Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 1

City of

Long Beach Request for Proposals RFP - CM-26-749

Federal Lobbying Services

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 1 v3.14.25 | 2

Please read this entire document carefully as it contains important information essential to your proposal

Overview

Summary The City of Long Beach requests the services of a professional consulting firm to provide federal legislative representation services benefiting a full-service Charter City. The principle responsibility of the consultant will be to secure federal funding and achieve legislative and regulatory outcomes on behalf of the City.

Key Dates Release Date: September 8, 2026

Questions Due to the City: 11:00 AM (PST), September 22, 2026

Proposals Due: 11:00 AM (PST), October 6, 2026

The City reserves the right to modify these dates at any time, with appropriate notice to prospective Consultants.

Proposal Information Instructions for what to include in your proposal and how to submit it are detailed in Section 4.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via LongBeachBuys.com.

This is a competitive process, and the City intends to award the opportunity based on the information submitted in the proposal that best meets the needs of the City.

Official Contact Richard Peoples rfppurchasing@longbeach.gov mailto:rfppurchasing@longbeach.gov v3.14.25 | 3

All communication with the City related to this RFP must be directed to the contact listed above.

Assistance & Resources For assistance using Long Beach Buys, please contact us directly

Customer Service Form rfppurchasing@longbeach.gov

(562) 570-6200 Additional support available for small businesses in Long Beach

BizCare BizCare staff connect business owners and nonprofit leaders to important resources and information, such as grants, loans, technical assistance, information on City policies, and more.

562-570-4BIZ (4249)

4Biz@longbeach.gov Request Assistance Form https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wxE_MWhCak-NO8fmUBg-eJhZqE0zY4JHucmtLMnWlxRUMzlJTVpROTNONUpZQ0tPMzVIQU5WQkk2Uy4u https://longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/business-development/bizcare-program/bizcare-request/ mailto:4Biz@longbeach.gov https://longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/business-development/bizcare-program/bizcare-request/ v3.14.25 | 4

Contents

1 The Opportunity

1.1 Project Summary

1.2 Background

1.3 Goals

1.4 Award Terms

2 Scope of Work

2.1 Description of Services

2.1.1 Analysis, Research, and Reports

2.1.2 Meetings

2.1.3 Proposals/Recommendations

2.1.4 Contract Deliverables

2.2 Performance Metrics & Contract Management

2.2.1 Performance Metrics

2.2.2 Contract Management

2.2.3 Contract Payment

3 How We Choose

3.1 Minimum Qualifications

3.2 Evaluation Criteria

3.3 Local Preference

4 Proposal Instructions & Content

4.1 Timelines & Instructions

4.2 Proposal Content

4.3 Narrative Proposal Template

5 Terms & Conditions

5.1 Acronyms/Definitions

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5.2 Solicitation Terms & Conditions

5.3 Contract Terms & Conditions

5.4 Additional Requirements

5.5 Protest Procedures

1 The Opportunity

1.1 Project Summary

The City of Long Beach (City) requests the services of a professional consulting firm (Consultant) to provide federal legislative representation services benefiting a full-service Charter City. Services include supporting the City’s legislative, regulatory, and budget advocacy activities at the federal level; developing and implementing the City’s legislative strategy and advocacy plan; and tracking legislation and providing progress reports on the City’s advocacy.

1.2 Background

Home to nearly 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, five hospitals, oil operations, an award-winning Convention Center, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, and the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Technology and Innovation, and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, hospitals, golf courses, 167 parks and open spaces, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

The City is diverse and dynamic, covering approximately 52 square miles. Long Beach is the 7th largest city in California, and the 2nd largest in Los Angeles County. The U.S. Census (2020) found that the median age in Long Beach is 33 years old, and 25% of the City’s residents are under the age of 18. The City is ethnically diverse: 43.2% Latino/Hispanic, 28.1% Caucasian, 12.6% African American, 12.8% Asian, and .6% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. The median household income (2016-2020) is $66,410, and 16.2% of Long Beach residents live below the poverty level. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana area ranked #2 in the nation for having the greatest number of Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual persons.

Long Beach consistently achieves a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

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Long Beach is a full-service charter city and operates under the City Manager-Council form of government. The City Council is made up of nine part-time Councilmembers, elected by district. The Mayor is chosen in a citywide election, presides over City Council meetings, presents annual budget recommendations to the City Council and has veto power over Council actions. The City Manager serves at the discretion of the City Council. As head of the municipal government, the City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all departments, with the exception of the elective offices and three semi-autonomous commissions. The City currently employs more than 6,000 full-time equivalent positions.

The Federal Legislative Representative(s) will report and be accountable to the City Manager. Departments under the oversight of the City Manager include:

• Development Services • Human Resources

• Disaster Preparedness and

Emergency Communications

• Library Services

• Long Beach Airport (LGB)

• Economic Development • Parks, Recreation, and Marine

• Energy Resources • Police Department

• Fire Department • Public Works

• Financial Management • Technology and Innovation

• Health and Human Services

The City requires the services of an outside consultant who is familiar with and involved in day-to-day federal advocacy activities in Washington, D.C.

1.3 Goals

The goal of this RFP is to engage a Consultant to help the City successfully advocate for legislative and funding priorities by assisting in the annual development of the City’s legislative and funding advocacy plan, coordinating advocacy efforts and meetings, and tracking legislative and regulatory items that may impact the City, among other tasks.

1.4 Award Terms

This contract will be for a period of two years with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods. The total contract term will not exceed five years.

2 Scope of Work

2.1 Description of Services

The City requests the services of a professional consulting firm to provide federal legislative representation services. The Awarded Consultant will receive policy direction from the City Council and report to the City Manager, or his designee. The Awarded Consultant(s) primary contact will be with the Manager of Government Affairs in the City Manager’s Office.

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The Awarded Consultant will inform the City of legislative activity and advocate for the City’s interests. This work will involve tracking and analyzing legislation, advancing the City’s legislative and funding priorities, supporting staff in meetings and presentations with City leadership as needed, arranging and conducting meetings with legislators, and actively lobbying the Congress.

Primary activities include:

• Identify, track, and analyze legislation that may impact the City, including programs and services atypical of cities, such as state and federally funded homeless services, hospital seismic compliance, oil operations, major multi-use developments, alternative energy production, and sea-level rise;

• Learn City finances, programs, and operations to objectively analyze and articulate potential impacts from pending legislation;

• Distribute the City’s legislative position letters to members of the City’s delegation, authors of the legislation, and members of applicable policy committees to convey the City’s position;

• Facilitate the development of the City’s legislative agenda and strategic advocacy plans to advance City legislation and budget requests; and,

• Remain up to date on the City’s current affairs.

The Awarded Consultant(s) shall provide services and advice to the City, which shall include, but not be limited, to the following:

2.1.1 Analysis, Research, and Reports

Provide research, analysis, and timely written and oral information to the City, beyond what is publicly available online, as directed by the City Manager on matters that include, but are not limited to:

• Existing and proposed federal laws and regulations that affect the City’s interests;

• Reports on, and testimony from, legislative hearings;

• The development and progress of federal issues affecting specified City interests;

• Federal agency and department regulations, guidelines, directives, and other instruments of administrative policy;

• Technical reports and memoranda affecting City operations and fiscal conditions;

and,

• Grants and other funding opportunities for proposed City projects an priority areas.

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As part of the provision of research, analysis, and timely written and oral information to the City, the Awarded Consultant will be asked to undertake tasks which shall include, but are not be limited to:

• Research, identify, and secure grant funding or other opportunities for funds such as Congressionally-direct spending;

• Monitor existing and proposed laws and regulations that affect the interests and priorities of the City;

• Pursue grant funding, special designations, or other nominations that would increase the City’s likelihood of obtaining grant funds;

• Submit regular reports to the City Manager to communicate work that has been done on behalf of the City; and,

• Prepare reports on outcomes of the budget and legislative session, to be presented as needed.

2.1.2 Meetings

Awarded Consultant will be asked to arrange and/ or participate in meetings, which shall include, but are not limited to:

• Arranging meetings for City officials with the White House, members of Congress, Congressional Committees, and federal agencies, while providing logistical support, talking points, and attending these meetings, as necessary;

• Building and strengthening relevant relationships with key stakeholders and decision makers on behalf of the City to promote the City’s legislative agenda and strategic advocacy plans;

• Participating in City Council meetings as well as Intergovernmental Affairs Committee meetings, as requested by the City Manager, to report on activities and legislation that impact the City; and,

• Participating in meetings with City leaders to help develop the City’s legislative agenda and strategic advocacy plans, by forecasting upcoming legislative issues, overviewing legislative and budget processes, and identifying City priorities.

2.1.3 Proposals/Recommendations

Awarded Consultant shall assist the City with recommendations and proposals, which shall include, but is not limited to:

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• Assisting in the development of the City’s advocacy strategies on proposed legislation and budget requests;

• Preparing summaries of grant opportunities as authorized by law, and a following up on the specific grant guidelines when they become available; and,

• Proposing and developing opportunities that will allow the City to access funding at the policymaking level.

2.1.4 Contract Deliverables

Awarded Consultant’s deliverables would include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in developing and implementing an advocacy plan based on the City’s adopted Legislative Agenda.

• Helping cultivate a network of valuable relationships that can be leveraged to promote the City’s Legislative Agenda.

• Scheduling meetings for the City to discuss relevant legislation and budget priorities as requested.

• Briefing legislative offices and stakeholders on the City’s legislative and funding priorities.

• Coordinating key stakeholder engagement for City’s advocacy priorities.

• Working with the City to coordinate advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with the City’s legislative delegation and relevant leaders.

• Identifying, analyzing, and monitoring bill introductions and amendments relevant to the City’s Legislative Agenda in a timely fashion, assessing their potential impact on the City, and recommending what position the City should take.

• Assisting in preparing briefing materials and talking points for the City, including written and verbal Committee testimony.

• Drafting language and amendments for relevant legislation, as required to protect and promote the City’s agenda.

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• Participating in meetings with City leadership as requested, to provide:

o Summary of legislative items that may affect the City;

o Intro and forecast of upcoming legislative year/session; and, o Schedule of Congressional session and important dates.

• Providing timely reports, such as summaries, analysis, bill language, amendments, matrices, and committee analysis.

• Providing an annual report outlining the key legislative and funding accomplishments of the legislative session.

APPENDICES

Pro-Forma Agreement: Non-Design

2.2 Performance Metrics & Contract Management

2.2.1 Performance Metrics

Collectively, the City expects the activities listed above will result in positive outcomes for the City, as demonstrated by direct funding to the City and achievement of positive legislative and regulatory outcomes on behalf of the City.

The table below highlights the targets that will be tracked and reviewed collaboratively with the Awarded Consultant annually during the contract. This list is an indication of the performance metrics of interest to the City, and is not exhaustive or final. As a part of a response to this RFP, Proposers may propose additional or alternative performance metrics to be tracked on a regular basis. The final set of performance metrics and frequency of collection will be negotiated by the successful Proposer and the City prior to the finalization of an agreement between parties, and may be adjusted over time as needed.

METRIC DESCRIPTION TARGET DATA SOURCE

1. Track all relevant federal legislation and regulations

Track and inform the City of all relevant federal legislation and regulations

Support the City in taking positions on at least 25 legislative proposals per year

Utilize a tracking system for federal legislation; provide weekly updates during the legislative session.

2. Federal Funding awarded to the City

Assist in advocating for the City’s priority

Support the City in receiving direct funding for at least

Track the Federal budget to identify direct funding;

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 11 projects for federal funding

2-3 priority projects annually provide an update email reporting the impacts of the Federal budget to the City

3. Success rate in advocating for the City’s legislative priorities

Tracking how the City’s legislative positions align with results

85% success rate with City positions

End of year performance reports and weekly roundup meetings of activity per program manager

2.2.2 Contract Management

The Awarded Consultant will meet with City staff on a regular basis during the legislative session to provide updates on issues that may affect the City. City staff will work collaboratively with the Awarded Consultant to track progress and reassess the City’s strategic advocacy plan to successfully advocate for the City’s priorities. Performance metrics will be provided in the regular update calls and formalized in an annual report.

2.2.3 Contract Payment

The City of Long Beach issues payment based upon services rendered. After a contract is finalized and work is performed, the Awarded Consultant should invoice the City. The City will remit payment within 30 calendar days of being billed.

3 How We Choose

3.1 Minimum Qualifications

• Registered lobbyist

• Qualification to conduct business in the City

• Not having been debarred by Federal, State or local government

• Mandatory experience (necessary minimum experience of at least 5 years representing cities of similar size)

• Mandatory licenses types

• At lease one employee based out of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area

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• The Consultant shall not have other clients with competing interests with the City, including any cities, agencies, or special authorities in southern California

3.2 Evaluation Criteria

Proposals shall be consistently evaluated based upon the following criteria:

CRITERIA WEIGHT

1. Organizational Capacity & Experience

• Consultant receives positive feedback/references from elected representatives and administration representatives.

• Demonstrated success in setting up meetings in a timely manner and, as applicable, engaging with sponsors and author(s) of potential bills.

• Demonstrated success in advocating for desired outcomes on legislation.

• Demonstrate the ability to attend in-person meetings and hearing in Washington D.C. with limited notice.

30%

2. Method of Approach

• Consultant strategy to implement the Scope of Work and proposed deliverables.

• Consultant provides creative ideas to engage the community and advocate for the City’s interests in ways that align with the City’s Legislative Agenda.

40%

3. Communications & Reporting

• Proven track-record providing concise analysis of legislative, regulatory, and budgetary issues.

20%

4. Reasonableness of Cost 10%

3.3 Local Preference

• The City shall apply five extra credit percentage points to all local businesses operating a home-based, residential business.

• The City shall apply ten extra credit percentage points to all local businesses operating a non-residential, commercial, brick-and-mortar business.

• Local business shall mean a business which maintains its principal place of business in a fixed office/place of business with the City of Long Beach, possesses a current City of Long Beach business license and sellers permit if applicable.

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• For a business to be eligible to claim preference, the business MUST request the preference in the solicitation response (see Attachment C) and provide a copy of its current business license and seller’s permit if applicable.

• The local preference does not apply to solicitations that are funded in full or in part by tidelands funds. The local preference may not apply to solicitations that are funded in full or in part by certain grant, federal or State of California funds.

4 Proposal Instructions & Content

4.1 Timelines & Instructions

MILESTONE

TIME

(PACIFIC) &

DATE LOCATION / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Release date September

8, 2026

Questions due to the City

11:00 AM

(PST),

September 22, 2026

• Submit all inquiries via email to rfppurchasing@longbeach.gov

Posting of the Q&A September 29, 2026

• Responses to the questions will be posted on LongBeachBuys.com.

Proposals due 11:00 AM

(PST),

October 6,

• Proposals should be submitted electronically via LongBeachBuys.com.

• Late proposals, or proposals submitted through other channels will not be accepted.

• Proposers are responsible for submitting their proposals completely and on time.

o Proposers will receive an e-bid confirmation number with a time stamp from LongBeachBuys.com indicating that the proposal was submitted successfully. The City will only receive proposals that were transmitted successfully.

o For technical support, email or call the City during normal business hours at LBPurchasing@longbeach.gov or (562) 570-6200.

mailto:LBPurchasing@longbeach.gov

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Evaluation of Narrative & Cost Proposals

TBD • An Evaluation Committee will review Narrative & Cost Proposals to select the proposal that best meets the needs of the City.

• Evaluations will be conducted using a methodology derived from the evaluation criteria listed in Section 3.2.

Interviews/ Demos/ Site Visits

TBD • 1-2 sentence description of whether interviews, demos, or site visits are planned as part of the evaluation.

• The City may interview or request demos from none, one, some or all Proposers.

Negotiation & Consultant Selection

TBD • Awarded Consultant(s) will be notified in writing.

• Any award is contingent upon the successful negotiation of final contract terms. If contract negotiations cannot be concluded successfully, the City reserves the right to negotiate a contract with another Consultant or withdraw the RFP.

• Negotiations shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure to Public Records Act requests unless and until an agreement is reached and before final approval by the awarding body.

Estimated Contract Execution

TBD

Proposer Debrief After Consultant is Selected

• Successful and unsuccessful Proposers are encouraged to request phone call or in person meeting with the City to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their proposal.

The intent of the debrief is to provide the Proposer with constructive feedback to equip them with information to effectively meet the City’s needs and be successful in future proposals.

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4.2 Proposal Content

Complete proposals will include the following. Proposers are encouraged to use this table as a checklist to ensure all components are included in their proposal. Please note proposals that are NOT complete will NOT be considered for the opportunity and will be deemed nonresponsive.

PROPOSAL

☐ Narrative

Proposal The Narrative Proposal should provide a straightforward, concise delineation of capabilities to satisfy the RFP. Guidance on preparing a Narrative Proposal is detailed in Section 4.3.

☐ Cost Proposal The Cost Proposal should be prepared using

• Itemization: Proposers should itemize based on staff costs and other deliverables.

• Proposers should break down costs monthly

PROPOSAL APPENDICES

☐ Financial

Stability Proposers should include one or more of the following financial statements to provide the City with enough information to determine financial stability of the Proposer and subcontractor.

• Financial Statement or Annual Report

• Business tax return

• Statement of income and balance sheet

☐ Other Addenda (if applicable)

Colored displays, promotional materials, and other collateral are not necessary or desired. However, if a complete response cannot be provided without referencing supporting documentation, it may be provided as an addendum clearly cited in the Narrative or Cost Proposal.

MANDATORY ATTACHMENTS | The following are included as Attachments in Long Beach Buys. They must be signed by the individual legally authorized to bind the Proposer.

☐ A. Authorization & Certification ☐ B. Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) Form ☐ C. Local Preference Program Attachments Which May be Submitted Upon Award | Upon award, Awarded

Contractors will be required to submit the following. We encourage you to take note of these requirements, and where possible, include available information as part of your proposal to expedite processing.

☐ D. W-9 ☐ E. Business License ☐ F. Proof of Registration with the California Secretary of State

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☐ G. Certificates of Insurance: See Section 5.3.2 ☐ Contact Information | Ensure your organization’s profile is up to date in Long Beach

Buys, including an email address, phone number, and for any classifications you may qualify for.

☐ Conformation of Attachments | Ensure you have checked ALL the attachments in Long Beach Buys and have confirmed that all the required documents have been uploaded and labeled correctly.

4.3 Narrative Proposal Template

Proposers should develop a narrative proposal that includes all of the following information:

Organizational Capacity & Experience

PROPOSER CONTACT INFORMATION

Proposer

Company Name Company Address Federal Tax ID Number Website

Authorized Representative

Name Title Email Address Phone Number

Other Point of Contact (if required)

Name Title Email Address Phone Number

PROPOSER CAPACITY & EXPERIENCE

What type of enterprise is the Proposer?

☐ Non-Profit

☐ Sole Proprietorship

☐ General Partnership

☐ Corporation State and Date of incorporation:

☐ Limited Liability Company

☐ Other _________________________________

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Please describe why the Proposer is qualified to provide the services described in this RFP (1-2 paragraphs).

Please describe the Proposer’s history and experience providing the services described in this RFP (1-3 sentences).

Please describe relevant successes advocating for other city or government agencies’ legislative and funding priorities, noting in particular cities that are similar to Long Beach in population or issues (1 paragraph).

Please describe how the Proposer has successfully advocated for federal funding resources to other city or government agencies (1 paragraph).

Where are the representative(s) that would service the City’s account located?

Please provide a plan or overview for how the project will be staffed, including the percentage of time each employee will be allocated to the project, and the names and titles of principles.

REFERENCES

Reference 1

Company Project Manager Phone Number Project Description Project Start and End Dates

Reference 2

Company Project Manager Phone Number Project Description

Reference 3

Project Manager Phone Number

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Project Description

Reference 4

Project Manager Phone Number Project Description

Reference 5

Project Manager Phone Number Project Description

SUB-CONTRACTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Does the proposal include subcontractors?

☐ Yes ☐ No

If applicable, provide the following for all subcontractors included in this proposal.

Subcontractor Company Name Company Address

Authorized Representative

Name Title Email Address Phone Number

Other Point of Contact (if required)

Name Title Email Address Phone Number

SUBCONTRACTOR CAPACITY & EXPERIENCE

What type of enterprise is the Subcontractor?

☐ Non-Profit

☐ Sole Proprietorship

☐ General Partnership

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☐ Corporation State and Date of incorporation:

☐ Limited Liability Company

☐ Other _________________________________ Which specific requirements of this RFP will the Subcontractor perform?

Please describe why the Subcontractor is qualified to provide the services described in this RFP (1-2 paragraphs).

Please describe the length of time the Subcontractor has been providing the services described in this RFP (1-3 sentences).

How many employees does the Subcontractor have nationally, locally, and residing in Long Beach?

Where are the representative(s) that would service the City’s account located?

Method of Approach

1. Summarize your approach to legislative analysis and tracking legislation on behalf of a city government.

2. Summarize your proposed work plan with timelines for key milestones in meeting the goals outlined in the RFP.

3. Describe how you will work with the City to identify key priorities and effectively track legislative and regulatory items that may impact City services, operations, and priorities.

4. Describe how the organization would learn about the City’s priorities and advocate on behalf of a full-service Charter City with diverse departmental needs.

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Communications & Reporting

1. Explain how you will report on performance to the City and coordinate with the City to meet the objectives of the RFP.

2. The City requires that the Awarded Consultant provide proof of payment of any subcontractors used for this project. If the proposal includes subcontractors, please describe the plan for how the City will be notified of such payments.

3. The City requires that the Awarded Contractor provide proof of payment of any subcontractors used for this project. If the proposal includes subcontractors, please describe the plan for how the City will be notified of such payments.

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5 Terms & Conditions

5.1 Acronyms/Definitions

1. Awarded Consultant: The organization/individual that is awarded a contract with the City of Long Beach, California for the services identified in this RFP.

2. City: The City of Long Beach and any department or agency identified herein.

3. Consultant / Proposer: Organization/individual submitting a proposal in response to this RFP.

4. Department / Division: City of Long Beach, City Manager Department

5. Evaluation Committee: An independent committee comprised solely of representatives of the City established to review proposals submitted in response to the RFP, evaluate the proposals, and select a Contractor.

6. May: Indicates something that is not mandatory but permissible.

7. RFP: Request for Proposals.

8. Shall / Must: Indicates a mandatory requirement. Failure to meet a mandatory requirement will result in the rejection of a proposal as non-responsive.

9. Should: Indicates something that is recommended but not mandatory. If the Proposer fails to provide recommended information, the City may, at its sole option, ask the Proposer to provide the information or evaluate the proposal without the information.

10. Subcontractor: Third party not directly employed by the Proposer who will provide services identified in this RFP.

5.2 Solicitation Terms & Conditions

1. The City reserves the right to alter, amend, or modify any provisions of this RFP, or to withdraw this RFP, at any time prior to the award of a contract pursuant hereto, if it is in the best interest of the City to do so.

2. The City reserves the right to request clarification of any proposal term from Proposers.

3. The City may contact the references provided; contact any Proposer to clarify any response; contact any current users of a Proposer’s services; solicit information from

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4. The level and term of documentation required from the Proposer to satisfy the City will be commensurate with the size and complexity of the contract and Proposers should submit accordingly. If the information submitted by the Proposer, or available from other sources, is insufficient to satisfy the City as to the Proposer’s contractual responsibility, the City may request additional information from the Proposer or may deem the proposal non-responsive.

5. The City reserves the right to waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received.

6. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received prior to contract award.

7. The City’s determination of the Proposer’s responsibility, for the purposes of this RFP, shall be final.

8. Unless otherwise specified, the City prefers to award to a single Consultant but reserves the right to award contracts to multiple Consultants.

9. The City shall not be obligated to accept the lowest priced proposal, but will make an award in the best interests of the City of Long Beach after all factors have been evaluated.

10. If the City receives a single responsive, responsible proposal, the City may request an extension of the proposal acceptance period and/or conduct a price or cost analysis on such proposal. The Proposer shall promptly provide all cost or pricing data, documentation and explanation requested by the City to assist such analysis. By conducting such analysis, the City shall not be obligated to accept the single proposal.

The City reserves the right to reject such proposal or any portion thereof.

11. Any irregularities or lack of clarity in the RFP should be brought to the Purchasing Division designee’s attention as soon as possible so that corrective addenda may be furnished to Proposers.

12. Proposals must include any and all proposed terms and conditions, including, without limitation, written warranties, maintenance/service agreements, license agreements, lease purchase agreements and the Proposer’s standard contract language. The omission of these documents may render a proposal non-responsive.

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13. Alterations, modifications or variations to a proposal may not be considered unless authorized by the RFP or by addendum or amendment.

14. Proposals which appear unrealistic in the terms of technical commitments, lack of technical competence, or are indicative of failure to comprehend the complexity and risk of this contract, may be rejected.

15. Proposals may be withdrawn by written notice received prior to the proposal opening time.

16. The price and amount of any proposal must have been arrived at independently and without consultation, communication, agreement or disclosure with or to any other Consultant or prospective Consultant.

17. No attempt may be made at any time to induce any firm or person to refrain from submitting a proposal or to submit any intentionally high or noncompetitive proposal.

All proposals must be made in good faith and without collusion.

18. Prices offered by Proposers in their proposals are an irrevocable offer for the term of the contract and any contract extensions. The Awarded Consultant agrees to provide the purchased services at the costs, rates and fees as set forth in their proposal in response to this RFP. No other costs, rates or fees shall be payable to the Awarded Consultant for implementation of their proposal.

19. The City is not liable for any costs incurred by Proposers prior to entering into a formal contract. Costs of developing the proposals or any other such expenses incurred by the Proposer in responding to the RFP, are entirely the responsibility of the Proposer, and shall not be reimbursed in any manner by the City.

20. In the event a Proposer received assistance from City staff or a representative of the City (technical assistance provider), the City is not responsible for any mistakes, inaccuracies, delays, or any other impact that the assistance provided did to impact the Proposer’s final product. Available technical assistance support services are only intended to provide advice and does not constitute a basis for any protest to this contract opportunity. It is solely the Proposer’s responsibility to prepare and submit a response to the RFP.

21. Proposal will become public record after the Notice of Intent to Award has been posted and the protest period has closed unless the proposal or specific parts of the proposal can be shown to be exempt by law. Each Proposer may clearly label all or part of a proposal as "CONFIDENTIAL" provided that the Proposer thereby agrees to

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 24 indemnify and defend the City for honoring such a designation. The failure to so label any information that is released by the City shall constitute a complete waiver of any and all claims for damages caused by any release of the information.

22. A proposal submitted in response to this RFP must identify any subcontractors, and outline the contractual relationship between the Proposer and each subcontractor.

An official of each proposed subcontractor must sign, and include as part of the proposal submitted in response to this RFP, a statement to the effect that the subcontractor has read and will agree to abide by the Proposer’s obligations.

23. If the Consultant elects to use subcontractors, the City requires that the Awarded Consultant provide proof of payment of any subcontractors used for this project.

Proposals shall include a plan by which the City will be notified of such payments.

24. Each Proposer must adhere to the City’s Vendor Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to, disclose any existing or potential conflict of interest relative to the performance of the contractual services resulting from this RFP. Any such relationship that might be perceived or represented as a conflict should be disclosed.

The City reserves the right to disqualify any Proposer on the grounds of actual or apparent conflict of interest. The Vendor Code of Conduct can be found at https://longbeach.gov/globalassets/finance/media-library/documents/business-info/purchasing-division/final-vendor-code-of-conduct-2023

25. Each Proposer must include in its proposal a complete disclosure of any alleged significant prior or ongoing contract failures, any civil or criminal litigation or investigation pending which involves the Proposer or in which the Proposer has been judged guilty or liable. Failure to comply with the terms of this provision will disqualify any proposal. The City reserves the right to reject any proposal based upon the Proposer’s prior history with the City or with any other party, which documents, without limitation, unsatisfactory performance, adversarial or contentious demeanor, significant failure(s) to meet contract milestones or other contractual failures.

26. The City reserves the right to negotiate final contract terms with any Awarded Consultant(s). The contract between the parties will consist of the RFP together with any modifications thereto, and the Awarded Consultant’s proposal, together with any modifications and clarifications thereto that are submitted at the request of the City during the evaluation and negotiation process. In the event of any conflict or contradiction between or among these documents, the documents shall control in the following order of precedence: the final executed contract, the RFP, any https://longbeach.gov/globalassets/finance/media-library/documents/business-info/purchasing-division/final-vendor-code-of-conduct-2023 https://longbeach.gov/globalassets/finance/media-library/documents/business-info/purchasing-division/final-vendor-code-of-conduct-2023

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 25 modifications and clarifications to the Awarded Consultant’s proposal, and the Awarded Consultant’s proposal. Specific exceptions to this general rule may be noted in the final executed contract.

27. The City will not be responsible for or bound by any oral communication or any other information or contact that occurs outside the official communication process specified herein, unless confirmed in writing by the City Contact.

28. Any contract resulting from this RFP shall not be effective unless and until approved by the City Council / City Manager, as applicable.

29. The City will not be liable for Federal, State, or Local excise taxes.

30. Execution of Attachment A of this RFP shall constitute an agreement to all terms and conditions specified in the RFP, including all contract terms and conditions therein, except such terms and conditions that the Proposer expressly excludes.

31. Proposer understands and acknowledges that the representations above are material and important, and will be relied on by the City in evaluation of the proposal. Any Proposer misrepresentation shall be treated as fraudulent concealment from the City of the true facts relating to the proposal.

32. Proposals shall be kept confidential until the Notice of Intent to Award has been posted and the protest period has closed.

33. No announcement concerning the award of a contract as a result of this RFP may be made without the prior written approval of the City.

Proposers are advised that any contract awarded pursuant to this procurement process that exceeds $100,000 shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Long Beach Municipal Code Section 2.73 et seq, the Equal Benefits Ordinance.

34. All Proposers shall complete and return, with their bid, the Equal Benefits Ordinance Compliance form contained in Attachment B, if applicable. Unless otherwise specified in the procurement package, Proposers do not need to submit with their bid supporting documentation proving compliance. However, supporting documentation verifying that the benefits are provided equally shall be required if the Proposer is selected for award of a contract.

35. Independent contractors or employees of a third-party employer who are CalPERS retirees are subject to provisions of the Government Code. A CalPERS retiree is an employee of a CalPERS employer who terminates active employment and receives a

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 26 monthly CalPERS retirement allowance. Any individual qualifying as a CalPERS retiree doing business as an independent contractor or employee of a third- party employer is required to submit a CalPERS determination to ensure the services provided are considered that of a true independent contractor position. All third-party employers are required to notify any individual they are having work for the City of Long Beach of this requirement. You may reach out directly to CalPERS at membership_reporting@calpers.ca.gov for a determination.

5.3 Contract Terms & Conditions

1. The Awarded Consultant will be the sole point of contract responsibility. The City will look solely to the Awarded Consultant for the performance of all contractual obligations which may result from an award based on this RFP, and the Awarded Consultant shall not be relieved for the non-performance of any or all subcontractors.

2. The Awarded Consultant must maintain, for the duration of its contract, insurance coverages as required by the City. Work on the contract shall not begin until after the Awarded Consultant has submitted acceptable evidence of the required insurance coverages. As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this contract, Awarded Consultant shall procure and maintain at awarded Consultant’s expense for the duration of any contract from an insurance company that is admitted to write insurance in the State of California or that has a rating of or equivalent to an A:VIII by A.M. Best and Company the following insurance:

a. Commercial general liability insurance equivalent in coverage scope to ISO CG 00 01 10 93 naming the City of Long Beach and its officials, employees, and agents as additional insureds on a form equivalent in coverage scope to ISO CG 20 26 11 85 from and against claims, demands, causes of action, expenses, costs, or liability for injury to or death of persons, or damage to or loss of property arising out of activities or work performed by or on behalf of the Awarded Consultant in an amount not less than One Million Dollars (US $1,000,000) per occurrence and Two Million Dollars (US $2,000,000) in general aggregate. Such insurance shall not exclude coverage for liability resulting from cross liability protection.

b. Workers’ compensation coverage as required by the Labor Code of the State of California and Employer’s liability insurance with minimum limits of One Million Dollars (US $1,000,000) per accident or occupational illness. The policy mailto:membership_reporting@calpers.ca.gov

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 27 shall be endorsed with a waiver of the insurer’s right of subrogation against the City of Long Beach and its insurers, officials, employees, and agents.

c. If use of a vehicle is part of the scope of services, commercial automobile liability insurance equivalent in coverage scope to ISO CA 00 01 06 92 in an amount not less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (US $500,000) combined single limit (CSL) covering Symbol 1 (“any auto”).

Any self-insurance program or self-insurance retention must be approved separately in writing by City and shall protect the City of Long Beach and its officials, employees, and agents in the same manner and to the same extent as they would have been protected had the policy or policies not contained retention provisions. Each insurance policy shall be endorsed to state that coverage shall not be suspended, voided, or canceled by either party except after thirty (30) days prior written notice to City, and shall be primary and not contributing to any other insurance or self-insurance maintained by City.

Any subcontractors which Awarded Consultant may use in the performance of this contract shall be required to indemnify the City to the same extent as the Awarded Consultant and to maintain insurance in compliance with the provisions of this section.

Awarded Consultant shall deliver to City certificates of insurance and original endorsements for approval as to sufficiency and form prior to the start of performance hereunder. The certificates and endorsements for each insurance policy shall contain the original signature of a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. “Claims-made” policies are not acceptable unless City Risk Manager determines that “Occurrence” policies are not available in the market for the risk being insured. If a “Claims-made” policy is accepted, it must provide for an extended reporting period of not less than three (3) years. Such insurance as required herein shall not be deemed to limit Awarded Consultant’s liability relating to performance under the contract. City reserves the right to require complete certified copies of all said policies at any time. Any modification or waiver of the insurance requirements herein shall be made only with the approval of City Risk Manager. The procuring of insurance shall not be construed as a limitation on liability or as full performance of the indemnification provisions of the contract.

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3. The Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) requires all businesses operating in the City of Long Beach to pay a business license tax. In some cases, the City may require a regulatory permit and/or evidence of a State or Federal license. Prior to issuing a business license, certain business types will require the business license application and/or business location to be reviewed by the Development Services, Fire, Health, and/or Police Departments. Additional information is available at www.longbeach.gov/finance/business_license.

4. All work performed in connection with construction shall be performed in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of federal, state, county or municipal governments or agencies (including, without limitation, all applicable federal and state labor standards, including the prevailing wage provisions of Sections 1770 et seq. of the California Labor Code), and (b) all directions, rules and regulations of any fire marshal, health officer, building inspector, or other officer of every governmental agency now having or hereafter acquiring jurisdiction.

5. Awarded Consultant shall indemnify, protect and hold harmless City, its Boards, Commissions, and their officials, employees and agents (“Indemnified Parties”), from and against any and all liability, claims, demands, damage, loss, obligations, causes of action, proceedings, awards, fines, judgments, penalties, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, court costs, expert and witness fees, and other costs and fees of litigation, arising or alleged to have arisen, in whole or in part, out of or in connection with (1) Awarded Consultant’s breach or failure to comply with any of its obligations contained in the Contract, including any obligations arising from the Awarded Consultant’s compliance with or failure to comply with applicable laws, including all applicable federal and state labor requirements including, without limitation, the requirements of California Labor Code Section 1770 et seq. or (2) negligent or willful acts, errors, omissions or misrepresentations committed by Awarded Consultant, its officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, or anyone under Awarded Consultant’s control, in the performance of work or services under the Contract (collectively “Claims” or individually “Claim”).

6. In addition to Awarded Consultant’s duty to indemnify, Awarded Consultant shall have a separate and wholly independent duty to defend Indemnified Parties at Awarded Consultant’s expense by legal counsel approved by City, from and against all Claims, and shall continue this defense until the Claims are resolved, whether by settlement, judgment or otherwise. No finding or judgment of negligence, fault, breach, or the like on the part of Awarded Consultant shall be required for the duty http://www.longbeach.gov/finance/business_license

Federal Lobbying Services | RFP - CM-26-749 | Template v3.14.25 | 29 to defend to arise. City shall notify Awarded Consultant of any Claim, shall tender the defense of the Claim to Awarded Consultant, and shall assist Awarded Consultant, as may be reasonably requested, in the defense.

7. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a Claim was caused by the sole negligence or willful misconduct of Indemnified Parties, Awarded Consultant’s costs of defense and indemnity shall be (1) reimbursed in full if the court determines sole negligence by the Indemnified Parties, or (2) reduced by the percentage of willful misconduct attributed by the court to the Indemnified Parties.

8. Any requests for reasonable price adjustments must be submitted 60 days prior to the Contract annual anniversary date.