Legal_Services.pdf

For more information, please visit our online supplier portal, located at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd

Stockton Unified School District, CA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP NO. 26-27-09

LEGAL SERVICES

RELEASE DATE: September 22, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: October 16, 2026, 2:00 pm

Please refer to the project timeline in this document for all important deadlines.

Request For Proposal #RFP NO. 26-27-09 Title: Legal Services

Table Of Contents

1. NOTICE INVITING PROPOSALS

2. INTRODUCTION

3. SECTION 3 - INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

4. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES

6. EVALUATION PHASES

7. PROPOSER QUESTIONNAIRE

8. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

9. ATTACHMENTS

1. NOTICE INVITING PROPOSALS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Stockton Unified School District of Joaquin County, State of California, acting by and through its Governing Board, hereafter referred to, as the District, is soliciting proposals from qualified proposers for:

RFP NO. 26-27-09;Legal Services

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

The District is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide legal service providers to establish a qualified pool of firms to provide legal counsel, advisory services, and representation in support of the District's educational mission, governance responsibilities, business operations, and compliance obligations to the District

Governing Board.

OBTAINING RFP DOCUMENTS AND ADDENDA:

RFP documents, addenda, and other solicitation information are available through the District’s e-Procurement

Portal: http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd.

QUESTIONS:

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted through the District’s e-Procurement Portal by 3:00 pm on

Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

DEADLINE:

Proposals must be electronically submitted through the District’s e-Procurement Portal no later than 2:00 pmon

Friday, October 16, 2026. Late proposals will not be accepted.

The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive minor irregularities or informalities, and cancel this RFP in whole or in part.

By: Sheikia Wilson, Director of Purchasing

Publication Dates:

First Publication: September 22, 2026

Second Publication: September 29, 2026

Advertisement: The Stockton Record

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. Summary

The Stockton Unified School District ("District) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms for from qualified law firms and legal service providers to establish a qualified pool of firms to provide legal counsel, advisory services, and representation in support of the District's educational mission, governance responsibilities, business operations, and compliance obligations to the District Governing Board. The District seeks to identify http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd and prequalify firms with demonstrated expertise in one or more areas of legal practice relevant to California public school districts, including, but not limited to, General Legal Counsel, Board Governance, Labor and

Employment, Human Resources, Employee Relations and Negotiations, Special Education, Charter Schools, Facilities and Construction, Real Estate, Public Contracting, Student Matters, and Litigation.

2.2. Background

The Stockton Unified School District is the 17th largest school District in the State of California and provides

TK-12 education services to over 39,000 students. located in Stockton, in the heart of California’s Central

Valley. The District has pre-school and Adult School programs, is the Charter Authority for 11 active Charter schools and operates various administrative, maintenance, and support facilities to ensure high-quality educational programs and student services.

Additional information about the District, its schools, and programs is available on the Stockton Unified School

District website.

2.3. Contact Information

Project Contact:

Sheikia Wilson

Director of Purchasing

2141 Robindale Ave

Stockton, CA 95202

Email: sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net

Phone: (209) 933-7095

Procurement Contact:

Sheikia Wilson

Director of Purchasing

2141 Robindale Ave

Stockton, CA 95202

Email: sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net

Phone: (209) 933-7095

Department:

Purchasing Services

Department Head:

Sheikia Wilson

Director, Purchasing

2.4. Timeline

1ST PUBLICATION/ISSUANCE September 22, 2026

2ND PUBLICATION September 29, 2026

REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION October 6, 2026, 3:00pm

ADDENDUM ISSUED October 8, 2026, 3:00pm

PROPOSAL DUE DATE October 16, 2026, 2:00pm https://www.stocktonusd.net/ https://www.stocktonusd.net/ mailto:sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net tel:(209)933-7095 mailto:sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net tel:(209)933-7095

INTERVIEWS (if applicable) DATE & TIME: TBD

3. SECTION 3 - INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

3.1. Minimum Requirements:

EXPERIENCE: The Proposer must demonstrate relevant experience providing legal services similar in scope and complexity to those requested in this RFP. Experience representing California K-12 public school districts and other California public agencies is preferred.

ATTORNEY LICENSURE AND QUALIFICATIONS: Each attorney proposed to provide legal services to the District must be admitted to practice law in the State of California and be an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California. Proposed attorneys must possess the professional qualifications and relevant experience necessary to perform the legal services for which they are proposed.

KNOWLEDGE: The Proposer and proposed attorneys must demonstrate knowledge of applicable federal and

California laws, regulations, and legal requirements relevant to the practice area(s) for which the Proposer seeks consideration, including the legal and operational environment applicable to California public agencies and K-

12 public school districts, as appropriate.

Proposers shall demonstrate compliance with these minimum requirements in Section 4 – Proposal

Submission, Proposal Content and Organization.

The District reserves the right to verify attorney licensing and standing with the State Bar of California.

3.2. Examination of RFP Documents

Each Proposer is responsible for carefully reviewing the entire Request for Proposals (“RFP”), including all instructions, requirements, specifications, exhibits, attachments, forms, and addenda issued by the Stockton

Unified School District (“District”). Submission of a proposal constitutes acknowledgment that the Proposer has reviewed and understands the requirements of the RFP.

Proposers are responsible for obtaining all information necessary to prepare and submit a complete and responsive proposal.

3.3. Questions and Requests for Clarification:

All questions, requests for clarification, and inquiries regarding this RFP must be submitted through the

Question and Answer section of the District’s e-Procurement Portal by the deadline specified in the RFP

Schedule.

Proposers shall not rely upon oral interpretations, representations, or statements concerning the RFP. Any interpretation, clarification, or modification determined by the District to materially affect the RFP will be communicated in writing through the e-Procurement Portal.

Questions submitted after the established deadline may not receive a response.

Proposers shall submit all inquiries regarding this bid via the District's e-Procurement Portal, located at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd.

All answers to inquiries will be posted on the District's e-Procurement Portal.

Proposers may also click “Follow” on this RFP to receive an email notification when answers are posted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to check the website for answers to inquiries.

3.4. Addenda:

The District reserves the right to modify or clarify the RFP by written addendum at any time prior to the proposal submission deadline.

All addenda will be posted through the District’s e-Procurement Portal and shall become part of the RFP.

Proposers are responsible for reviewing and acknowledging all addenda prior to submitting a proposal.

Acknowledgement of all addenda must be submitted with bid response.

Failure to acknowledge an addendum may result in the proposal being deemed nonresponsive.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/psusd

Ultimately, it is sole responsibility of each proposer to periodically check the site for any addenda at http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd.

3.5. Proposal Preparation:

Proposals shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements and format established in this RFP. Proposals must be complete, responsive, and provide all information requested by the District.

Proposers are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their proposals. The District is not responsible for errors or omissions made by a Proposer.

Proposals should be clear, concise, and sufficiently detailed to permit the District to evaluate the Proposer’s qualifications, approach, experience, and ability to perform the requested services.

3.6. Electronic Submission:

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the District’s e-Procurement Portal http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd in accordance with the instructions provided in the RFP.

The Proposer is solely responsible for ensuring that its complete proposal is successfully submitted through the e-Procurement Portal prior to the proposal submission deadline.

Proposals submitted by email, facsimile, mail, or any other method will not be accepted unless expressly authorized by the District in writing.

3.7. Late Proposals:

Proposals must be received through the District’s e-Procurement Portal by the date and time specified in the

RFP Schedule.

Late proposals will not be accepted.

The date and time recorded by the District’s e-Procurement Portal shall govern the determination of whether a proposal was timely submitted. Proposers are encouraged to allow sufficient time to complete the electronic submission process before the deadline.

3.8. Modification or Withdrawal of Proposal:

A Proposer may modify or withdraw its proposal through the District’s e-Procurement Portal prior to the proposal submission deadline.

Following the submission deadline, proposals may not be modified or withdrawn except as permitted by the

District and applicable law. The District may request clarification of a proposal; however, such clarification shall not provide a Proposer an opportunity to materially alter its proposal.

3.9. Proposal Validity:

Proposals shall remain valid and binding for a period of ninety (90) calendar days following the proposal submission deadline, unless a different period is specified in this RFP.

During this period, a Proposer may not withdraw its proposal without the written consent of the District.

3.10. Cost of Proposal Preparation:

All costs associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal shall be borne solely by the Proposer.

The District shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by a Proposer in connection with this RFP, including, but not limited to, proposal preparation, interviews, presentations, demonstrations, negotiations, travel, or other activities related to the solicitation process.

3.11. Exceptions and Deviations:

Proposers shall review all requirements of this RFP, including the District’s proposed Agreement, insurance requirements, and other contractual requirements, prior to submitting a Proposal.

Any request to modify, clarify, or take exception to a requirement of the RFP or the District’s proposed

Agreement shall be submitted through the District’s question and clarification process by the deadline identified in the RFP Schedule. The request shall clearly identify the provision at issue and the requested modification or alternative language.

http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/psusd http://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd

If the District determines that a modification to the RFP or proposed Agreement is appropriate, the modification will be issued by written Addendum and made available to all prospective Proposers.

Unless modified by written Addendum, submission of a Proposal constitutes the Proposer’s acceptance of the requirements, terms, and conditions of the RFP and proposed Agreement. Exceptions or modifications submitted with a Proposal that were not timely raised through the question and clarification process may result in the Proposal being deemed nonresponsive.

3.12. Communications and No Contact:

All communications concerning this RFP shall be directed through the District’s e-Procurement Portal or to the

District’s designated Purchasing representative as expressly provided in the RFP.

During the solicitation and evaluation process, Proposers shall not contact members of the Governing Board, evaluation committee members, District administrators, employees, or consultants regarding this RFP except as authorized by the District.

Unauthorized communications regarding the solicitation may be considered in determining a Proposer’s eligibility for award.

3.13. Award of Contract:

Following completion of the evaluation process, the District may recommend the Proposer(s) determined to best meet the requirements of this RFP for award.

The District reserves the right to negotiate final contract terms with the selected Proposer(s), provided such negotiations are consistent with the requirements and intent of the RFP.

Any award is subject to all required District approvals, including Governing Board approval when required. The selected Proposer shall execute the District’s Agreement and provide all required documentation, including evidence of required insurance, within the timeframe established by the District.

If a selected Proposer fails or refuses to execute the Agreement or satisfy the requirements necessary for contract execution, the District may withdraw the award recommendation and proceed with another Proposer, re-solicit the services, or take other action permitted by applicable law.

No contract shall be binding upon the District until the Agreement has been fully executed by authorized representatives of the District and the selected Proposer.

3.14. Evidence of Responsibility:

The District reserves the right to determine whether a Proposer is responsible and qualified to perform the services required by this RFP. In determining responsibility, the District may consider the Proposer’s experience, qualifications, past performance, financial capacity, reliability, licenses and certifications, personnel, resources, and ability to successfully perform the contract requirements.

The District may request additional information necessary to determine a Proposer’s responsibility and may independently verify information provided in the proposal, including references and past performance.

The District may also request information regarding material litigation, regulatory actions, investigations, debarment, suspension, fraud, or other legal proceedings involving the Proposer when reasonably related to the

Proposer’s qualifications, responsibility, or ability to perform the required services.

The District may determine a Proposer to be non-responsible based on factors including, but not limited to:

• Failure to possess required licenses, certifications, registrations, or legal authority;

• Submission of materially false, misleading, or inaccurate information;

• Documented unsatisfactory performance on current or prior contracts;

• Insufficient financial, operational, or organizational capacity to perform the required services;

• Debarment, suspension, or other applicable restrictions imposed by a governmental entity; or

• Other documented circumstances that materially affect the Proposer’s ability to successfully perform the contract.

A proposal submitted by a Proposer determined to be non-responsible may be rejected.

3.15. Public Records:

Proposals and other records submitted in response to this RFP may be subject to disclosure under the California

Public Records Act (Government Code section 7920.000 et seq.).

If a Proposer believes that specific information contained in its Proposal is exempt from public disclosure, the

Proposer must clearly identify the information as “Confidential” or “Proprietary” and identify the legal basis for the claimed exemption. Blanket designations of an entire Proposal as confidential or proprietary are not acceptable.

The District will determine whether requested records are subject to disclosure in accordance with applicable law. The District does not guarantee that information identified by a Proposer as confidential or proprietary will be exempt from disclosure.

If the District receives a request for records containing information identified by a Proposer as confidential or proprietary, the District may notify the Proposer and provide an opportunity to identify the basis for withholding the information from disclosure. The Proposer shall be responsible for taking any action it deems necessary to protect its claimed interests.

3.16. Interviews:

The District reserves the right to invite one or more of the highest-ranked Proposers to participate in an interview and/or presentation as part of the evaluation and selection process. If conducted, the interview and/or presentation may be awarded up to 25 additional points in accordance with the evaluation criteria identified in this RFP.

Points awarded during Phase II will be added to the Proposer’s Phase I written proposal score to determine the final evaluation score and ranking.

Invited Proposers will be notified by the District and provided with applicable instructions and scheduling information. The District may make a recommendation for award without conducting interviews or presentations.

3.17. District's Rights:

The District reserves the right, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to:

• Reject any or all proposals;

• Cancel, amend, postpone, or reissue this RFP;

• Waive minor informalities or irregularities that do not materially affect the responsiveness of a proposal or provide a competitive advantage;

• Request clarification or additional information from a Proposer, provided such clarification does not materially alter the proposal;

• Verify information provided in a proposal and conduct reference checks;

• Conduct interviews, presentations, or demonstrations, if applicable;

• Negotiate with one or more Proposers when permitted and appropriate;

• Make an award to one or more Proposers, when contemplated by the RFP;

• Make no award; and

• Take any other action determined appropriate in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and applicable law.

The District's waiver of a minor informality or irregularity shall not modify the material requirements of the

RFP or provide a Proposer with an unfair competitive advantage.

3.18. No Commitment to Award:

Issuance of this RFP, receipt of proposals, or participation in the evaluation process does not obligate the

District to award a contract.

No Proposer shall acquire any legal or equitable right, claim, or expectation of award as a result of submitting a proposal or participating in the RFP process.

A contract shall exist only after all required approvals have been obtained and an agreement has been fully executed by the District and the selected Proposer.

3.19. Protest Procedures:

Any protest concerning the RFP requirements must be submitted in writing to the Director of Purchasing no later than the deadline for questions and clarifications.

Any protest concerning a proposed award must be submitted in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third (3rd) business day following issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award. Only a Proposer that submitted a timely proposal and could reasonably be eligible for award may submit an award protest.

The protest must identify the RFP, state the specific grounds for protest, provide supporting facts and documentation, and identify the requested remedy. Protests based solely on disagreement with evaluation scores or evaluator judgment will not be considered without evidence of a material error in the evaluation or procurement process.

Untimely protests or protests that fail to comply with these requirements may be rejected. The District’s written determination shall be final.

4. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

4.1. Proposal Submission:

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the District’s e-Procurement Portal by the date and time specified in the RFP Schedule. Proposers are responsible for ensuring that all required information, documents, and attachments are successfully submitted prior to the deadline.

Proposals submitted by email, mail, facsimile, or other means will not be accepted unless otherwise expressly authorized by the District.

4.2. Authorized Signature:

The Proposal and all required certifications shall be completed and submitted by an individual authorized to bind the Proposer. Submission of the Proposal constitutes the Proposer’s certification that the information provided is true and correct and that the individual submitting the Proposal is authorized to act on behalf of the

Proposer.

4.3. Proposal Content and Organization:

Proposals shall be clear, concise, and provide sufficient information to demonstrate the Proposer’s qualifications, experience, and ability to successfully perform the services described in this RFP. At a minimum, proposals shall include the following, as applicable:

A. Cover Letter / Letter of Interest

Provide a brief introduction to the firm, statement of interest in providing legal services to the District, and contact information for the individual authorized to represent the firm.

B. Firm Qualifications & Experience

Describe the firm’s qualifications, organizational capabilities, and experience providing legal services relevant to the practice areas identified in this RFP. Identify the practice area(s) for which the firm seeks consideration and describe the firm’s experience representing California public school districts and other public agencies, as applicable.

C. Service Approach

Describe the firm’s approach to providing responsive and effective legal services to the District. The response should address the assignment and management of legal matters, attorney availability and responsiveness, communication with District administration, coordination among practice areas, management of deadlines and priorities, and strategies for providing efficient and cost-effective legal services.

D. Past Performance and References:

Provide a minimum of three (3) references for clients for whom the firm has provided comparable legal services, preferably California public school districts or other public agencies. Include the organization name, contact person, telephone number, email address, and a brief description of the services provided.

The District may consider information obtained through reference checks and documented past performance on prior or current District contracts, if applicable.

E. Fee Proposal / Fee Scedule:

Evaluation of the Proposer’s proposed fees, rates, and overall cost to the District.

4.4. Required Forms and Certifications:

Proposers shall complete and submit all forms, certifications, acknowledgments, and other documents identified as required by the District.

Failure to submit a required document may result in the proposal being deemed nonresponsive when the omitted document is material to the requirements of the RFP.

Proposers are responsible for ensuring that all required forms are complete, accurate, properly executed, and submitted with the proposal.

4.5. Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals meeting the minimum requirements of this RFP will be evaluated by a District Evaluation Committee based on the criteria and maximum point values identified below. Evaluation will be based on the information submitted in response to this RFP and the Proposer’s demonstrated ability to successfully perform the required services.

Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points

Minimum Requirements Pass/Fail

Firm Qualifications & Experience 30

Proposed Team Qualifications & Experience 35

Past Performance & References 15

Fee Proposal 20

TOTAL 100

Minimum Requirements – Pass/Fail

Proposer must demonstrate compliance with all minimum qualifications and mandatory requirements identified in this RFP. Failure to satisfy a material minimum requirement may result in the proposal being deemed nonresponsive and excluded from further evaluation.

Firm Qualifications & Experience – 30 Points

Evaluation of the firm’s qualifications, relevant legal experience, organizational capabilities, depth of resources, and experience in the practice areas for which the firm seeks consideration. Evaluation will also consider the qualifications and relevant experience of the attorneys and key personnel proposed to provide services to the

District, including experience representing California public school districts and other public agencies, as applicable.

Service Approach – 35 Points

Evaluation of the firm’s proposed approach to providing responsive, effective, and cost-efficient legal services, including matter management, attorney availability and responsiveness, communication, coordination, management of deadlines and priorities, and ability to meet the District’s legal service needs.

Past Performance and References – 15 Points

Evaluation of the firm’s demonstrated past performance providing comparable legal services and information obtained through references, including quality of service, responsiveness, reliability, communication, and overall performance.

Fee Proposal – 20 Points

Evaluation of the Proposer’s proposed fees, rates, and overall cost to the District in accordance with the pricing requirements of this RFP.

The District may verify information provided in a proposal, conduct reference checks, and request clarification as necessary to complete the evaluation.

The District may invite one or more Proposers to participate in interviews, presentations, or demonstrations. If an additional evaluation phase will be separately scored, the applicable criteria and point values will be identified in this RFP.

4.6. Proposal Format:

Proposals shall be organized so that responses correspond directly to the proposal requirements and evaluation criteria identified in this RFP.

Proposals shall be submitted in 8½" × 11" format, using a minimum 12-point font and margins of no less than ¾ inch. Proposals shall not exceed 30 pages, unless otherwise specified in this RFP.

The page limit includes the cover letter, qualifications, organizational information, resumes, technical approach/work plan, references, and other supporting information submitted as part of the technical proposal.

Proposers are encouraged to submit clear, concise, and relevant information and avoid unnecessary promotional or duplicative materials.

Questionnaire and Supplemental Documentation: In addition, to the Proposer is required to respond and upload all pertinent documents requested in PROPOSER QUESTIONNAIRE section of the e-Procurement

Portal.

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Stockton Unified School District (“District”) is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide [insert description of services] in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposals (“RFP”).

The Scope of Services describes the District’s requirements, expectations, and desired outcomes for the services to be provided. Proposers shall review the Scope of Services in its entirety and submit a proposal demonstrating their qualifications, experience, approach, and ability to successfully meet the District’s requirements.

5.1. Scope Background:

Stockton Unified School District (“District”) is seeking proposals from qualified attorneys and law firms to establish a pool of qualified legal service providers to provide legal counsel, representation, and related services to the District on an as-needed basis.

The District intends to award agreements to multiple qualified firms to ensure sufficient legal service coverage for the District's current and future needs. The resulting agreements are anticipated to be multi-term agreements for a period of up to five (5) years, subject to the terms and conditions of the resulting agreement and applicable

District approval requirements.

Firms may submit proposals for one or more of the legal practice areas identified in this Scope of Services.

Firms are not required to provide services in all practice areas to be considered for inclusion in the pool.

The District may select multiple firms within the same practice area and may select a firm for some, but not all, of the practice areas for which the firm submits a proposal.

Selection for inclusion in the pool does not create an exclusive relationship with the District and does not guarantee any firm a minimum number of assignments, hours, matters, or compensation.

The District reserves the right to assign legal matters among firms within the pool based upon the nature and complexity of the matter, specialized expertise, attorney experience, availability, responsiveness, conflicts of interest, proposed rates, continuity of representation, prior performance, and other factors determined by the

District to be in its best interest.

The District further reserves the right to retain legal counsel outside of the established pool when specialized circumstances, conflicts of interest, emergencies, or other District needs warrant such engagement.

5.2. SCOPE:

A. LEGAL PRACTICE AREAS

Legal services may include, but are not limited to, the following practice areas:

1. General Counsel, Governance, and Public Agency Compliance

a. General legal counsel and advice to the Governing Board, Superintendent, administration, and District staff.

b. Governing Board authority, responsibilities, and liability.

c. Board policies, administrative regulations, procedures, and governance matters.

d. Brown Act and other open meeting requirements.

e. California Public Records Act and other public records requirements.

f. Political Reform Act, conflicts of interest, ethics, and related public agency compliance.

g. Statutory and regulatory interpretation.

h. Preparation and review of legal opinions, resolutions, policies, regulations, and governance documents.

i. Intergovernmental and public agency agreements.

2. Education Law and Federal Programs

a. Federal and California laws and regulations affecting K-12 public education.

b. Interpretation and application of the California Education Code and related statutes and regulations.

c. Federal education programs, including Title I and other federally funded programs.

d. Medicaid reimbursement and other education-related reimbursement programs.

e. Legislative, regulatory, administrative, and judicial developments affecting California public school districts.

f. General educational and regulatory compliance matters.

g. Federal requirements and other legal matters affecting District programs, operations, students, and employees.

3. Labor, Employment, Human Resources, and Workers' Compensation

a. Federal and state labor and employment law.

b. Collective bargaining, negotiations, mediation, fact-finding, and impasse proceedings.

c. Employee discipline, dismissal, termination, and administrative hearings.

d. Classified and certificated personnel matters.

e. Employment contracts and agreements.

f. Grievances and employment-related disputes.

g. Employee benefits, leaves, accommodations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, payroll, and other employment-related matters.

h. Interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements and District employment policies and practices.

i. Workers' compensation matters and related legal representation.

4. Student Services, Special Education, Title IX, and Civil Rights

a. Special education matters, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), due process proceedings, mediation, and related compliance.

b. Section 504 matters, including eligibility, accommodations, Section 504 plans, evaluations, procedural safeguards, disputes, and compliance under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

c. Student discipline, suspension, expulsion, residency, enrollment, and attendance matters.

d. Student rights, records, privacy, and related student services matters.

e. Title IX compliance, investigations, hearings, and related matters.

f. Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and student civil rights and equity matters.

g. First Amendment and other constitutional and civil rights matters involving students or District operations.

h. Other federal and state legal requirements affecting students.

5. Charter School Matters

a. Charter school petitions, renewals, revisions, oversight, and revocation matters.

b. District obligations and responsibilities relating to charter schools.

c. Charter school facilities and related requirements.

d. Fiscal oversight, governance, compliance, and other charter school matters.

e. Disputes, administrative proceedings, and litigation involving charter schools.

6. Litigation, Administrative Proceedings, Claims, and Dispute Resolution

a. Legal advice and representation of the District in litigation on an as-needed basis.

b. Investigation, legal research, and preparation of pleadings, briefs, legal memoranda, and other litigation documents.

c. Representation before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, arbitrators, hearing officers, and other tribunals.

d. Mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and alternative dispute resolution.

e. Personal injury, tort liability, and other claims involving the District.

f. First Amendment, constitutional, and other civil rights claims.

g. Assessment of actual or potential claims and recommendations regarding litigation avoidance and risk mitigation.

h. Specialized litigation matters, including electronic cigarette/vaping litigation or similar claims, when applicable.

7. Construction, Facilities, Real Estate, and Public Works

a. School construction, modernization, maintenance, and facilities matters.

b. Construction contracts, disputes, claims, change orders, contractor performance, and contract enforcement.

c. Public works contracting and competitive bidding requirements.

d. California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) compliance.

e. Prevailing wage requirements, payment and performance bonds, stop notices, and related public works matters.

f. Real property acquisition and disposition.

g. Leases, easements, licenses, joint-use agreements, and other real estate matters.

h. Environmental and regulatory matters affecting District property and facilities.

8. Contracts, Procurement, Insurance, and Business Matters

a. Procurement law and public contracting requirements applicable to California school districts.

b. Competitive bidding, requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, cooperative purchasing, piggyback contracting, and other procurement methods.

c. Preparation, interpretation, review, negotiation, and enforcement of contracts, agreements, solicitations, and related documents.

d. Bid protests, vendor disputes, contract claims, and procurement compliance.

e. Insurance contracts and related contractual matters.

f. Intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperative arrangements.

g. Other business and commercial matters affecting District operations.

9. Investigations

a. Workplace and personnel investigations.

b. Administrative and compliance investigations.

c. Investigations involving allegations of misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, conflicts of interest, fraud, or other matters assigned by the District.

d. Legal research and analysis associated with investigations.

e. Preparation of investigation reports, findings, and related recommendations.

f. Advice and representation concerning resulting administrative proceedings or hearings.

10. Bond Counsel, Public Finance, and Fiscal Matters

a. Bond counsel and related public finance legal services.

b. General obligation bonds and other District financing matters.

c. Legal advice concerning bond issuance, authorization, documentation, and compliance.

d. Tax and regulatory matters associated with District financing, as applicable.

e. Coordination with financial advisors, underwriters, disclosure counsel, and other professionals, as applicable.

f. Legal advice concerning school district fiscal and financing matters.

g. Other public finance and related fiscal matters as requested by the District.

11. Technology, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technology

a. Student, employee, and District data privacy and security matters.

b. Federal and state privacy laws applicable to California public school districts.

c. Student records and educational technology privacy requirements.

d. Technology procurement, software licensing, cloud services, data-sharing agreements, and related technology contracts.

e. Cybersecurity incidents, data breaches, incident response, notification requirements, and related regulatory compliance.

f. Artificial intelligence, automated systems, and other emerging technology matters affecting District operations.

g. Information governance, electronic records, and related technology matters.

12. Other Specialized Legal Services

a. Nonprofit and education foundation matters.

b. Constitutional and civil rights matters not otherwise identified above.

c. Regulatory and administrative compliance.

d. Risk management and liability prevention.

e. Immigration-related legal matters affecting District operations, students, or employees.

f. Other specialized legal matters affecting California public school districts and public agencies as requested by the District.

B. GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES

Depending upon the practice area and matter assigned, selected firms may be required to:

1. Provide legal advice and consultation to the Governing Board, Superintendent, administrators, and authorized District staff.

2. Provide legal advice and representation in cooperation and coordination with District representatives and other legal counsel retained by the District.

3. Conduct investigations, perform legal research, and prepare pleadings, briefs, legal memoranda, legal opinions, correspondence, and other legal documents.

4. Attend Governing Board meetings, closed sessions, committee meetings, administrative meetings, hearings, mediations, negotiations, conferences, or other proceedings as requested by the District.

5. Prepare, review, revise, and negotiate contracts, agreements, policies, administrative regulations, resolutions, and other District documents.

6. Represent the District in federal and state courts, litigation, administrative proceedings, hearings, negotiations, investigations, mediation, arbitration, and other legal matters.

7. Monitor relevant legislative, regulatory, administrative, and judicial developments and advise the

District regarding significant changes affecting District operations.

8. Provide preventative legal advice intended to reduce the District's exposure to claims, litigation, regulatory violations, and other legal risks.

9. Conduct trainings, workshops, and in-service presentations for Governing Board members, administrators, and District staff.

10. Coordinate with District administration, other District legal counsel, consultants, insurers, joint powers authorities, governmental agencies, and other parties when necessary.

11. Perform other legal services reasonably requested by the District within the firm's qualified practice area(s).

C. SERVICE EXPECTATIONS

Selected firms shall:

1. Respond promptly to District requests and communications, with priority given to urgent or time-sensitive legal matters.

2. Designate a primary contact or relationship attorney responsible for coordinating services with the

District.

3. Assign attorneys with appropriate expertise and experience for each assigned matter.

4. Maintain sufficient staffing and resources to respond to District needs in a timely manner.

5. Maintain all required professional licenses and remain in good standing with the State Bar of

California.

6. Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable attorney-client privilege, professional responsibility, privacy, and records requirements.

7. Promptly identify and disclose actual or potential conflicts of interest.

8. Obtain appropriate District authorization before undertaking substantial work or utilizing additional attorneys, consultants, experts, or other outside resources when such work will result in additional costs to the District.

9. Staff matters efficiently and make reasonable efforts to provide services in a cost-effective manner.

10. Provide detailed invoices identifying the matter, attorney or professional performing the work, services performed, time incurred, applicable billing rate, and authorized expenses.

D. PRACTICE AREA QUALIFICATION

1. Proposers shall identify in their proposal each legal practice area for which the firm is seeking qualification.

2. For each selected practice area, the Proposer shall identify the lead attorney(s) proposed to provide services and demonstrate the qualifications and relevant experience of the firm and proposed attorney(s) in that practice area.

3. Firms may seek qualification in one or more practice areas and are not required to seek qualification in all practice areas.

4. The District will evaluate a firm's qualifications for each practice area identified in its proposal.

Qualification in one practice area does not constitute qualification in all practice areas.

5. The District may qualify multiple firms within a practice area and may qualify a firm in some, but not all, of the practice areas identified in its proposal.

E. ASSIGNMENT OF LEGAL MATTERS

Inclusion in the legal services pool does not constitute an award of any particular legal matter or guarantee any level of work.

The District shall retain sole discretion to determine which qualified firm within the pool will be assigned a particular matter. Assignments may be based upon factors including, but not limited to:

1. Nature and complexity of the matter;

2. Relevant practice-area expertise;

3. Experience of the proposed attorney(s);

4. Availability and responsiveness;

5. Actual or potential conflicts of interest;

6. Proposed rates and anticipated cost;

7. Continuity of representation;

8. Prior performance and experience with the District; and

9. Other considerations determined by the District to be in its best interest.

The District may utilize different firms for different practice areas or matters and may utilize more than one firm within the same practice area.

The District reserves the right to retain legal counsel outside of the pool when determined necessary or in the

District's best interest.

5.3. Term and Renewal:

The initial term of the Agreement shall be for one (1) year.

At the District’s discretion, the Agreement may be renewed for up to four (4) additional one-year terms, for a total potential contract term not to exceed five (5) years.

Renewal is not automatic and shall be subject to satisfactory Contractor performance, continued District need, availability of funding, mutual written agreement of the parties, and all required District approvals.

In determining whether to renew the Agreement, the District may consider the Contractor’s quality of legal services, responsiveness, communication, timeliness, management of legal matters, compliance with Agreement requirements, billing practices, and overall performance.

The District is under no obligation to exercise any renewal option.

6. EVALUATION PHASES

The District will evaluate responsive proposals based on the evaluation criteria and point values established in this RFP. The District may conduct reference checks and request clarifications as necessary to complete the evaluation.

The District may advance the highest-ranked Proposer(s) to an interview and/or presentation phase, if applicable. Upon completion of the evaluation process, the District may recommend the Proposer(s) determined to best meet the District’s requirements for award, subject to all required District approvals.

Evaluation Criteria No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Firm Qualifications & Experience Evaluation of the firm’s qualifications, relevant legal experience, organizational capabilities, depth of resources, and experience in the practice areas for which the firm seeks consideration. Evaluation will also consider the qualifications and relevant experience of the attorneys and key personnel proposed to provide services to the District, including experience representing California public school districts and other public agencies, as applicable.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

2. Service Approach Evaluation of the firm’s proposed approach to providing responsive, effective, and cost-efficient legal services, including matter management, attorney availability and responsiveness, communication, coordination, management of deadlines and priorities, and ability to meet the District’s legal service needs.

Points Based 35 (35% of Total)

3. Past Performance and References Evaluation of the firm’s demonstrated past performance providing comparable legal services and information obtained through references, including quality of service, responsiveness, reliability, communication, and overall performance.

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

4. Fee Proposal Evaluation of the proposed fees, rates, and overall cost of the proposed services.

Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

Interview Criteria No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Proposed Team Qualifications & Experience Evaluation of the qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated expertise of the attorneys and key personnel proposed to provide services to the District.

Points Based 5 (20% of Total)

2. Understanding & Service Approach Evaluation of the Proposer’s demonstrated understanding of the District’s legal service needs and its approach to providing timely, effective, practical, and cost-conscious legal counsel.

Points Based 10 (40% of Total)

3. Communication, Responsiveness & Overall

Ability to Serve the District Evaluation of the proposed team’s communication skills, responsiveness, ability to clearly explain legal issues and provide practical guidance, and overall ability to effectively support the District and its administration.

Points Based 10 (40% of Total)

7. PROPOSER QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Price Proposal Declaration* The individual submitting this proposal hereby certifies that they are duly authorized to submit this proposal on behalf of the firm identified below.

By digitally confirming this submission, the proposer certifies that they have read, understand, and agree to comply with all specifications, instructions, terms, and conditions set forth in this Request for Proposals (RFP), including all addenda issued by the District. The proposer further certifies that the firm has the qualifications, experience, resources, and ability to provide all services described in this RFP at the prices submitted.

The proposer certifies that the proposal includes a complete and accurate pricing submission and that all costs, fees, and charges associated with the proposed services have been fully disclosed.

The proposer further certifies that, since the issuance of this RFP, no contact, discussion, or negotiation regarding this RFP has been conducted or will be conducted by any representative of the firm with any District employee, District agent, or Board member, except through the designated District contact identified in the RFP documents. The proposer understands that any such unauthorized contact may result in disqualification of the proposal.

The proposer further certifies that the firm is properly licensed, insured, and authorized to conduct business within the scope of this RFP in the State of California.

The proposer acknowledges that all requirements, terms, and addenda contained in this RFP are incorporated into this proposal and that, if selected by the District, the proposal shall be considered binding upon the proposer.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

2. Proposal Submission* Proposal package must include organized as indicated in section 4.3 Proposal Content and Organization.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

3. Bidder’s Certificate Regarding Worker’s Compensation* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Draft_-_Stockton_Contractor...

*Response required

4. W-9* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Form_W-9_(Rev.pdf

*Response required

5. Vendor Application* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Draft_-_Stockton_Vendor_Qua...

*Response required

6. Fingerprint and Criminal Background Check* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• susdfingerprinting_and_back...

*Response required https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/240796/4d6037ee-d17c-4424-b73e-c05b0664104e_Draft_-_Stockton_Contractors_Cert_Regarding_Workers_Comp_Form_%281%29.pdf…