INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT RFP OUTLINE
The City of Anaheim is seeking proposals from law firms or attorneys to conduct an independent outside investigation in connection with former mayor Harry Sidhu and existing Council Members to determine if they improperly directed or influenced city business and activities based on campaign contributions stemming from the federal investigations recently made public. In addition, the investigation is expected to evaluate to what extent, if any staff was involved in, participated in, or party to, the illegal and unethical behaviors in context of the federal investigation.
The review may include the following steps and more:
1. Identifying entities or individuals who made campaign contributions to existing Council Members or the former Mayor since 2018.
2. Correlation between campaign contributions and city business and activities.
3. Identifying consultants, including lobbyists, who were selected to work for the City and made campaign contributions to Council Members since 2018.
4. Identifying payments made in connection with those engagements, and what the money was used for.
5. Identifying developments and/or projects under review or approved/entitled by the City where campaign contributions were made and/or improprieties that may have arisen in connections with such developments and/or projects.
6. Review the applicability of local ordinances, policies or procedures, and make recommendations as needed.
7. Evaluating to what extent, if any, staff was involved in, participated in, or party to, the illegal and unethical behaviors in the context of the federal investigation.
SCOPE
OF
WORK
(SOW)
Investigate whether there is any indication that the former Mayor or existing Council Members improperly directed or influenced City business and activities based on campaign contributions stemming from the federal investigations recently made public. Relatedly, examine whether City processes and controls were circumvented or influenced by the former Mayor or existing Council members and to what extent, if any, staff was involved in or party to any improper behavior. The investigation relates to the tim e period of 2018 – present.
INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY PROPOSER
1. Experience - Include a brief resume of all similar engagements that the firm has performed in the past five (5) years.
2. Staff Qualifications and Availability - Provide information concerning the educational background, experience, and professional resumes of those persons who would actually assist with the SOW.
3. Anticipated Duties – Describe ability to provide such advice with regards to the SOW.
4. Additional Experience – Describe additional experience that may be beneficial in advising the City based on the SOW.
5. References - Provide references from clients for which it performed work that was similar to the requirements of this request.
6. Fees - Indicate the hourly rates (including support and administrative hourly rates), or alternative methods of compensation, to perform the SOW.
7. Affiliations - If the SOW is to be accomplished through an affiliation or joint venture of several firms, the names and addresses of those firms shall be furnished for each.
8. Conflicts of Interest – Disclosure of any client representations, which may result in potential conflicts of interest in accordance with California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.7 and 3-310.
9. Other - Factors appropriate to indicate the necessary capability, competence, and performance record to accomplish the SOW in a timely and cost- effective manner.
10. Timeline – Indicate the anticipated timeline to complete the investigation based on the SOW and approach.