Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Issue Blanket Purchase Agreements To The Two Highest Ranked Firms, Gray Robinson, P.A. And Floridian Partners, LLC, To Provide State And Local Lobbying Services For A Combined Annual Amount Not To Exceed $100,000.00 Over A Three Year Period.
Strategic Plan Focus
Financial Management & Administration
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Resolution.
Explanation:
The City of Hollywood desires to contract with qualified firms to perform lobbying, consulting, and advisory services at the State and local level. Contracting with lobbyists is an integral component of promoting the City’s policies and efforts at the State level, including but not limited to the Governor’s Office, Florida Senate, Florida House of Representations and various State agencies. Likewise, similar services are desired at the local level to assist with the City’s relations with Broward County and other municipal and regional partners.
On July 13, 2021, RFP-4677-21-OT was posted on the City’s website and advertised and sent to 1,200 firms and viewed by 39 vendors on Bidsync.com, in accordance with Section 38.43 of the City’s Procurement Ordinance. RFP-4677-21-OT was opened at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2021, and resulted in proposals from the following seven firms:
1. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
2. Capital City Consulting, LLC (Tallahassee, Florida)
3. Converge Public Strategies (Miami, Florida)
4. Floridian Partners, LLC (Tallahassee, Florida)
5. GrayRobinson, P.A. (Tallahassee, Florida)
6. Rubin Turnbull & Associates (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
7. Sun City Strategies, LLC (Hialeah, Florida)
On September 8, 2021, the State and Local Lobbying Services Selection Committee (“Selection Committee”) met to evaluate and rank the proposals. Evaluation of the proposals was based upon the approved Evaluation Criteria established in the RFP: Qualifications; Relationships, Resources and Capabilities; Project Understanding/Approach and Methodology; Cost to the City (Proposer’s Fee Statement) and Local Preference. Based on the Evaluation Criteria, the Selection Committee evaluated and scored the seven proposals, with the highest score being the highest ranked as follows:
1. GrayRobinson, P.A. 445 Points
2. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. 425 Points
3. Capital City Consulting, LLC 423 Points
4. Floridian Partners, LLC 371 Points
5. Rubin Turnbull & Associates 353 Points
6. Converge Public Strategies 351 Points
7. Sun City Strategies, LLC 218 Points
On September 22, 2021, oral presentations were provided by five of the top six ranked firms, which excluded Rubin Turnbull & Associates who withdrew, followed by a public Selection Committee meeting during which the Selection Committee ranked the shortlisted firms. Scores were compiled to arrive at the following rankings, with the lowest score being the highest ranked:
State Lobbying Services:
1. GrayRobinson, P.A. 1st (6 Points)
2. Floridian Partners, LLC 2nd (11 Points)
3. Capital City Consulting, LLC 3rd (16 Points)
4. Becker & Poliakoff 4th (20 Points)
5. Converge Public Strategies 5th (22 Points)
Local Lobbying Services:
1. Floridian Partners, LLC 1st (5 Points)
2. Becker & Poliakoff 2nd (11 Points)
3. GrayRobinson, P.A. 3rd (14 Points)
4. Capital City Consulting, LLC 4th (20 Points)
5. Converge Public Strategies 5th (25 Points)
The Selection Committee recommends that the City Commission authorize the negotiation and execution of a blanket purchase agreement with the highest ranked firms, GrayRobinson, P.A., for State lobbying services, for a term of three years with an option to renew for three additional one-year periods, and Floridian Partners, LLC, for local lobbying services, for a term of three years with an option to renew for three additional one-year periods.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the local and state lobbying services is available in the FY 2022 Operating Budget account number 001.110102.51200.531490.000000.000.000
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Adam Reichbach, Assistant City Manager for Finance & Administration