DEPARTMENT: Government & Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: 2019 Federal Representation Services Contract
SUMMARY:
The Intergovernmental Relations Committee will receive a briefing on the selection and proposed execution of federal representation services agreements with Clark Hill Strasburger in an amount not to exceed $16,666 per month; The Normandy Group in an amount not to exceed $8,333 per month; and Serna and Serna in an amount not to exceed $3,750 per month for the term of June 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. The agreements provide that the term may be renewed for up to one two year term through December 31, 2022, upon approval by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Antonio has retained consultants to represent its interests with the federal government for more than 24 years. The City retains consultants to support and strengthen the City’s advocacy efforts with federal agencies, members of Congress, and the Administration to advance legislation and seek federal funding that is beneficial to the San Antonio community. The City’s federal priorities for each of the two-year Congressional sessions are developed with the input and direction of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and are ultimately approved by the City Council.
The City’s Federal Legislative Program for the 116th U.S. Congress, approved by City Council on January 17 2019, includes a number of priorities and initiatives, including military protection, aviation, transportation infrastructure and housing as priorities. Consultants will continuously monitor legislative and regulatory activities, develop strategies to advance the City’s interests, schedule meetings with elected officials and government agency representatives, and coordinate with City staff and the local representatives.
Federal consultants will be responsible for supporting and implementing the City’s Federal Legislative Program through the development of a strategic plan. The strategic plan includes timelines, goals, objectives and expected outcomes to advance the City’s priorities.
Staff from GPA and the Finance Department collaborated with the Small Business Office and City Attorney’s Office to develop two Request for Proposals (RFP) for federal representation services, issued December 21, 2018. The City issued one RFP for a Washington, D.C.-based consultant and a second for the Local Liaison. In the past, the City has required that respondents subcontract with a local firm, which we believe has contributed to an underwhelming response. With this RFP, we separated to the two and removed the Local Preference Points from the D.C.-based RFP.
The RFPs were published in The Hill, the San Antonio Express News, the City’s webpage and TVSA (Chanel 21). In an effort to increase the number of respondents, notice of the issuance of the RFP and its location on the City’s webpage was sent to approximately 45 vendors. The deadline for submission of proposals was February 1, 2019. A total of nine (9) proposals were received from Washington D.C. based firms and three (3) proposals were received for a local liaison. An evaluation committee consisting of staff from the City Manager’s Office, Government & Public Affairs Department, Aviation Department, a member of the Alamo Federal Executive Board and a representative from VIA Metropolitan Transit evaluated and ranked the submissions for both RFPs.
The evaluation committee evaluated and scored the proposals for the D.C.-based RFP based on the published criteria which included:
• Experience, Background, and Qualifications
• Proposed Plan
• Price
• Veteran Owned Small Business Preference Program (VOSBPP)
The evaluation committee evaluated and scored the proposals for the Local Liaison RFP based on the published criteria which included:
• Experience, Background, and Qualifications
• Proposed Plan
• Price,
• Small Business Enterprise Prime Contract Program
• Minority/Women-Owned Prime Contract Program
• Local Preference Program (LPP) and the VOSBPP
After an initial review and scoring the committee reached a consensus to short-list and interview four (4) respondents for the D.C.-based RFP and two (2) respondents for the Local Liaison RFP. The evaluation committee conducted final interviews and scoring and selected three firms to recommend for these contracts, pending negotiations with each to ensure contracts remain within the prior Council-approved budget.
The following firms and members are proposed for the delivery of contract services:
Clark Hill Strasburger is recommended to be the lead firm on the City’s Federal Legislative Program with Kevin Kelly as lead consultant. Mr. Kelly is the co-leader of Clark Hill’s Government and Public Affairs practice. He brings more than 20 years of experience representing local and state governments, nonprofit entities and other clients on federal funding and policy initiatives. Previously, he spent more than 12 years on Capitol Hill in various senior positions in the House and Senate.
The Normandy Group is recommended to provide legislative services for the advancement of the City’s federal priorities related to funding to improve airport infrastructure and passenger experience. The Normandy Group leads will be Henry Bonilla and Ron Eritano. Mr. Bonilla joined The Normandy Group as a partner after serving 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents a variety of clients to help promote their initiatives on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch. Mr. Ron Eritano is also a partner at The Normandy Group and previously served as the firm’s Director of Federal Affairs for eight years. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Eritano had approximately five years of experience on Capitol Hill in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
Serna and Serna, P.L.L.C. is recommended for the role of local liaison and will coordinate closely with the Washington D.C.-based firms. Mr. Serna has more than 15 years of experience representing the City of San Antonio and other local entities. He is a trusted figure throughout the local, statewide and national political landscape and has long-standing relationships with governmental, service and corporate entities.
The initial contract term will be June 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020 and will include one, two-year performance based extension at the City’s option.
ISSUE:
Obtaining federal representation services is consistent with City policy to supplement the City’s federal advocacy efforts It is also consistent with the City policy of building strategic alliances with officials in Washington, D.C., including agency personnel, members of Congress and the presidential administration, to further the City’s interests. Finally, it is consistent with City policy of developing a detailed strategy to advance the City’s adopted Federal Legislative Program.
ALTERNATIVES:
If a contract for federal representation services is not supported, the alternative is for staff to conduct all efforts related to the Federal Legislative Program from San Antonio. This would result in a loss of capacity and on-the-ground expertise to effectively advocate with the federal government and could result in a loss of federal funding for the City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this contract is available in the FY 2019 General Fund and Airport Fund Budget for the corresponding portions of this contract. The remaining amount will be paid from the FY 2021 and FY 2022 budgets, subject to City Council appropriations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed federal representation services contracts and consideration by City Council.