Civil Legal Services for Bernalillo County Residents

Bernalillo County is seeking civil legal services providers through Request for Proposal (RFP) #21-26-BB to expand legal access for county residents facing economic hardship. The procurement aims to provide comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas including housing, consumer issues, family law, employment, government benefits, protective services, elderly concerns, education, disability issues, water and land use, immigration, Native American matters, civil rights, and veterans issues. Potential service delivery methods include legal advice, extended representation, litigation, negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, systemic advocacy, legal information, community education, and assistance to self-represented litigants. The county will prioritize serving low-income individuals at or below 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, with potential exceptional services for households up to 200% of guidelines. A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for November 17, 2025, at 10:00 am MDT, with proposals due electronically through the Bonfire eProcurement system by December 9, 2025, at 4:00 pm MDT. The contract term will be four years, with an option to extend an additional two years, not exceeding six years total.

The procurement does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations, but the RFP emphasizes serving marginalized populations and includes several compliance forms indicating a commitment to fair business practices. Potential respondents must complete an Unfair Business Practices Disclosure Form, demonstrating no discriminatory or fraudulent actions in the past three years. A Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form is also required, highlighting the county's transparency expectations. The total funding allocated for this initiative is $250,000 from the Bernalillo County General Fund, with a stipulation that no more than 50% of contract funds can be used for technology-based service delivery in any fiscal year. Interested legal service providers must register on the Bonfire platform to access complete RFP documentation and submit proposals. The county's Outside Counsel Procedures manual suggests a preference for diverse legal representation, specifically encouraging the involvement of minority and women attorneys in proposed service models.