RFP - County Counsel.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

COUNTY COUNSEL SERVICES

for

CLATSOP COUNTY, OREGON

Closing Date: July 15, 2022, 5:00 pm (Service to begin approximately 9/1/2022)

I. Introduction

Clatsop County is requesting proposals from attorneys at law to provide County Counsel legal services to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager and Department Heads.

II. Scope of Work

The County intends to select a qualified attorney or attorneys to provide the following services:

A. Advise all County officials on matters relating to County business;

B. Prepare and/or review ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, leases, deeds and other related documents;

C. Represent, or assist the representation of another retained outside Counsel, regarding litigation including cases before the Circuit Court, the Oregon Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Land Use Board of Appeals, the Department of Revenue, Tax Court, Bankruptcy Court and civil proceedings not covered by County insurance;

D. Represent, or assist in the representation of another retained outside Counsel, regarding land use hearings before the Planning Commission and County Board of Commissioners;

E. Attend County Board, Planning Commission, County staff and/or department head coordination and other meetings, as requested. (County Board meets four times a month);

F. Monitor current special district, county, state and federal legislation and/or litigation as such may relate to the County and advise County officials thereof;

G. Provide legal opinions on matters relating to County activities;

H. Participate in the development of staff recommendations for action by the

Board of County Commissioners, or other commissions or boards;

I. Advise and participate in code enforcement activities;

J. Make recommendations for updating existing ordinances, resolutions and other policies and practices;

K. Represent the County in intergovernmental relations as appropriate;

L. Maintain appropriate records and files;

M. Assist in the preparation of findings of fact as appropriate;

N. Administer and coordinate special district and diking district/company formations, annexations and dissolutions;

O. Act as liaison with County Bond counsel;

P. Act as liaison with County’s insurance provider regarding claims;

Q. Represent County service districts and the fair board; and R. Perform related duties as necessary.

III. General Provisions of Agreement

The services will be provided on a contractual basis with the following provisions:

A. One-year agreement, terminating with 30-days notice from either party;

renewable for up to two additional years.

B. Files are the property of the County and documents are subject to the public records law.

C. The attorney or attorneys will provide County with copies of work product, including but not limited to, Ordinances; Codes; Resolutions; Policies; and Agreements, in electronic format as well as hard copy at the request of County.

D. The attorney or attorneys selected will provide the County with sufficient time and staff to perform required services including legal advice, documents preparation and review, litigation and labor negotiations/representation.

E. The attorney or attorneys selected will work with the County Manager in performance of services.

IV. Qualifications

The proposals will be reviewed and the selection made by the County Board of Commissioners. Selection will be on the basis of the following equally weighted criteria:

A. Each attorney in the proposed team must possess a Juris Doctorate degree, have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and must be a member in good standing with the Oregon State Bar Association;

B. Knowledge of general municipal law, contract law, land use law, Oregon Public Employees labor law and Oregon law governing counties.

C. Ability to perform in a timely and thorough manner and ability to interact well with the Board, County staff, and stakeholders.

V. Proposal Requirements

Proposals from individual or from groups of attorneys will be considered. As a

Request for Proposal minimum, the proposal in letterform should include the following information:

A. An overall introduction to the proposal, including a statement of your understanding of the scope of work;

B. Qualifications of lead attorney and /or team and of your support staff (include number of staff) to perform the work with a list of clients for whom you have provided similar services in the recent past;

C. Your office location or locations;

D. Qualifications of legal backup that would be provided in the event of your absence or unavailability;

E. Hourly rates and/or retainer fees, plus additional anticipated costs, such as travel.

VI. Submission Requirements

Each attorney or group of attorneys wishing to respond to this request should electronically submit through: http://oregonbuys.gov no later than 5:00 p.m., July,15 2022.

VII. Selection Schedule & Process

Review of the proposals will be completed by July 29, 2022, and the contract awarded thereafter. Cost of services will be negotiated between the parties as part of the selection process.

VIII. Limitations

In addition to all other rights granted to it under Oregon law, Clatsop County reserves the right to waive formalities in the proposal process, to accept or reject any or all proposals received as a result of this request, to negotiate with qualified attorneys, or to cancel, in part or in its entirety, the request for proposals if it is in the best interest of the County to do so. Clatsop County also reserves the right to negotiate separately with any Proposer whatsoever, in any manner necessary to serve the best interests of the County.

This request for proposals does not commit the County to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal.

IX. General Information

Please contact Don Bohn, County Manager at (503) 325-1000 for further information.

X. Representation http://oregonbuys.gov/

Request for Proposal

By making a proposal each Proposer represents that the Proposer has read and understands the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents and is familiar with the locales, conditions and circumstances under which the work is to be performed. Proposer further represents that Proposer does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap financial ability age or other non-job-related factors as per ORS 659 and 42 UCS 2000.