Secondary General Liability/Tort Legal Counsel

Orange County, Florida is seeking to procure Secondary General Liability/Tort Legal Counsel services through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP #Y23-133-MM). The procurement is for legal services to provide competent and cost-effective legal defense, including appellate services in general liability/tort law for the county's risk management program. The initial contract term will run from March 1, 2023, through November 30, 2025, with an option to renew for two additional one-year terms. Proposing law firms must provide comprehensive legal representation with predetermined hourly rates: $175 for senior partners, $170 for partners, $150 for associates, $70 for paralegals, and $0 for clerical work. Key deliverables include mandatory initial case analyses, periodic reports, and adherence to Orange County's Defense Counsel Guidelines. The submission deadline was January 19, 2023, at 4:00 pm EST, with proposals required to be submitted electronically through the OpenGov e-Procurement Platform. Evaluation criteria will likely include the firm's legal expertise, proposed billing rates, and ability to meet the county's specific case management and reporting requirements.

The county has established a specific minority/women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) participation goal of 24% of the contract value, with opportunities for bonus points for hiring dislocated workers and utilizing service-disabled veteran firms. Respondents are required to use the county's standard response forms and must carefully prepare submissions to ensure compliance with technical requirements. The solicitation emphasizes electronic submission protocols, with technical support available through the OpenGov platform during business hours. No alternative submission methods are permitted, and incomplete or inaccessible files may be deemed non-responsive. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the predetermined hourly rates and potential for a multi-year contract suggest a significant potential contract value. The procurement is managed by the Orange County Procurement Division, with Megan Miller serving as the Contracting Agent for the County Administration's Risk Management Division, indicating a structured and formal procurement process designed to secure high-quality legal representation for the county's liability and tort defense needs.