DEPARTMENT: Intergovernmental Relations
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Federal Representation Services Contract
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a federal representation services contract with Venable LLP in an amount not to exceed $16,667 per month for the term of May 22, 2015 through May 21, 2017 for a total contract amount of $400,008. The agreement provides that the term may be renewed for up to one two year term through December 31, 2019, upon approval by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Antonio has retained consultants to represent its federal interests in Washington, D.C. since 1994. Increasingly challenging budget constraints make it imperative for local communities to have strong advocates at the federal level. Consultants enhance the City's ability to communicate with federal officials on San Antonio's priority issues and communicate regularly with City Council and staff on issues in the City's Federal Legislative Program. Additionally, the consultants coordinate with staff in planning City IGR Council Committee visits to Washington, D.C. and facilitate meetings with the appropriate elected and appointed officials. Finally and most importantly, they provide strategic advice and planning on maximizing our community's efforts to secure federal funding for key priority City projects.
Staff from the Intergovernmental Relations Department and Finance collaborated with the Small Business Office and City Attorney's Office to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) for federal representation services, issued December 12, 2014.
Notice of the RFP was published in 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 41 vendors. The deadline for submission of proposals was January 30, 2015. A t...
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