REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

COX032262

CT STATE LOBBYIST SERVICES

CITY OF BRIDGEPORT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PURCHASES

999 BROAD STREET

BRIDGEPORT CT 06604

Submission Deadline:

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 by 2:00 pm

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Scope of Work

3. Submission Guidelines

4. Required Response Format

5. Evaluations

6. Evaluation Criteria

7. Selection Process

8. Terms and Conditions

9. Vendor Questionnaire

10. Appendix A

Attachments:

A - City of Bridgeport Contractor Agreement

1. Introduction

The City of Bridgeport is seeking qualifications from experienced firms for CT State

Lobbyist Services.

The requirements of this project are outlined in greater detail under Scope of Work.

The selected awardee must meet all municipal, State and Federal practices and requirements.

The initial term for the contract will be one (1) year with two (2) one-year renewal options, for a potential total term of five (5) years. Written acknowledgement from vendor will be required.

Please note the City of Bridgeport encourages Minority business enterprises (MBE), Women business enterprises (WBE) and City-based businesses (CBB) to submit proposals. MBE, WBE or CBB State and/or City certification(s) showing the vendor’s current M/WBE and/or CBB status must be included as part of the proposal package at the time of submission for such status to be considered. For details, please see City Ordinance 3.12.130D (setting an attainable goal of 30% for prime contractor utilization of certain target groups for contracts stemming from

QBS selection process and City Ordinance 3.12.130E (setting a possible award of 10 additional points to the evaluation criteria scoring).

1.1. City Background

Bridgeport, the most populous city in Connecticut and the fifth-most populous in New England, is situated in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island

Sound. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is 60 miles from Manhattan and 40 miles from

The Bronx, forming part of the New York metropolitan area. The city borders Trumbull to the north, Fairfield to the west, and Stratford to the east. Bridgeport is a significant part of the

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk-Danbury metropolitan statistical area, the second largest in Connecticut.

Since the early 21st century, Bridgeport has seen extensive redevelopment in its downtown and other neighborhoods. Bridgeport is home to several educational institutions, including the

University of Bridgeport, Housatonic Community College, Paier College, and part of Sacred

Heart University, as well as the state's only zoo, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The city is also nicknamed "Park City" for its 35 public parks, covering 1,300 acres, including two large parks.

Despite not being headquartered in the city, over a dozen Fortune 500 companies are based in the metropolitan area shared with Stamford.

Bridgeport is a culturally vibrant city with three museums, numerous parks, and significant venues like Seaside Park, the Total Mortgage Arena, and the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.

The Barnum Museum and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo are notable attractions, enhancing the city's cultural and recreational appeal. Recognized for its diversity, Bridgeport is consistently ranked among the 25 most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the United States.

1.2. Project Overview and Summary

The City of Bridgeport through the issuance of this Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) is seeking to secure lobbying services for the City before the Connecticut State government, to including before the executive branch, the various state agencies and commissions, the

CT State Legislature, and their respective staffs on an as needed and as requested basis. The preliminary proposed general areas of duties and responsibilities of the selected firm are more specifically defined in Section III below. It is intended that the selected firm will work with the City Administration and appropriate City officials to determine and refine the lobbying services needs of the City and to establish a list of state lobbying needs, goals, objectives, and priorities for the term of the proposed retention.

2. Scope of Work

2.1. Scope of Services and Requirements

The lobbying firm shall advise, counsel, and represent the City of Bridgeport in pursuing and opposing legislative initiatives and grant applications and awards at the state level in Hartford, CT and regional offices. The firm shall assist the City in preparing its state legislative, executive, and administrative agendas and shall strategize with the City as requested. The firm shall identify topics and areas of need to state legislators serving the City, pertinent legislative leaders and committee chairs, and administrative officials.

The firm shall perform ministerial and discretionary functions such as preparing letters and verbal and written testimony, arrange and schedule appointments, monitor legislative, executive, and administrative activity, and communicate effectively with the City and its elected and appointed officials and their staff, as well as those interest groups identified by the City as sharing specific interests with the City, all in furtherance of the City’s governmental agenda as determined by the City Administration.

2.2. Purpose

The Office of the Mayor, with appropriate support from various other City departments (the

Office of Planning and Economic Development or OPED, the Finance Department, Office of

Policy and Management or OPM and the Office of City Attorney) is charged with the responsibility of administering lobbyist services for the City of Bridgeport. The Mayor’s Office has an interest in procuring professional services in conformance with (i) Municipal Ordinance

Section 3.08.070 “Purchasing Procedure”, (ii) the “Official Policy Concerning Quality Based

Selection Processes”, and State statutes, including but not limited to Public Act 08-169, Section

17. The Selection Committee (described below) will utilize the Evaluator’s Guide for QBS

Selection Processes in its deliberations.

Newspaper Advertisement and Electronic Posting of RFQ, Names of Responding Firms, and Questions & Answers (see below). The invitation to submit qualifications will be posted on https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct, the City’s electronic bidding website. The names of firms submitting qualifications will also be posted on such website after they are opened. All Questions and Answers about the RFQ (described below) will also be posted on such website.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct

Project. This solicitation is being conducted specifically to identify the most appropriately qualified firm to provide state lobbying services for through issuance of this RFQ.

Multiple Firms May Be Selected. The City reserves the right to select none, one, or more than one firm to provide the required lobbying services.

Minority Business Enterprises Are Encouraged to Respond. The City encourages Minority

Business Enterprises (“MBEs”) to submit their qualifications. An MBE firm is entitled to

Evaluation Credits (as described below) if it is a Target Group for these services under the provisions of the Minority Business Enterprise Ordinance, Section 3.12.130 of the City

Ordinances (“MBE Ordinance”). An attainable goal of thirty (30) percent of the aggregate dollar value of a city contract is established for prime contractor utilization of certain target groups during QBS processes. Target Groups for this professional services Qualifications-Based

Selection procurement that should receive evaluation credits are: Asian Americans, Hispanic

Americans, Caucasian females, MBEs, and minority female and Caucasian female minority business enterprises.

Non-Minority Firms Are Encouraged to Joint Venture with Target Group Firms. Non-minority firms are encouraged to form joint ventures or partnerships with Target Group firms and the joint venture will be entitled to additional points based on the extent of the Target

Group’s ownership interest in the joint venture/partnership as further described below.

M/WBE certification(s) showing the vendor’s current M/WBE status must be included as part of the proposal package at the time of submission for such status to be considered.

2.3. Qualification Expectations

Eligible respondents must be able to demonstrate the following:

2.3.1 Demonstrated experience with similar projects. To be qualified, the proposed project awardee for this project must have recently and successfully completed recent projects with similar scope and complexity and shall provide references for those projects.

2.3.2 Demonstrated experience with municipalities comparable to the City of

Bridgeport. Any additional information which demonstrates the respondent’s ability to perform the required work not already mentioned herein, must be provided.

2.3.3 Assigned Staff and office support must have the necessary experience, organization, and professional skills and facilities to successfully perform the required services described in the scope of work in this RFQ. Description of the firm’s composition with identification of roles of all anticipated employees and/or subcontractors, if any. Resumes of key personnel are required for all key personnel.

2.3.4 No pending criminal litigation or criminal charges against the firm, Principal

Owners, Partners, Corporate Officers, or management Personnel.

3. Submission Guidelines

3.1. Contacting the City of Bridgeport

The exclusive means by which all prospective respondents may obtain RFQ packages, direct inquires, request and receive addenda and supplemental information, and submit proposals shall be through the City of Bridgeport’s bidding platform.

The City of Bridgeport has made it possible for vendors to view our solicitations, download bid packages and ask questions, free of charge.

Instructions to do so are as follows:

1. Go to https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct

2. Click on any bid you see. It will take you to that bid’s page.

3. On the right-hand side of the page, click on Register now for free!

4. After you register, you'll be able to view/download or ask questions on any bid you have interest in.

If you have any trouble registering, please contact OpenGov using the chat feature or send an email to procurement-support@opengov.com

Addenda Notification: Respondents are required to register on OpenGov. Once the respondent has completed registration, they will receive addenda notifications in their email. Ultimately, it is the sole responsibility of each respondent to periodically check the site for any addenda.

3.2. Electronic Submission Instructions

THIS METHOD IS PREFERRED.

Submissions are encouraged to be made electronically through the OpenGov site at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct no later than 2:00 pm on

Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Questions and Answers: It is the responsibility of each firm to inquire about additional information or clarification as to any aspect of the RFP or the Project by submitting questions. The City of Bridgeport will receive questions until Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at

4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will promptly provide answers to such questions no later than Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4:00 pm by publishing them on the Procurement

Portal and the All firms are obligated to become familiar with such questions and answers and to submit or revise their proposals accordingly. The City of Bridgeport assumes no responsibility for a firm’s failure to read questions or answers and to revise their responses accordingly.

Late Submissions: City will not assume responsibility if a submission is misdirected, or its delivery is delayed. It shall be the sole responsibility of the submitter to pay for any type of delivery service charge, and to see that the Office of the Purchasing Agent receives his/her submission on time. The clock used shall be the Purchasing Agent’s official date and time stamp clock. The City does not assume financial responsibility for late deliveries by the U.S. Postal

System or any other delivery service.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct

Expenses: The City shall not be responsible for and/or shall not pay any costs associated with the preparation, submission, or presentation of any submission, or costs incurred by the responding firms during the interview and negotiations phase of the solicitation process

Information and Materials: Any information or materials submitted to this RFP shall become the property of the City of Bridgeport and will not be returned. All submitted materials will be available for public review.

Dates: Please keep in mind dates are estimates only and are subject to change.

3.3. Paper Submission Instructions

Submissions may also be made as follows:

ONE (1) ORIGINAL, THREE (3) COPIES AND ONE (1) ELECTRONIC VIA

THUMBDRIVE MUST BE SUBMITTED.

Sealed submissions must be received and time-stamped by the Department of Public Purchases prior to RFP closing time. No submission received after closing time will be considered. The opening will be in the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases’ Conference Room. To ensure proper handling and avoid misdirected delivery, please mark your RFP envelope as follows:

COX032262-CT State Lobbyist Services

Send your submissions to:

Caroline Sanchez City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases 2nd floor, 999 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT 06604

RFP submissions are due:

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)

3.4. Timeline

Release Project Date: January 12, 2026

Question Submission Deadline: January 21, 2026, 4:00pm

Question Response Deadline: January 28, 2026, 4:00pm

Response Submission Deadline: February 4, 2026, 2:00pm

4. Required Response Format

4.1. Executive Summary

The executive summary should include an introduction, a summary of the proposal, an understanding of requirements, and the value proposition.

4.2. Company Profile

A company overview should be provided, along with experience and expertise, certifications and accreditations, and key personnel assigned to the project including resumes. All personnel in responsible charge of the project will be required to process and maintain valid professional licenses and certifications for the State of Connecticut.

4.3. Case Studies | Comparable Projects

Prove demonstrated experience with similar projects. To be qualified, the proposed project awardee for this project must have recently and successfully completed recent projects with similar scope and complexity and shall provide references for those projects.

Provide demonstrated experience with municipalities comparable to the City of Bridgeport. Any additional information which demonstrates the respondent’s ability to perform the required work not already mentioned herein, must be provided.

4.4. Management Proposal

An organizational structure along with roles and responsibilities should be provided. Additionally, a communication strategy should be provided along with a project and quality assurance plan. Finally, responses shall clearly indicate the legal name, address, telephone number, and email address of the respondent and shall indicate whether the respondent is a corporation, general partnership, individual or other business entity.

4.5. References

Please provide three (3) client references applicable to your value proposition.

5. Evaluations

SELECTION

Selection of the successful proposal will be based upon submission of proposals meeting the evaluation criteria shown in the Evaluation Criteria Section. Proposal evaluations will be based on a points scale, using the Evaluation Criteria listed.

As part of the evaluation process, the City may ask questions of a clarifying nature from Offerors as required. The City may also request an oral presentation to explain the proposal and answer questions.

The City Reserves the right to cancel this RFQ at any time or reject an or all proposals received as a result of this RFQ if it is in the best interest of the City. The City reserves the right to waive any informality in any proposal.

Director of Legislative Affairs, along with representatives from the City’s Purchasing

Department, will review the responses for compliance with the required documentation to determine responsiveness and to grant additional time to firms for missing or incomplete items as explained above.

The responsive submittals will then be evaluated by the Selection Committee based on the responses to specifics outlined in this RFQ, including but not limited to the following criteria:

• Experience with work of similar size and scope as required for the contract

• Organizational and team structure for the contract

• Past performance data, including but not limited to:

o Adherence to project schedules o Adherence to project budgets o Demonstrable results

• Approach to the work required for the contract

• Documented contract oversight capabilities

• Demonstrated familiarity with the client City as well as the City’s own and legislative agenda and that of similarly sized and situated municipalities.

Those firms that are entitled to the award of Evaluation Credits will receive them and the firms will be rated and ranked based on their qualifications.

The Selection Committee will then create a list of up to six (6) firms to be interviewed. Following the interviews, the Selection Committee will request no more than three

(3) firms to submit price proposals. The Selection Committee will use the initial rating and ranking of qualifications and the interview results, and may consider the price proposals in its discretion, to arrive at a final selection.

The Selection Committee will submit the proposed contract with the selected firm to the City

Council for its approval. The final contract approval will be made by a vote of the City Council pursuant to Bridgeport Code of Ordinances § 3.08.140. The contract will be executed and a notice to proceed will be issued after final approval.

RIGHT TO REJECT SUBMISSIONS. The City of Bridgeport may at any time prior to the selection of a firm and entering into final contract reject any and all proposals and cancel this

RFQ, without liability therefore, when doing so is deemed in its sole discretion to be in the City’s best interests. Further, regardless of the number and quality of proposals submitted, the City shall under no circumstances be responsible for any firm’s cost, risk and expenses. The City accepts no responsibility for the return of successful or unsuccessful proposals. This RFQ in no way obligates the City to select a firm or to enter into a contract with the selected firm, and the

City may in its sole discretion reject any and all proposals. The City also expressly reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend the various dates set forth herein and or to waive any non-material requirements, conditions or provisions.

SELECTION COMMITTEE. The qualifications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee comprised of a minimum of five (5) of the following members or their designees:

Chief of Staff

Director of Legislative Affairs

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Director of Planning & Economic Development (OPED)

Director of Finance

Director of Policy and Management (OPM)

City Attorney

City Council President

The Selection Committee will use the Evaluator’s Guide for QBS Processes and will employ the evaluation criteria in reviewing all qualifications in order to develop a recommendation to the

Mayor.

EVALUATION CRITERIA: 100 + - POINT SYSTEM

Note: at the discretion of the selection committee, fees may be a consideration or factor in the final selection from the list of three (3) finalists. However, it is recognized that lobbying services require selection criteria where the knowledge and experience of the respondents in similar or related projects are paramount, that the effectiveness and value of lobbying activities are dependent upon the quality and effectiveness of the working relationship between the lobbying firm and the client, and that the best interests of the City may be served by the use of such process without considering price as a determining factor in selection. The City expressly reserves the right to negotiate a proposed contract fee with the selected firm. In the event the

City determines in its sole discretion that it is unable to reach a satisfactory contract agreement with the selected firm then it may in its sole discretion enter successor negotiations with the next ranked finalist, and so on.

The lobbying firm selected will be fully responsible for the activities that occur in connection with this engagement regardless of political parties, districts, Committees or Subcommittees, or individuals contacted or lobbied in connection with this engagement. The lobbying firm must at all times represent the City with decorum, integrity, and professionalism.

Evaluation Credits. Evaluation Credits will be assigned to (a) firms who are Target Group firms defined in the MBE Ordinance or to (b) non-MBE firms who have entered into a joint venture or partnership with a Target Group for this RFQ.

M/WBE certification(s) showing the vendor’s current M/WBE status must be included as part of the proposal package at the time of submission for such status to be considered.

The points for Evaluation Credits that will be assigned shall be (a) ten (10) points to prime contractors that are Target Group firms or (b) up to five (5) points to non-MBE firms that have formed joint ventures or partnerships with Target Group firms determined by a formula that takes the percentage of the Target Group firm’s ownership interest in such joint venture or partnership converted to a percentage (e.g., .25 or 25% ownership interest x 10 = 2.5 points) to arrive at the number of points not to exceed 5.

A Target Group firm seeking Evaluation Credits must provide a certification of its minority business status and state in its qualifications statement its desire to be recognized as a minority business enterprise and to receive Evaluation Credits. A non-MBE firm seeking

Evaluation Credits must (A) state the basis for seeking Evaluation Credits, (B) identify the joint venture or partnership created with a Target Group firm, (C) identify the minority firm as one of the Target Groups for the type of services or work sought by the bid, (D) identify the Target

Group’s percentage ownership interest in the joint venture or partnership, (E) state whether such joint venture or partnership (i) was created only for this particular bid, (ii) is now and/or will in the future be utilized for bidding, (iii) is currently utilized for bidding on both public and private work, (iv) has bid on, undertaken or completed work in the past, together with a description of such work and customer contact information, and (F) describe the Target Group’s active involvement in and dollar volume of the work that the Target Group will perform as part of the services that are the subject of the bid. Items (A) through (F) must be supported by documentation satisfactory to the City so that the City can independently verify the basis for the claim to Evaluation Credits, determine any entitlement to the award of Evaluation Credits, and determine the amount of Evaluation Credits to be awarded.

6. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated utilizing an evaluation matrix based on a City Selection Committee’s project specific or weighted criterion. Typical decision criteria are listed in the chart below. The decision criteria in the chart below are for demonstration purposes, only. The decision criteria can vary based on project scope or request for qualification (RFQ) type.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Specialized Experience and Technical

Competence

The respondent should demonstrate that it has professional personnel, by providing resumes and/or curricula vitae. The evaluation will consider the firm and its professional staff’s capacity to operate both in a bipartisan manner and with partisan political representatives.

Points Based 25 (19.2% of Total)

2. Professional Qualifications of Staff and

Consultants

The respondent should demonstrate that it has professional personnel, by identifying the key parties to perform under contract with the City and by providing their resumes and/or curricula vitae. The evaluation will consider amongst other factors, length of practice, education, training, registration, overall and relevant experience, and longevity with the firm.

Points Based 25 (19.2% of Total)

3. Capacity of the Firm

The evaluation will consider the respondent’s experience with similar-size projects and available capacity of key personnel required to perform the work within the required time frames established.

Points Based 25 (19.2% of Total)

4. Knowledge of the Locality

The firm should have considerable and demonstrable experience with the executive and legislative branches of state government, as well as knowledge of the judicial branch. In particular, the firm should be familiar and experienced with both Houses of the CT State

Legislature, their committees, and staff, as well as the various executive and administrative branches and offices of state government. The firm should be able to demonstrate its knowledge and experience with Connecticut’s elected state legislative delegations, representatives, and staff. The firm’s knowledge of, and experience with, Bridgeport’s local government officials, agencies, and representatives may be considered, as may demonstrated familiarity with key officials, constituencies, and interest groups of the City as well as the City’s own and legislative agenda and initiatives and that of similarly sized and situated municipalities. The firm should demonstrate its understanding of the City’s problems and potential solutions which can be facilitated by state activity, legislation, or intervention.

Points Based 25 (19.2% of Total)

5. MBE Credit

Reference Introduction Section

Points Based 10 (7.7% of Total)

6. Evaluation Credits For Prime Contractors

That Are Target Group Members (10 points); Non-MBE Firms Forming Joint

Ventures/Partnerships with Target Groups

(maximum 5 points):

Firms that demonstrate that they are Minority

Business Enterprises that constitute Target

Groups, as defined in the City’s Minority

Business Enterprise Ordinance, Chapter

3.12.130, shall be granted an additional ten points (10) as Evaluation Credits. The Target

Groups for the professional service sought include African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Caucasian females, minority business enterprises, and minority female and Caucasian female minority business enterprises. For further information about the

MBE Ordinance, Target Groups or the assignment of Evaluation Credits, please call

Jason Chandersignh at 203-576-7110.

Points Based 10 (7.7% of Total)

7. Fees

The Selection Committee may in its discretion grant up to an additional ten points (10) in evaluating the three (3) finalists before determining which selected firm to enter into contract negotiations with.

Points Based 10 (7.7% of Total)

7. Selection Process

The City Selection Committee will review the responses to compliance with the required documentation to determine responsiveness. MBE firms, or firms that form a joint venture with non-MBE prime, and who are entitled to Evaluation Credits pursuant to City ordinance, will be determined and evaluation credits will be issued for purposes of selection.

The City Selection Committee, comprised of key internal stakeholders, will review, evaluate proposals, and score them and rank the responses on a 100-point scale with any evaluation credits awarded. Upon completion of the evaluation and scoring, the City Selection Committee may conduct post-evaluation interviews with the most qualified suppliers prior to a final decision. The City of Bridgeport reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and cancel this request for qualification (RFQ), without liability.

8. Terms and Conditions

8.1. Terms and Conditions

Contractual terms and conditions are included in Attachment C of this RFP.

8.2. Payment Terms

Initial contract term to run through June 30, 2026. The City reserves the right to extend this contract for two, one-year extension periods running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and then July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028 at its sole discretion.

Quarterly Payment Schedule totaling $45,750 at the end of each Fiscal Year. Payment terms are Net 45 Days.

8.3. Form of Agreement

The City proposes to enter into its standard form of Professional Services Agreement, modified as deemed appropriate by the City, with the selected firm.

8.4. Openness of Procurement Process

Written responses, other discussions, correspondence, and all other pertinent records shall be handled as public records in compliance with State and Federal open records statutes and regulations.

8.5. Errors and Omissions

Once a response is submitted, the City of Bridgeport may consider requests by any contractor to correct errors or omissions but shall retain sole discretionary authority to determine the outcome of such a request.

8.6. Collusion

By offering a response to this RFP the suppler certifies that no attempt has been made or will be made by the consultant to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for the purpose of restricting competition. All persons interested in this project, principal or principals being named therein, and no other person have an interest in this project or in the

Agreement which they may participate in. No person or agency has been employed or retained to solicit or secure this Agreement upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee, excepting legitimate employees or established commercial agencies maintained by the consultant for the purpose of doing business. All firms interested in this project (including the firm's employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists attorneys and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process, including the evaluation panel and other administrative staff. The policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms; assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process.

8.7. Suspension and Debarment

The City will not participate in contracts with parties that have been debarred, suspended or excluded from Federal assistance programs per 2 CFR part 180 and part 1532 and 40 CFR part

31.35. Further, the respondent is required to verify that the respondent, or its principals, as defined at 49 CFR 19.995, or affiliates, as defined at 49 CFR 29.905, are excluded or disqualified as defined at 49 CFR 29.40 and 29.945

The respondent is required to comply with 49 CFR 29, Subpart C and must include the requirement to comply with 49 CFR 29, Subpart C in any lower tier covered transaction it participates in.

By signing and submitting its bid or proposal, the respondent or proposer certifies as follows:

The certification in this clause is a material representation of fact relied upon by the City if it is later determined that the respondent or proposer knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to remedies available to the City the Federal Government may pursue available remedies, including but not limited to suspension and/or debarment. The respondent or proposer agrees to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR 29, Subpart C while this offer is valid and throughout the period of any contract that may arise from this offer. The respondent or proposer further agrees to include a provision requiring such compliance in its lower tier covered transactions.

8.8. Contract & Insurance Requirements

The attached Professional Services Agreement with insurance rider, Attachment A and Appendix

A, will govern the successful vendors engagement.

Any proposed modification to the agreement must be submitted with a proposal package. Note that proposed modifications may be taken into account when determining the best interest of the

City during the evaluation process. The decision to accept any modifications will be at the sole discretion of the City.

8.9. City of Bridgeport Reservation of Rights

This solicitation is for a “Request for Qualifications (RFQ) only”. This request for qualifications is not to be construed as a specific proposal or an offer to buy any products or services or to engage in a property or development transaction. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the City expressly reserves all rights in its sole discretion and in the best interests of the

City at any time prior to the selection of a preferred respondent and participating in a final contract, without any liability therefore, to:

• Award a contract or contracts to more than one firm for different services or no firm

• Cancel or withdraw the Request for Proposal process

• Decline to select qualified vendors from the respondents to the RFQ

• Issue subsequent RFQs

• Modify any dates or other terms of the RFQ upon posting notice,

• Negotiate with any, all, or none of the respondents to the Request for Qualifications in regard to costs or to further refine the scope of services to be provided

• Reject any or all of the submittals

• Retain existing outside firms

• Select one, more than one, or no respondents

• The consultant misstates or conceals any material fact in the proposal,

• Waive any informality, non-material deficiencies, technical error or irregularity in submissions,

• Waive any of the provisions in the RFQ

• Not liable to any Respondent for damages of any type however arising.

9. Vendor Questionnaire

1. No Conflicts/Disclosure Form (Signed and notarized)*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• NO_CONFLICTS_FORM_10-2018_a...

*Response required

2. Request for Qualifications Documents*

Please upload your qualification here. Reference Required Response Format and Scope of Work

Section

*Response required

3. Certificate of Insurance*

Please upload most current Certification of Insurance meeting the specifications of this bid.

Reference Appendix A

*Response required

10. Appendix A

Professional Services Insurance Rider

As a provider of Professional Services, the Consultant shall provide and maintain insurance coverage related to its services in connection with the Project in compliance with the following requirements.

The insurance required shall be written for not less than the scope and limits of insurance specified hereunder, or required by applicable federal, state and/or municipal law, regulation or requirement, whichever coverage requirement is greater. It is agreed and understood that the scope and limits of insurance specified hereunder are minimum requirements and shall in no way limit or preclude the City from requiring additional limits and coverage to be provided under the

Consultant's policies.

https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/222275/e67e5087-fca6-4d92-abf5-2136b5559f79_NO_CONFLICTS_FORM_10-2018_and_02-2025.pdf

The insurance obligations under this agreement shall be (1) all the insurance coverage and/or limits carried by or available to the Consultant; or (2) the minimum insurance coverage requirements and/or limits shown in this agreement, whichever is greater.

Minimum Scope and Limits of Insurance:

Workers' Compensation: With respect to all operations the Consultant performs, it shall carry workers' compensation insurance in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of

Connecticut, and Employer's Liability limits of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) coverage for each accident, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) coverage for each employee by disease, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) policy limit coverage for disease.

Commercial General Liability: With respect to all operations the Consultant performs it shall carry Commercial General Liability insurance providing for a total limit of One Million Dollars

($1,000,000) coverage per occurrence for all damages arising out of bodily injury, personal injury, property damage, products/completed operations, and contractual liability coverage for the indemnification obligations arising under this Agreement. The Annual Aggregate limit shall not be less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000).

Automobile Liability: With respect to each owned, non-owned, or hired vehicles the

Consultant shall carry Automobile Liability insurance providing One Million Dollars

($1,000,000) coverage per accident for bodily injury and property damage.

Professional Liability: The Consultant shall provide Professional Liability Insurance covering errors and omissions. Such insurance shall be in an amount no less than $1,000,000 for each claim and $1,000,000 Aggregate. Such insurance coverage shall remain in place for seven years after City’s acceptance of Consultant’s work, and if Consultant’s insurance coverage is written on a “claims made” basis, such seven-year requirement can be satisfied through a combination of an extended reporting period and tail coverage.

Acceptability of Insurers: The Consultant's policies shall be written by insurance companies licensed to do business in the State of Connecticut, with an AM Best rating of A-VII, or better. Additionally, all carriers are subject to approval by the City of Bridgeport.

Subcontractors: The Consultant shall require all subcontractors to provide the same "minimum scope and limits of insurance" as required herein. All Certificates of Insurance shall be provided to the City's Office of the City Attorney and to the City’s Purchasing Department required herein

Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions: Any deductible or self-insured retention must be declared to and approved by the city. All deductibles or self-insured retentions are the sole responsibility of the Consultant to pay and/or to indemnify.

Notice of Cancellation or Nonrenewal: Each insurance policy required shall be endorsed to state that coverage shall not be suspended, voided, cancelled, or reduced in coverage or in limits before the expiration date except after thirty (30) days prior written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, has been given to the City. Notwithstanding this requirement, the

Consultant is primarily responsible for providing such written notice to the City thirty (30) days prior to any policy change or cancellation that would result in a change of the amount or type of coverage provided. In the event of any such change the Consultant shall provide comparable substitute coverage so that there is no lapse in applicable coverage or reduction in the amount of coverage available to the City related to the Consultant’s Services.

Waiver of Governmental Immunity: Unless requested otherwise by the City, the Consultant and its insurer shall waive governmental immunity as defense and shall not use the defense of governmental immunity in the adjustment of claims or in the defense of any suit brought against the City.

Additional Insured: The liability insurance coverage, (excluding Workers' Compensation &

Professional Liability, if included) required for the performance of the Services shall include the

City as an Additional Insured with respect to the Consultant's activities to be performed under this Agreement. Consultant’s insurance shall be primary and shall not seek contribution from any other insurance carried by the additional insured in the payment of a claim.

Waiver of Subrogation: Consultant hereby waives the right to subrogate or seek recovery from

City of Bridgeport and its insurance carriers. This waiver of subrogation does not apply to

Professional Liability coverage.

Certificate of Insurance: Prior to the commencement of services under this Contract, the

Consultant shall furnish Certificate(s) of Insurance to the City. The Certificate(s) will specify all parties who are endorsed on the policy as Additional Insureds (or Loss Payees). The Certificates and endorsements for each insurance policy are to be signed by a person authorized by the insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. Renewals of expiring Certificates shall be provided prior to expiration but no more than fifteen (15) days after policy renewal.

Certificates shall designate the City in the following form and manner:

“City of Bridgeport, its elected officials, officers, department heads, employees, agents, servants, successors and assigns ATIMA Margaret E. Morton Government Center 999 Broad Street, 2nd Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604”

All insurance documents required should be mailed to the Office of the City Attorney 999 Broad

Street 2nd Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604.

Waiver of requirements: The City Attorney may vary these insurance requirements at her sole discretion if it determines that the City's interests will be adequately protected by the provision of different types or other amounts of coverage.