Washington,_D.C._Airport_Lobbyist_-_Ontario_International_Airport,_Evaluation_Criteria.docx

Evaluation Criteria

· Client Services (4 pages; 20%)

· Wide diversity of clients that speaks to the firm’s abilities to interface with relevant departments/agencies and elected officials to advocate across the State and beyond to assist with the airport’s national profile and representation

· Understanding of the Assignment (3 pages; 15%)

· Experience and qualifications of the firm as well as key personnel assigned to the project

· Organization and References (4 pages; 15%)

· Past performance on contracts of similar size and scope related to airports, aviation, transportation agencies, and/or similar industries; plus, subject matter expertise

· Methodology and Approach (5 pages; 30%)

· Quality and responsiveness of the work plan as described in the proposal, including project organization and approach, including outcomes and measurements for success

· Cost Proposal (1 page; 10%)

· Proposed fee, specifically best overall value

· Firm Composition (3 pages; 10%)

· Staff resources and employed individuals

Work Plan

The firm shall develop on an annual basis short-, mid- and long-term strategies to assist ONT in securing funding, support, and amendments to key legislative and regulatory aviation policies.

The firm shall meet with ONT’s Executive and Government Affairs staff twice a year at the airport to develop the airport's annual legislative program, become familiarized with the airport’s operations, and to brief the Ontario International Authority Administration (OIAA) Board on ONT’s legislative priorities.

The firm shall develop identify and secure federal funds and grants to support core airport services.

The firm shall represent and advocate in favor of the interests of ONT before various Federal policymaking bodies, which will include, but not be limited to, the following:

· Executive Branch

· Office of the Presidency

· Department of Homeland Security and related agencies:

· Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Customs and Board Patrol Agency (CBP), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

· Department of Transportation and related agencies:

· Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Transit Agency (FTA), and Federal Railroad Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

· U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

· Legislative Branch

· Senate and House Leadership

· Senate Appropriations Committee, including:

· Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development

· Subcommittee on Homeland Security

· Senate Committee Commerce, Science, and Technology, including:

· Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation

· House Appropriations Committee, including:

· Subcommittee on Homeland Security

· Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development

· House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including:

· Subcommittee on Aviation

· Inland Empire House and California Congressional Delegation, including:

· Congressional Members that represent the airport’s catchment area within the neighboring Los Angeles and Orange Counties

The firm shall keep ONT up to date on federal legislation and regulatory updates impacting the aviation industry and airport in writing and by phone an as-needed basis but with regular frequency.

The firm shall cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with members of the California Congressional delegation, including but not limited to members that represent airport’s catchment area

The firm shall provide timely written reports at the start of the month on conversations with elected offices, along with a detailed legislative summary of bills ONT is tracking, plus relevant news updates. These updates shall also include monthly or bi-monthly calls to keep ONT apprised on a regular basis.

The firm shall facilitate an annual lobbying day in Washington, D.C. with elected officials and/or their designated senior staff member, and/or relevant department/agency officials, in addition to securing meetings during upwards of three (3) additional Congressional Delegation trips ONT participates in on an annual basis. As part of this assignment, the firm shall coordinate and secure meetings with federal officials, whether it is in D.C. or the district office during Congressional recess.

The firm shall prepare talking points in advance of any meetings with federal officials and/or their designee to support ONT's advocacy efforts.

The firm shall be entrusted with building relationships with elected officials and their staff from the Inland Empire, State, and nation in facilitating meetings for ONT to advocate on behalf of legislative bills and funding as well as to share project related updates at the airport.

The firm shall identify and secure grant dollars and support for federal dollars to support ONT's competitiveness, including identifying a grassroots and political strategy to improve the application's competitiveness. This assignment will entail working closely with the Chief Capital Development Officer to prioritize project asks, obtain relevant information, pre-vet with relevant agencies, and assist with the writing, review and/or submittal of project applications on competitive grants.

The firm shall work closely with ONT to identify opportunities to partners with airlines to identify new domestic and international routes to and from ONT, working closely with Members of Congress.

Core Deliverables

The firm shall take steps to keep ONT apprised of grant and other funding opportunities at the Federal level, including but not limited to, identifying capital improvement dollars during the budget process—preparing a year ahead calendar that outlines dates and deliverables for any and all project submissions.

The firm shall assist ONT in the review of grant applications, in addition to securing letters of support from elected officials and third parties to corroborate and strengthen ONT’s competitiveness.

The firm shall be responsible for preparing ONT’s legislative strategy, in partnership with the Executive Team and Director of Government Relations to devise a written plan of action on an annual basis.

The firm shall monitor legislative bills of importance to ONT—reporting on any amendments, or updates. This task should include recommendations on what action to take and on how to engage politically on a monthly basis, including developing a chart that provides relevant updates that can be shared externally.

The firm shall assist in preparing written or oral testimony for legislative hearings as requested by ONT, in addition to developing written and compelling advocacy documents to support the airport’s advocacy.

The firm shall work with the Director of Government Relations to craft a grass tops campaign that would augment and better coordinate the various touch points with elected officials, as part of a concerted efforts to launch a cohesive advocacy campaign that best utilizes ONT’s active constituency.

The firm shall identify events, meetings, and other opportunities for ONT to meet with and meet with officials in Washington, D.C. and the Southern California area as part of a concerted effort to build and sustain the airport's relationships with key members of the California Legislature. This should occur at least two to three times a year and entail a mix of in-district and D.C. trips with relevant members.

The firm will be responsible for raising the visibility and brand of ONT by facilitating one signature event each year, whether it is helping to secure the attendance of elected officials to attend an ONT-hosted event in Southern California or an event in Washington, D.C. where ONT can showcase its airport.

The firm shall report on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis with news and updates, along with providing live updates on important and timely policy matters. These updates should include:

· A recap of any meetings, high-level discussion points and follow-up items as well as the names and departments and/or offices the firm had meetings with on ONT’s behalf

· A summary of important news updates, articles, or intel received on bills or importance or other policy and regulatory items that may impact ONT and its operations

· An account of grant and funding opportunities throughout the year

· A legislative summary and account of bills of importance, including whether it is in the legislative process and other relevant information that should be communicated to ONT

· Update to the legislative calendar, plus dates/times of committee meetings and recess dates

The firm shall prepare regular monthly and yearly recap reports, including regulatory advocacy activities and the status of the legislation and proposed regulations of interest or concern to ONT

The firm shall schedule monthly and/or bi-weekly calls with ONT’s Director of Government Relations to support the information-sharing at the community level on the airport’s advocacy efforts in Sacramento.

The firm shall take the lead in drafting materials, such as simple one-pager policy handouts to a multiple-page policy document to support ONT’s legislative advocacy efforts as warranted.