Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2024
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: ERIC J. LEVITT, CITY MANAGER
PREPARED BY: KIM CHAUDHRY, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TOWNSEND PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES
SUMMARY
Staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) Legislative Advocacy Services and recommends awarding a professional services agreement to Townsend Public Affairs. Townsend Public Affairs provided the most competitive proposal in terms of costs, relevant experience and alignment with City legislative priorities.
PROPOSED MOTION
Award professional services agreement to Townsend Public Affairs for federal and state legislative advocacy services.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve Proposed Motion
Award contract to second most competitive proposal from Kiley & Associates (K&A) Direct staff to issue new RFPs separating Federal Legislative Advocacy Services and State Legislative Advocacy Services Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends proposed motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager recommends award of contract to Townsend Public Affairs.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) proposal would charge $6,000 monthly for professional legislative advocacy services (Attachment 1). The City Manager’s Office annual operating budget includes funding for legislative advocacy services.
The monthly cost would total $8,250 if City Council awarded the professional services agreement to Kiley & Associates.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City of Fullerton solicited proposals from qualified firms to provide legislative advocacy services. The services requested include, but are not limited to, legislative analysis, advocacy and state and federal level representation. Staff issued RFP #2324-05 in November 2023 and received five proposals on December 1, 2023. An evaluation committee assessed the proposals on the RPF criteria including experience, qualifications, understanding City needs and proposed approach.
The Committee rated Townsend Public Affairs as the top firm to provide Federal and State legislative advocacy services to the City of Fullerton. TPA offered the most competitive rates and a comprehensive proposal demonstrating understanding of the unique needs of the City coupled with relevant experience, alignment with City legislative priorities and extensive history working with the City. Attachment 1 provides the TPA proposal.
Kiley & Associates also provided a competitive proposal which the committee rated second. K&A demonstrates strong qualifications, experience and an understanding of City legislative needs. K&A provides Federal Legislative Advocacy services and sub-contracts State Legislative Advocacy through Joe A. Gonsalves & Son, a Sacramento-based firm with a history of successful State legislative representation. K&A’s cost of services would total $8,250 monthly. Entering a contract with K&A would increase the annual cost for services by $27,000.
Staff recommends awarding a professional services agreement to TPA to provide legislative advocacy services.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Townsend Public Affairs Proposal
Attachment 2 – Kiley & Associates Proposal
Attachment 3 – RFP #2324-05 for Legislative Advocacy Services cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Legislative Advocacy Services
February 20, 2024 - Page 2