Chair of the Board, the Chair of the Legislative Committee, and Board Member Mike Antonovich, to review, approve and authorize additional contracts for legislative representation in Sacramento, as needed, but not to exceed $79,600 per calendar year. 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On September 8, 2006, AQMD released RFP #P2007-05 to solicit proposals for legislative representation in Sacramento, California.  The AQMD, as the largest local air quality agency in California and a leader in air quality innovations, is an important contributor to the state policymaking debate.  The agency needs to maintain a continued presence in Sacramento to communicate and support Board policies and AQMD programs.  This effort includes providing liaison, technical information, and assistance to legislators, as well as advocacy of AQMD’s position on air quality-related bills.

An RFP was released by the Board in September 2006 soliciting proposals from qualified consultants for legislative representation in Sacramento.  The current contracts for legislative representation expired on November 11, 2006. 

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids was published in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun, Riverside County Press Enterprise, and the Sacramento Bee newspapers to leverage the most cost-effective method of outreach to the entire South Coast Basin.

Additionally, over 350 RFP packages were mailed to lobbying and public relations firms throughout California.  Notice of the RFP were also mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations, the State of California Contracts Register website, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site (http://www.aqmd.gov/ where it can be viewed by making menu selections “Inside AQMD”/“Employment and Business Opportunities”/“Business Opportunities” or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html).  Information is also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Seven proposals were received in response to the RFP.  The proposals were evaluated and scored by a four-member evaluation panel.  Of the seven proposals evaluated, six were forwarded to the Legislative Committee for their consideration based on a natural break of scores.  The attached matrix presents the scores and total proposal cost for the firms that were forwarded for interviewed by the Legislative Committee.

Panel Composition

The composition of the evaluation panel consisted of a local elected official, a representative of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, a representative of American Lung Association Chapter, and an AQMD Assistant Deputy Executive Officer; one Asian Pacific Islander, two Caucasian, and one Hispanic; four males.

Committee Discussion

After a discussion of the needs of the agency and the relative strengths of the various firms interviewed, the Legislative Committee decided not to accept any of the proposals as submitted and instead authorized the Executive Officer to negotiate with the firms that established the best legislative team possible.  Specifically, Tres Es, Inc. was designated as the lead lobbyist and strategist in recognition of that firm’s wealth of experience, strategic counsel and myriad relationships in Sacramento and other areas.  Staff was further directed to negotiate with Gonzalez Public Affairs for support on day to day activities in Sacramento under the direction of Tres Es, Inc.  The Legislative Committee was interested in Gonzalez Public Affairs to manage on-ground activities in Sacramento based on their experience, knowledge and previous involvement with CAPCOA and the Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD.  In addition, $79,600 will be held in reserve for other subcontractors as needed and approved by an Ad Hoc Subcommittee of Board Members Burke, Carney and Antonovich.

Resource Impacts

Funding for these contracts is available in the Public Affairs FY 2006-07 Budget.  Funding for the two optional one-year extensions is contingent upon Board approval of the Budget for the respective fiscal years. 

Attachment (XLS 15kb)

RFP #P2007-05 Scores and Costs Matrix

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