County Attorney RFQ 25-03.pdf

Request for Qualifications: County Attorney Huerfano County Solicitation #2025-03

January 27, 2025

1. Summary of Request The Board of County Commissioners of Huerfano County is seeking statements of qualifications and experience from individuals or firms for the provision of legal services. With this solicitation the County is seeking both a County Attorney and Counsel for the County’s Department of Human Resources, interested parties may submit for either role or for both. The successful respondent(s) will serve at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners. However, the terms of service will be memorialized in the form of a contract set on mutually agreeable terms. The County intends to enter into a 5-year agreement with the selected respondent(s).

2. Submission Information Written submissions for the supply of the services described herein will be accepted until Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 4PM MT. Any response received after that time will not be considered.

Submitted materials must be emailed in PDF Format to Carl Young, County Administrator, at administrator@huerfano.us

3. Questions Procedural and technical questions are to be submitted in writing to Carl Young, County Administrator, at administrator@huerfano.us. Questions will be accepted until Thursday, Friday 19, 2025 at 4PM MT.

A summary of questions and answers will be released according to the schedule set below.

4. Anticipated Timeline Dates are approximations for the process steps and are subject to change.

Step Date Selection Process

One January 27, 2025 Solicitation Issued

February 19, 2025 Questions may be presented prior to 4PM MT on this date.

February 20, 2025 Questions and answers posted.

February 27, 2025 Responses due at 4PM MT

March 6, 2025 Committee Review of Responses.

Two March 7, 2025 Notifications of Interviews.

March 18, 2025 Interviews conducted.

Three March 19, 2025 Notification of selected finalist(s).

Four April, 8, 2025 Agreement executed.

May 1, 2025 Anticipated Start Date

5. Background Huerfano County is a community encompassing 1,593 square miles and home to approximately 6,800 residents. The County is governed by a three (3) member Board of Commissioners, elected by districts to four (4) year terms. Huerfano County is home to two (2) incorporated communities: Walsenburg and La Veta. Each community has its own governing body. The County, however, provides many essential services to the residents of these municipalities.

Huerfano County through its staff and Officers provides a variety of services including, but not limited to: zoning and code enforcement, law enforcement, revenue assessment and collections, road and bridge construction and maintenance, social services, and general government administration. Inclusive of Elected Officials and staff, the County employs approximately 110 full-time employees and has an annual operating budget of approximately $16 million dollars.

The County is a member of CTSI and most lawsuits are covered under County Insurance and contracted out to firms approved by CTSI. The County Attorney is expected to keep track of these cases and keep the Board of County Commissioners along with relevant Elected Officials and Staff updated on progress.

Stan Garnett of Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow and Farbes serves as the County’s outside counsel and handles major litigation for the County.

Julianne Woldridge of MacDougall and Woldridge, PC is the County’s water attorney.

The County contracts with Employers Council for advice and counsel on human resources issues.

6. Outline of Services to be Provided The County is seeking both a County Attorney and Counsel for the County’s Department of Human Services. Interested Parties may submit for either position or for both positions.

The County Attorney is expected to provide legal counsel to the Board of Commissioners, County staff and Elected Officials of Huerfano County. Specific workload and commitment of hours will vary based on the needs of the County. Services to be provided include, but are not limited to, the following:

Attendance at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting with the Board of County Commissioners to give an update on ongoing issues and affairs. Monthly meeting will be set for a Tuesday.

From time to time the County Attorney may be asked to attend special meetings of the Board of Commissioners or the meetings of advisory boards and commissions.

Provide counseling on issues as they arise to the Board of Commissioners and/or County Administrator and staff including Elected Officials where the consultation with Elected Officials does not conflict with the interests or policies of the Board of Commissioners.

Prepare and/or review contracts, leases, easements, deeds and other legal instruments on behalf of the County.

Provide legal counsel to staff on human resource and personnel related matters

Draft ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents.

Serve as the official records custodian under the County Open Records Policy.

Support staff in the interpretation and implementation of the land use and building regulations and take an active role in code enforcement matters.

Keep the Board of Commissioners, Elected Officials, and senior staff apprised of changes to state and federal law, which potentially impacts Huerfano County’s government.

Litigating in all district, state and federal courts as required.

The Counsel for the County’s Department of Human Services is expected to provide legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners and the County’s Department of Human Services. Specific workload and commitment of hours will vary based on the needs of the Department. Services to be provided include, but are not limited to, the following:

Provide legal advice, opinions, and representation to the Huerfano County Department of Human Services in dependency and neglect cases as well as processing public and attorney requests for access to the Department’s files. These services include temporary shelter hearings, adjudicatory trials, dispositional hearings, permanency planning and permanent custody hearings, parental rights termination trials, guardianships, emergency protective hearings and jury trials.

Provide representation in adult protective matters, involuntary mental health commitment proceedings, and drug and alcohol commitment matters.

Conduct on-going training in matters relating to courtroom procedure, presentation of evidence, substantive areas of the Children’s Code, and changes in pertinent state and federal law to personnel of the Department of Human Services.

Attendance as requested at meetings with the Board of County Commissioners to give an update on ongoing issues and affairs.

7. Qualifications The individual appointed either as a sole practitioner or a member of a law firm must be an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in Colorado and must be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Colorado. The candidate must be admitted to practice law in all Colorado courts and applicable federal courts.

The candidate should possess at least five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney in the field of county law or human services law.

Applicants may provide any equivalent combination of training and experience that demonstrates that the applicant possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

8. Contents of Letter of Interest Written responses for the supply of the services fully described herein will be accepted until the date set forth in the Anticipated Timeline above. Any response received after that time will not be considered.

Responses should be no longer than 15 pages and include:

1. Cover Letter, which must include:

a. A statement of interest for working with the County to complete the scope outlined above including a summary of key points describing the respondent’s unique qualifications as they pertain to this particular scope;

b. A brief introduction to the respondent including structure, time in business, number of employees, and other data to assist in characterization of the respondent;

c. A statement of whether the respondent is interested in the County Attorney role, the Counsel for DHS role, or both.

d. The name, address, and daytime telephone number for contact persons to whom additional selection process requests and notices should be communicated;

e. A disclosure of the name of any employee or official of Huerfano County who could be directly and personally benefited if the proposing firm is awarded a contract pursuant to this solicitation. If there is nothing to disclose, the response shall so state.

2. Experience and Reputation

a. Describe respondent’s experience in the types of work likely to be performed;

b. Describe similar engagements performed or operations run by the respondent within the past five years; and

c. Please provide contact information for engagements or operations listed. Letters of reference are also accepted.

3. Personnel and Qualifications

a. If the respondent is an individual, provide a resume that describes the attorney’s expertise, experience and qualifications for this work;

b. If the respondent is a firm, please provide a listing of and resumes for the lead attorney and any others that would support the project with a summary of each team member’s area of responsibilities, expertise, experience and qualifications for this work;

c. Describe the availability and commitment of either the individual attorney or assigned team members to undertake the outlined work; and

d. Provide an organizational chart of the project team, if applicable.

4. Understanding and Approach

a. Describe in detail the respondent’s understanding of and approach to providing the types of services described;

b. Describe the respondent’s approach to partnerships or client service, including onboarding process, communication methods and approaches, as well as availability to take on projects and answer questions; and

c. Describe the respondent’s capability and approach to meeting schedules and deadlines.

5. Fee Proposal

a. Propose specific payment terms and arrangements (e.g. hourly rate vs. retainer or a combination).

9. Selection Process The process for selection and award of the Lease will consist of four steps and be organized as follows:

Step One Review and scoring of Responses submitted Step Two Interviews (if required) Step Three Selection of successful respondent, negotiation of Professional Services Agreement Step Four County Commissioner approval of Professional Services Agreement

Step One: Review of Responses Following an initial screening of the responses, the committee will select what it considers the most highly qualified party to provide the services outlined in the scope of services. Selection will be based on the evaluation criteria set forth below. Those submitting responses will be ranked, and the committee will then recommend the most qualified respondents for interviews. Responses for County Attorney and Counsel for DHS will be scored and ranked separately.

The following selection criteria will be the basis for the ranking of most qualified respondent:

Criteria Points

Experience and Reputation 20 Points Personnel and Qualifications 20 Points Understanding and Approach 20 Points Cost Proposal 30 Points Overall Evaluation of Capabilities and Ability to Provide Required Services (Interview) 10 Points

Total 100 Points

Step Two: Interviews (if required)

1. Interviews may be conducted for the purpose of determining which respondent is the most highly qualified to perform the required work and which responds most fully understands and is able to perform the work envisioned by the County. Note that one of the above criteria is reserved for interview scoring.

2. Key personnel from interested party are required to be present and participate in the interview.

3. Respondents are asked to give a presentation on their organization. The Review Board will then ask any questions they have of the respondent.

Step Three: Selection of Successful Respondent and Negotiation of Professional Services Agreement

1. After the successful respondent is selected, the County will negotiate a Professional Services

Agreement.

Step Four: County Commissioners Approval of Professional Services Agreement

1. The successful respondent is encouraged to attend the County Commissioners’ meeting to answer any questions concerning the response, or the respondent’s qualifications.

2. The County reserves the right to undertake or award supplemental or successor contracts for work related to this Contract.

3. This solicitation shall not be binding upon the County or respondent, and no services shall be performed under the terms of the response or the Professional Services Agreement until the Contract has been reduced to writing and approved by the County Commissioners.

10. Selection and Contracting Provisions Notifications.

The County will provide timely notifications in writing (letters and/or emails) of the following actions to individuals or firms responding to the Request for Qualifications as follows:

Selection of short-listed individuals or firms for interviews (if required);

Individuals or Firms not short-listed;

Selection of recommended individual or firm; and County Commissioner approval.

Right to Reject The County reserves the right to waive informalities in the responses or fees and to reject any and all responses and re-advertise this solicitation at any time prior to County Commissioner approval of the recommended firm or individual and the negotiated professional contract for services if doing so would be in the public interest, as determined by the county in its sole discretion. The County reserves the right to award this solicitation to the individual or firm that best fits the requirements outlined in the solicitation. The County reserves the right to waive any informality in any submittal and/or reject all responses, and to accept the response that is in the best interest of the County. The County further reserves the right to: (1) negotiate a final professional contract for services that is in the best interests of the county and the public; and (2) request any additional information county deems reasonably necessary to allow the County to evaluate, rank and select the most qualified proposer to perform the services described in this solicitation.

If the County and the selected individual or firm cannot agree on the contract, the negotiations will be terminated, and the County reserves the right to begin negotiations with the next highest ranked proposer.

Procedure Requirements

1. Any individual or firm failing to submit information in accordance with the procedures set forth herein may be considered non-responsive.

2. All costs incurred by individuals or firms choosing to participate in this process shall be borne by the proposing individual or firm.

3. All responses submitted regarding this solicitation are the property of the County and will only be returned to the individual or firms if requested in writing to the County at the sole discretion of the County.

4. Late submittals shall not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the individual or firms to ensure that the response arrives at the Huerfano County Administrator’s Office, prior to the date and time stated in this solicitation.

Conflicts of Interest Any conflicts of interest whether real or perceived by the individual or firm submitting a response should be fully disclosed and explained within the response.