OPD Contract Attorney

The Montana Office of State Public Defender (OPD) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking contract attorneys to provide legal representation in criminal and civil matters statewide. This solicitation, numbered OPD-RFP/RFQ-2022-0128, invites qualified private attorneys to contract with OPD for case assignments where the agency is court-appointed. Interested attorneys must submit a comprehensive application package including a completed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), current resume, writing sample, proof of professional liability insurance, and most recent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) transcript. The solicitation was released on November 17, 2021, with an unusually extended due date of January 1, 2099, and is categorized under Commodity Code 3920 for Professional Services - Legal Services. Attorneys must demonstrate their qualifications through the submitted documentation and indicate their current MOU status, with a 30-day grace period provided for recently expired agreements. The primary contact for this opportunity is Jennifer Kueffler, who can be reached at Jennifer.Kueffler@mt.gov or +1 406-496-6089.

The RFQ does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations beyond the requirement of being a licensed private attorney in Montana. No information is provided about incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure that would require integration. The solicitation appears designed to create a pool of qualified contract attorneys who can be assigned cases as needed by OPD, without specifying a predetermined contract value or budget range. There are no explicit details about pricing terms or funding sources, suggesting that compensation will likely be determined on a case-by-case basis. The procurement process seems focused on building a comprehensive roster of qualified legal professionals who can provide representation across various criminal and civil matters throughout the state. While the document does not outline specific award values, it implies that selected attorneys will receive compensation through individual case assignments from the Office of State Public Defender.