Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5e. Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for 2024-2029 On-call Legal Services Item 5e Department: Attorney Cost Center: 1501 For Agenda of: 1/9/2024 Placement: Consent Estimated Time: N/A FROM: Christine Dietrick, City Attorney Prepared By: Kelly White, Senior Legal Analyst SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR 2024-2029 ON-CALL LEGAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATION 1. Approve the Request for Qualifications for On-call Legal Services; and 2. Authorize the City Attorney to create a 20 24-2029 On-Call List from the qualifications received and deemed to be responsive; and 3. Authorize the City Attorney to execute legal services agreements, on an as-needed basis, with the law firms and/or attorneys included in the 2024-2029 On-call List during the five-year period April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2029. POLICY CONTEXT Often, the City Attorney determines, on short notice, that outside legal counsel is needed to defend the City or advise on an urgent matter. In these instances, there is no time to do a formal request for proposals and, furthermore, whether a formal request for proposals would be necessary is not always readily apparent at the outset of a new matter. Generally, under the City’s Financial Management Manual, the City should issue a formal request for proposals for Professional Services if the expenditure is expected to exceed $39,999. With legal services, what begins as a small issue, advising on a discrete matter and contemplated to be completed well within a budget of $39,999 or less, may become a larger issue, requiring a much larger budget, if litigation arises out of that matter. San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 3.24.070(C) provides that contracts involving the acquisition of professional or specialized services such as attorney services are not required to be competitively bid but rather such services can be selected from an approved list of on-call consultants that is established by a formal request for qualifications (RFQ) process. The Council shall approve the RFQ, and as noted above, the purchasing authority is authorized to execute agreements with select ed consultants. To have the benefit of taking time to investigate the qualifications of attorneys and law firms in various areas of legal practice and also be able to contract quickly when a matter arises, the City Attorney’s Office has maintained, for the last ten years, an on -call list of Page 215 of 581 Item 5e outside legal counsel. This list is updated every five years by the issuance of a RFQ, and the current list is set to expire March 31, 2024. DISCUSSION Background Over the five-year life of the current on-call list, the City Attorney’s Office has used the firms and attorneys (“Consultants”) from it more than 20 times; procuring quality legal services for the City in an efficient and expedited manner. During the RFQ process used to create the current on-call list, over 25 responses were received and reviewed. The Consultants that submitted their qualifications had expertise in over 18 practice areas. Typically, the City retains outside counsel in three different situations: 1) in matters that require specialized expertise; 2) in matters that present conflict of interest issues; and 3) in matters that exceed the workload capacity of the City Attorney’s Office, including significant litigation matters not covered by the City’s joint powers insurance authority. On-call List for 2024-2029 At this time, the City Attorney requests that a new RFQ (Attachment A) be issued in order to continue, for the next five years, the practice of maintaining an on-call list that can be used to quickly identify and engage needed legal services. As is current practice, the oversight of the Consultants engaged will be handled by the City Attorney’s Office. The Consultants will operate under the conditions of the agreement template included in the RFQ. Individual matters will be scoped by the City Attorney, the Consultant selected for the contract, and staff in the City department most involved with the engagement. Specific cases or matters will be assigned either through a subsequent City Manager award, if the anticipated cost exceeds the City Attorney’s department head authority but is less than $150,000, or by Council, if the anticipated cost exceeds $150,000. Previous Council or Advisory Body Action The City Council has twice before issued RFQs for on-call legal services. First in 2013 then again in 2018. July 2, 2013, C7 RFQ for Legal Services October 2, 2018, Item 7 RFQ for Legal Services Public Engagement This item is on the agenda for the January 9, 2024, City Council meeting, during which the public may comment, and has been posted in accordance with applicable Brown Act requirements. If approved by City Council, the RFQ (Attachment A) will be posted in BidSync. CONCURRENCE The Finance Department concurs with the issuance of the RFQ and assisted with its development. Page 216 of 581 Item 5e ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378. FISCAL IMPACT Budgeted: N/A Budget Year: N/A Funding Identified: N/A Fiscal Analysis: Funding Sources Total Budget Available Current Funding Request Remaining Balance Annual Ongoing Cost General Fund $ $ $ $ State Federal Fees Other: Total $ $0 $ $0 The RFQ, in and of itself, does not obligate any funds or commit the City to utilize any of the Consultants added to the on-call list. Fiscal impact for scope of representation, including identifying the funds that will pay for the legal services, will be discussed at the time the City Attorney’s Office engages a Consultant for a particulate matter, depending upon the anticipated cost of services and consistent with the City’s purchasing policies and rules. ALTERNATIVES Do not approve the RFQ release. The City Council could decline issuing the RFQ, which would mean, that once the current on-call list expires, the City Attorney’s Office would need to return to request Council authorization to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for each specific case or matter if time allows or solicit qualified counsel and request Council authorization for retention on a case-by-case basis, for matters exceeding $39,999. For matters with an anticipated cost of $10,000 to $39,999, the City Attorney’s Office would seek three informal bids, as outlined in the Financial Management Manual. A benefit of issuing the RFQ is that the City may become aware of a broader spectrum of Consultants providing certain services, thereby increasing the City’s choices, and maximizing the potential to obtain the highest quality and most cost -effective representation. ATTACHMENTS A - Draft RFQ Package – 2024-2029 On-call List for Legal Services Page 217 of 581 Page 218 of 581 The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including disabled persons in all of our services, programs and activities. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7410. Notice Requesting Qualifications for Legal Services On-Call Outside Counsel 2024-2029 The City of San Luis Obispo (“City”) is requesting proposals for outside counsel legal services in a variety of practice areas pursuant to the specifications of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). All firms interested in receiving further correspondence regarding this RF Q will be required to complete a free registration using BidSync (https://www.bidsync.com/bidsync- cas/). Proposals responsive to this RFQ will be reviewed by staff in the City Attorney’s Office as they are received and must be completely uploaded on BidSync at or before February 15, 2024, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Proposals received after said time will not be considered. Proposals shall be submitted using the forms provided in this RFQ package. Proposals submitted in any manner not specified above will not be accepted. RFQ packages and additional information may be obtained at the City’s BidSync website at www.BidSync.com. Please contact Kelly White, Sr. Legal Analyst, at kwhite@slocity.org for any questions about the content of the RFQ. For technical help with BidSync please contact BidSync tech support at 800 -990-9339. Page 219 of 581 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3 SECTION B: SCOPE OF REQUEST ...................................................................................... 3 SECTION C: CARRYOVER FROM CURRENT ON-CALL LIST ......................................... 4 SECTION D: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS .......................................................... 6 SECTION E: SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ............................................................ 8 SECTION F: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 10 SECTION G: INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... 12 SECTION H: PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL FORMS ................................................................ 14 SECTION I: FORM OF AGREEMENT ................................................................................. 19 Page 220 of 581 -3- SECTION A: INTRODUCTION The City Attorney’s Office (“CAO”) is responsible for providing all legal services for the City of San Luis Obispo (“City”), its City Council and its advisory bodies. In addition, the City Attorney serves as the City Prosecutor. The full-time, regular staff in the CAO are the City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney, and Deputy City Attorney, Senior Legal Analyst, Paralegal, and Legal Assistant. There is also an additional part-time, supplemental attorney and full- time support staff member assigned to the CAO. The City retains outside counsel in three different situations: 1) in matters that require specialized expertise, 2) in matters that present a conflict of interest for CAO staff, and 3) when a matter exceeds the workload capacity of the CAO. SECTION B: SCOPE OF REQUEST The City is requesting proposals for outside counsel legal services in a variety of different areas of law, in order to establish a list of qualified firms and individuals for contract work the City may need during the five-year period, April 1, 2024, – March 31, 2029. The City requests information regarding the qualifications of attorneys or law firms interested in providing legal services to the City, as needed, via an established list of on-call outside counsel (“On-call List”). The City is interested in retaining a diverse group of firms and individuals who will be placed on the On-call List to provide high-quality legal services and who are dedicated to the mindful management of billed legal costs. Selection of outside counsel for all matters is based on the qualifications and practice area experience, quality of work, articulate approach to controlling costs and adhering to budgets, and effectiveness in communicating with the City. In addition to being placed on the On-call List, selected attorneys or firms will enter into Legal Services Agreements (“LSAs”) for each specific matter, when a matter arises within a qualified practice area. LSAs for specific engagements will include (1) a written scope of work, (2) a capped “not to exceed” amount, including the circumstances under which initial payment terms may be modified; and (3) the names of the individual attorneys in the law firm assigned to work on the matter along with their hourly rate(s), which shall be consistent with the proposal submitted for this RFQ. Placement on the On-call List does not guarantee that the firm or attorney will be engaged to provide services. Outside legal services will be used on an as-needed, case by case, or matter by matter basis. Specific assignments may include investigating, advising, or negotiating on behalf of the City; reviewing and/or drafting d ocuments (transactional and litigation); and representation in court, administrative hearings and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. All work will be under the direction and supervision of the City Attorney, except those matters in which outside counsel is retained to provide conflict representation, in which case counsel may report directly to the City Council or other Page 221 of 581 -4- specified staff. Outside counsel engagements for which proposals are sought may involve one or more of the following areas: 1. Administrative Law 2. Appellate Proceedings and writs 3. Affordable Housing & Development Law 4. Code Enforcement 5. Conflict Counsel 6. Constitutional Law 7. Criminal procedure 8. Elections Law 9. Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation 10. Employment Issues and Litigation – Labor and Employment, Pension and Benefits Programs 11. Engineering, Design Professional and Public Works Contracting Issues and Litigation 12. Environmental Issues and Litigation, Federal and State Regulatory Issues, Endangered Species, Clear Air and Clean Water Acts 13. Financial Services, Infrastructure, Financing, Fees (Community Facility Districts, Assessment Districts, etc.) and taxation 14. General civil litigation 15. General Municipal Services 16. Land Use issues and litigation, including California Environmental Quality Act and wireless communications land use and regulatory issues 17. Real Property 18. Water Rights SECTION C: CARRYOVER FROM CURRENT ON-CALL LIST Any firm or attorney that was accepted onto the City’s current On-Call List for Outside Counsel (in place for April 2019 – March 2024 and listed below) that would like to request carryover into the 2024-2029 On-Call List in some or all of the practice areas for which they are currently qualified, may utilize the Condensed Re-Proposal Form (found in Section H) in place of completing a full proposal. To the extent that a previously qualified firm or attorney has undergone a reorganization or other transition that has resulted in the establishment of a new or separate firm or legal entity, the newly created entity should submit a full proposal. Only those entities that are still acting under the legal name by which they were accepted onto the current on-call list qualify to use the Condensed Re-Proposal Form. Page 222 of 581 Current On-Call List 2019 - 2024 Practice Areas Co n s u l t a n t s Current On-call List for 2019-2024 Aa r o n s o n , D i c k e r s o n C o h n a n d L a n s o n e Al e s h i r e a n d W y n d e r , L L P At k i n s o n , A n d e l s o n , L o y a , R u u d a n d R o m o Be s t B e s t a n d K r i e g e r L L P Br o w n s t e i n H y a t t F a r b e r S c h r e c k Bu r k e W i l l i a m s o n a n d S o r e n s e n L L P Ca r m e l an d N a c c a s h a L L P Co l a n t u o n o H i g h s m i t h a n d W h a t l e y P C Er i c k s o n L a w F i r m Go l d f a r b a n d L i p m a n L L P Ha l l H i e a t t a n d C o n n e l y L L P Ha n s o n B r i d g e t t L L P Ja r v i s , F a y a n d G i b s o n , L L P Jo n e s a n d M a y e r Lo z a n o S m i t h L L P Ly n b e r g a n d W a t k i n s Ma n n i n g a n d K a s s E l l r o d , R a m i r e z , T r e s t e r , L L P Me y e r s N a v e R i b a c k S i l v e r a n d W i l s o n No s s a m a n L L P Pr i c e P o s t e l a n d P a r m a L L P Re n n e P u b l i c L a w G r o u p Ri c h a r d s W a t s o n G e r s h o n Sh u t e M i h a l y W e i n b e r g e r L L P Si l v e r W r i g h t L L P Sl o a n S a k a i Administrative Law X X X X X X X X X X X X X Appellate Proceedings and Writs X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Affordable Housing & Development Law X X X X X X X X X X X Code Enforcement X X X X X X X X Conflict Counsel X X X X X X X X X X X X Constitutional Law X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Criminal Procedure X X X X X X X X X Elections Law X X X X X X X X X X X X Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Employment Issues and Litigation… X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Engineering, Design Professional…Contracting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Environmental Issues & Litigation… X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Financial Services, Infrastructure, Financing,… X X X X X X X X X General Civil Litigation X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X General Municipal Services X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Land Use issues and litigation,… X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Real Property X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Water Rights X X X X X X X X X X X X X Page 223 of 581 -6- SECTION D: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Requirement to Meet All Provisions. Each individual or firm submitting a proposal (“Candidate”) shall meet all the terms, and conditions of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) package. By virtue of its submission of a proposal, the Candidate acknowledges agreement with and acceptance of all provisions of the RFQ specifications. 2. Proposal Submittal. Each proposal must be submitted on the form(s) provided in the specifications and accompanied by any other required materials. Proposal documents shall be submitted electronically via BidSync. 3. Insurance Certificate. Each proposal must include a certificate of insurance showing: a. The insurance carrier and its A.M. Best rating. b. Scope of coverage and limits. c. Deductibles and self-insured retention. The purpose of this submittal is to generally assess the adequacy of the Candidate’s insurance coverage during proposal evaluation; as discussed under paragraph 12 below, endorsements are not required until contract award. The City’s current insurance requirements are detailed in Section G and each contract executed for work assigned under the On-call List will include the insurance requirements in effect at the time of execution. 5. Proposal Withdrawal and Opening. A Candidate may withdraw its proposal, without prejudice, or submit a revised proposal via BidSync prior to the time and date specified for complete upload to BidSync in the Notice for this RFQ. No proposal received after the time specified or at any place other than that stated in the “Notice Requesting Qualifications for Legal Services” of this RFQ will be considered. 6. Submittal of One Proposal Only. No individual or business entity of any kind shall be allowed to make or file, or to be interested as the primary submitter in more than one proposal. 7. Communications. All timely requests for information submitted in writing via BidSync on or before the date indicated in the RFQ will receive a written response from the City. 8. Proposal Retention and Award. The City reserves the right to retain all proposals in accordance with its retention schedule (currently, two years from decision for all unsuccessful proposals and five years past audit for successful ones). The City also reserves the right to waive non-substantial irregularities in any proposal, to reject any or all proposals, to reject or delete one part of a proposal and accept the other, except to the extent that proposals are qualified by specific limitations. See Page 224 of 581 -7- the “special terms and conditions” in Section E of these specifications for proposal evaluation and contract award criteria. 9. Competency and Responsibility of Candidate. The City reserves full discretion to determine the competence and responsibility, professionally and/or financially, of Candidates. Candidates will provide, in a timely manner, all information that the City deems necessary to make such a decision. 10. Form of Agreement. Additional contract terms and conditions that Candidate will be expected to execute and be bound by when assigned a matter from their position on the On-Call List are listed in the Form of Agreement (Section I). Page 225 of 581 -8- SECTION E: SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Acceptance of Position on the On-call List. Any Candidate awarded a position on the On-call List will be asked to execute, within ten (10) calendar days of notice of award, a written letter of acceptance, in a form drafted by the City and routed for electronic signature. The letter will include the accepted practice areas and be electronically routed to the Candidate’s Authorized Representative at the e-mail address given in its proposal. Execution of the acceptance letter will make you a part of the On-call List (“Consultant”). 2. Term. The On-call List created from this RFQ will be active for the five-year period, April 1, 2024, – March 31, 2029. 3. Proposal Evaluation and Selection. Proposals will be evaluated by the City Attorney’s Office as they are received and based on the following criteria: a. Proposal Review/ Candidate Selection to the List: The City will develop the On- call List based upon the responses to this RFQ. Responses will be evaluated by the City Attorney’s Office. Price will not be the controlling factor in selecting firms for the list, but price will be a factor in making work as signments. A Candidate is not entitled to be placed on the On-call List or entitled to be assigned work solely on the basis of submission of a low-price quotation. The City Attorney will evaluate the responses based on the proposal content, and any further information that may be requested for clarification. b. Consultant Selection and Compensation: Acceptance onto the On-Call List does not guarantee that any case or matter, or number of cases or matters, will be assigned to Consultant. The decision to retain outside counsel will be that of the City on a case-by-case basis or matter-by-matter basis. Proposed fee structures should take into account the five-year life of the On-call List, and Candidates are encouraged to include in their proposal any fee escalator information that will be relevant to cost evaluation over the life of the On-call List. 4. Submittal of Proposal Forms. Each Candidate shall submit completed version of the three required forms in Section H: a. Acknowledgement b. References c. Statement of Contract Disqualifications 5. Non-Exclusive Contract. During the life of the On-call List the City reserves the right to enter into agreements for legal services with persons or firms who do not respond to the RFQ. The City further reserves the right to waive responses to any part of this request if, in its sole judgment, it determines that it is in the best interests of the City to do so. The City may require any Candidate to participate in negotiations and to submit such other information or documentation as it may deem necessary as conditions of awarding a contract. The City reserves the right Page 226 of 581 -9- to vary or waive requirements for different Candidates as shall fit the City’s needs for a particular type of engagement or area of representation. 6. Proposal Review and Award Schedule. The following is an outline of the anticipated schedule for proposal review and On-call List creation: a. City Council meeting for approval of RFQ 1/9/24 b. Issue RFQ 1/10/24 c. Receive proposals 1/10 – 2/15/24 d. Complete evaluation of proposals 3/1/24 e. Issue notice letters to Candidates 3/8/24 f. Deadline for execution of On-call List acceptance 3/18/24 g. Start of new On-call List 4/1/24 7. Accuracy of Specifications. The specifications for this project are believed by the City to be accurate and to contain no affirmative misrepresentation or any concealment of fact. In the event that any dispute arises as a result of any actual or alleged ambiguity, Consultant shall immediately notify the City in writing, and the Consultant shall continue to perform, irrespective of whether or not the ambiguity is major, material, minor or trivial. Failure to provide the hereinbefore described written notice within one (1) working day of Consultant's becoming aware of the facts giving rise to the dispute shall constitute a waiver of the right to assert the causative role of the ambiguity concerning the dispute. Page 227 of 581 -10- SECTION F: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Requested Changes to Terms and Conditions The City desires to begin using the On-call List soon after its start date, April 1, 2024, and expects the Consultant to execute City contracts for assigned matters using all of the terms set forth in this RFQ including the Form of Agreement, Section I. To expedite the contracting process, each Candidate shall include in their proposal any requested redlined changes to terms and conditions, if necessary. Consultant’s requested changes will be considered by City staff when determining their competency and responsibility, as well as whether to include them in the On -call List. Proposal Length Proposal length should be the least number of pages possible while still being a complete response to the RFQ. Contents of a Complete Submission 1. Full Proposal. Candidates that are new or newly structured must provide all of the following information, in addition to any requested changes to the terms and conditions set forth in this RFQ: Submittal Forms (found in Section H) a. Acknowledgement of RFQ specifications b. References c. Statement of Contract Disqualifications Qualifications d. Identify from the list of practice areas in Section B, which areas you wish to be considered for in this RFQ process. e. Your experience performing assignments in the proposed practice areas. f. If applicable, the staff to be assigned to matters in the proposed practice areas. g. Resumes of the individuals who would be performing services. h. Your experience having a co-counsel relationship with in- house counsel. i. Any other information that would assist us in making this award decision. Fee Structure j. Provide information on the hourly rates for all staff that would be necessary to render service in the proposed practice areas. k. Provide a list of expenses being proposed to be billed in addition to legal fees, including the basis for such expenses. Page 228 of 581 -11- l. If rates are to be adjusted during the course of representation, the method for such adjustment should be described. 2. Condensed Re-proposal. Candidates requesting to be carried-over from the current on-call list to the new On-Call List must provide all of the following, in addition to any requested changes to the terms and conditions set forth in this RFQ: Submittal Forms (found in Section H) a. Acknowledgement of RFQ specifications b. References c. Statement of Contract Disqualifications d. Condensed Re-proposal Form Page 229 of 581 -12- SECTION G: INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS The Consultant shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder by the Consultant, its agents, representatives, employees or subcontractors. Minimum Scope of Insurance. Coverage shall be at least as broad as: 1. Insurance Services Office Commercial General Liability coverage (occurrence form CG 0001). 2. Insurance Services Office form number CA 0001 (Ed. 1/87) covering Automobile Liability, code 1 (any auto). 3. Workers' Compensation insurance as required by the State of California and Employer's Liability Insurance. Minimum Limits of Insurance. Consultant shall maintain limits no less than: 1. General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage. If Commercial General Liability or other form with a general aggregate limit is used, either the general aggregate limit shall apply separately to this project/location or the general aggregate limit shall be twice the required occurrence limit of $2,000,000. 2. Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage. 3. Employer's Liability: $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury or disease. Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions. Any deductibles or self-insured retentions must be declared to and approved by the City. At the option of the City, either: the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retentions as respects the City, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers; or the Consultant shall procure a bond guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claim administration and defense expenses. Other Insurance Provisions. The general liability and automobile liability policies are to contain, or be endorsed to contain, the following provisions: 1. The City, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers are to be covered as insureds as respects: liability arising out of activities performed by or on behalf of the Consultant; products and completed operations of the Consultant; premises owned, occupied or used by the Consultant; or automobiles owned, leased, hired or borrowed by the Consultant. The coverage shall contain no special limitations on the scope of protection afforded to the City, its officers, official, employees, agents or volunteers. Page 230 of 581 -13- 2. For any claims related to this project, the Consultant’s insurance coverage shall be primary insurance as respects the City, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers. Any insurance or self-insurance maintained by the City, its officers, officials, employees, agents or volunteers shall be excess of the Consultant’s insurance and shall not contribute with it. 3. The Consultant's insurance shall apply separately to each insured against whom claim is made or suit is brought, except with respect to the limits of the insurer's liability. 4. Each insurance policy required by this clause shall be endorsed to state that coverage shall not be suspended, voided, canceled by either party, reduced in coverage or in limits except after thirty (30) days' prior written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, has been given to the City. Acceptability of Insurers. Insurance is to be placed with insurers with a current A.M. Best's rating of no less than A:VII. Verification of Coverage. Consultant shall furnish the City with a certificate of insurance showing maintenance of the required insurance coverage. Original endorsements effecting general liability and automobile liability coverage required by this clause must also be provided. The endorsements are to be signed by a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. All endorsements are to be received and approved by the City before work commences. Page 231 of 581 -14- SECTION H: PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL FORMS 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [Required] The undersigned declares that she or he:  Has carefully examined the entirety of the City’s Notice Requesting Qualifications for Legal Services On-Call Outside Counsel 2024-2029, which is hereby made a part of this proposal.  Is thoroughly familiar with its contents.  Is authorized to represent the proposing firm.  Agrees to perform the work as set forth in this proposal.  Certificate of insurance attached; insurance company’s A.M. Best rating: _______. Firm Name and Mailing Address Name of Authorized Representative: Phone: Email address: Signature of Authorized Representative Date Page 232 of 581 -15- 2. REFERENCES [Required] Number of years engaged, under the present business name, in the provision of legal services within the practice area(s) included in the proposal. Attach additional pages if required. Practice Area Years of Experience Describe fully three recent contracts performed by your firm that demonstrate your ability to provide legal services within the practice area(s) included in the proposal. Attach additional pages if required. The City reserves the right to contact each of the references listed for additional information regarding your firm's qualifications. Reference No. 1: Agency Name Contact Name Telephone Email Street Address City, State, Zip Code Description of services provided including contract amount, when provided and project outcome Page 233 of 581 -16- Reference No. 2: Agency Name Contact Name Telephone Email Street Address City, State, Zip Code Description of services provided including contract amount, when provided and project outcome Reference No. 3 Agency Name Contact Name Telephone Email Street Address City, State, Zip Code Description of services provided including contract amount, when provided and project outcome Page 234 of 581 -17- 3. STATEMENT OF PAST CONTRACT DISQUALIFICATIONS [Required] The Authorized Representation of the proposing firm shall state whether it or any of its officers or employees who have a proprietary interest in it, has ever been disqualified, removed, or otherwise prevented from working on, or completing a federal, state, or local government project because of the violation of law, a safety regulation, or for any other reason, including but not limited to financial difficulties, project delays, or disputes regarding work or product quality, and if so to explain the circumstances.  Do you have any disqualification as described in the above paragraph to declare? Yes  No  If yes, explain the circumstances. This Statement of Past Contract Disqualifications is executed on at __________________ under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of California, that the foregoing is true and correct. ______________________________________ Signature of Authorized Proposer Representative Page 235 of 581 -18- 4. Condensed Re-proposal Form [Optional] a. Name of firm or attorney (as it appears in the City’s Current On-Call List for Outside Counsel – Section C): b. Practice areas of current qualification (City’s Current On-Call List) and those being proposed for carryover: Mark Practice Areas Currently Qualified Under Mark Practice Areas Proposed for Carryover Administrative Law Administrative Law Appellate Proceedings and Writs Appellate Proceedings and Writs Affordable Housing & Development Law Affordable Housing & Development Law Code Enforcement Code Enforcement Conflict Counsel Conflict Counsel Constitutional Law Constitutional Law Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure Elections Law Elections Law Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation Employment Issues and Litigation (Labor & Employment, Pension and Benefits Programs) Employment Issues and Litigation (Labor & Employment, Pension and Benefits Programs) Engineering, Design Professional and Public Works Contracting Issues and Litigation Engineering, Design Professional and Public Works Contracting Issues and Litigation Environmental Issues & Litigation (Federal and State Regulatory Issues, Endangered Species, Clear Air and Clean Water Acts) Environmental Issues & Litigation (Federal and State Regulatory Issues, Endangered Species, Clear Air and Clean Water Acts) Financial Services, Infrastructure, Financing, Fees (Community Facility Districts, Assessment Districts, etc.) and Taxation Financial Services, Infrastructure, Financing, Fees (Community Facility Districts, Assessment Districts, etc.) and Taxation General Civil Litigation General Civil Litigation General Municipal Services General Municipal Services Land Use issues and litigation, including CEQA and wireless communications land use and regulation Land Use issues and litigation, including CEQA and wireless communications land use and regulation Real Property Real Property Water Rights Water Rights c. Names of the individual attorneys to be assigned to City matters in the practice areas selected above: [describe here or attach additional pages] d. List of current rates (by attorney name or position title): [describe here or attach additional pages] Page 236 of 581 -19- SECTION I: FORM OF AGREEMENT CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT This agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into in the City of San Luis Obispo on [Month, Day, Year] ______________ ______, _______ by and between the City of San Luis Obispo, a municipal corporation (“City”), and [Consultant’s Full Legal Name], a [Consultant’s entity type] (“Consultant”) (collectively referred to as the “Parties”). W I T N E S S E T H WHEREAS, on January 10, 2024, City issued a request for qualifications for On- Call Outside Counsel 2024-2029 (“RFQ”); and WHEREAS, Consultant submitted a proposal in response to RFQ that was accepted by City; and WHEREAS, after review of Consultant’s proposal, City accepted Consultant onto its 2024-2029 On-Call List in at least one practice area, which includes [List the practice area Consultant qualified under which applies to this matter]; and WHEREAS, the City requires professional legal services in the practice area referenced above and described further in the scope of work included in Exhibit A to this Agreement (the “Services”). NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, obligations and covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be from [Month, Day, Year Agreement is to commence] until [EITHER: “acceptance of completion of said services” OR Month, Day, Year to end] and the total fees and costs incurred for Services shall at no time exceed [EITHER: Dollar amount of City funds approved by the appropriate Purchasing Authority OR “the balance of funds deposited with the City under” followed by a description of funding source, e.g. a developer deposit]. Consultant will treat the [“not- to-exceed amount” OR “balance of deposited funds”] as a barrier to continued work and will notify City if, at any time, the Services are estimated to deplete said [“amount” OR “balance”] within the next sixty (60) days. Consultant shall not be obligated to continue to provide Services if the [“amount” OR “balance”] is inadequate to reimburse Consultant for its time. Page 237 of 581 -20- 2. Incorporation by Reference. City’s Notice Requesting Qualifications for Legal Services On-Call Outside Counsel 2024-2029 and Consultant’s proposal dated [Month, Day, Year], are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement. Should there be any conflict or inconsistency between the language of the incorporated documents and those in the rest of the Agreement, the language of the incorporated documents shall cede priority. 3. City’s Obligations. For providing the Services as specified in this Agreement, City will pay, and Consultant shall receive therefor, compensation as stated in Consultant’s proposal and confirmed in Exhibit A to th is Agreement. City will also monitor the balance [EITHER: “remaining from the not-to-exceed amount” OR “of deposited funds”] and alert Consultant should that balance drop below an amount estimated as sufficient to pay invoices for the next sixty (60) days, presuming Consultant has not already contacted City regarding same. 4. Consultant’s Obligations. For and in consideration of the payments and agreements hereinbefore mentioned to be made and performed by City, Consultant agrees with City to do everything required by th e incorporated documents and this Agreement, including the specific scope of work in Exhibit A. Consultant understands that included in these obligations is the maintenance of insurance compliant with the City’s current requirements, attached as Exhibit [B or applicable letter], and providing proof of such insurance to the City within ten (10) business days of execution of this Agreement. 5. Licenses and Permits. At all times during the term of this Agreement, Consultant shall have in full force and effect, all licenses required of it by law for the performance of the Services described in this Agreement. This includes, but is in no way limited to, obtaining a valid City of San Luis Obispo business license & tax certificate prior to the execution of the Agreement and maintaining said license for the duration of the Agreement. The Consultant shall procure all permits and licenses, pay all charges and fees, and give all notices necessary under this Agreement. 6. Compliance With Law. The Consultant shall keep itself informed of and shall observe and comply with all applicable State and Federal laws and regulations, and county and City of San Luis Obispo ordinances, regulations and adopted codes, which in any manner affect those employed by Consultant or in any way affect the performance of the Services pursuant to this Agreement. The City, and its officers and employees, shall not be liable at law or in equity occasioned by failure of the Consultant to comply with this Section. Failure to comply with local ordinances may result in monetary fines and cancellation of this Agreement. Page 238 of 581 -21- 7. Compliance With Industry Standard. Consultant shall provide Services acceptable to City in strict conformance with the Agreement. Consultant shall also provide in accordance with the standards customarily called for under this Agreement using the degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised by reputable providers of such services. Where approval by the City, the City Manager, the Mayor, or other representative of City is required, it is understood to be general approval only and does not relieve Consultant of responsibility for complying with all applicable laws, co des, policies, regulations, and good business practices. 8. Independent Contractor. a. Consultant is and shall at all times remain as to the City a wholly independent contractor. The personnel performing the Services under this Agreement on behalf of Consultant shall at all times be under Consultant's exclusive direction and control. Neither City nor any of its officers, employees, or agents shall have control over the conduct of Consultant or any of Consultant's officers, employees, or agents, except as set forth in this Agreement. Consultant shall not at any time or in any manner represent that it or any of its officers, employees, or agents are in any manner officers, employees, or agents of the City. Consultant shall not incur or have the power to incur any debt, obligation, or liability whatsoever against City, or bind City in any manner. b. No employee benefits shall be available to Consultant in connection with the performance of this Agreement. Except for the fees paid to Consultant as provided in the Agreement, City shall not pay salaries, wages, or other compensation to Consultant for performing the Services hereunder for City. City shall not be liable for compensation or indemnification to Consultant for injury or sickness arising out of performing services hereunder. 9. Preservation of City Property. The Consultant shall provide and install suitable safeguards, approved by the City, to protect City property, including the City’s electronic files and data network, from injury or damage. If City property is injured or damaged resulting from Consultant’s operations, it shall be replaced or restored at Consultant’s expense. The City’s property shall be replaced or restored to a condition as good as when the Consultant began the work. 10. Immigration Act of 1986. The Consultant warrants on behalf of itself and all subconsultants engaged for the performance of the Services that only persons authorized to work in the United States pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and other applicable laws shall be employed in the performance of the Services hereunder. 11. Non-Discrimination. In the performance of the Services, the Consultant agrees that it will not engage in, nor permit such subconsultants as it may employ to engage in, Page 239 of 581 -22- discrimination in employment of persons because of age, race, color, sex, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, or religion of such persons. 12. Payment Terms. The City’s payment terms are 30 days from the receipt of an original invoice, with no disputed charges, and acceptance by the City of the materials, supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Consultant (Net 30). If the City disputes any of Consultant's costs or fees within an invoice it shall give written notice to Consultant within thirty (30) days of receipt of said invoice and any final payment under this Agreement shall be made within fifteen (15) days of resolution of the dispute. 13. Consultant Invoices. By no later than the tenth (10th) day of each calendar month, the Consultant shall deliver to the City either a detailed invoice for work done within the previous calendar month or an electronic notice that the previous month’s work was minimal (less than $250 of costs and fees) and will be included in the invoice for the following month. No more than two months of billing can be accumulated and sent together. Each invoice shall be electronically mailed to city_attorney@slocity.org and must include a breakdown of hours billed and miscellaneous charges and any sub - consultant invoices, similarly broken down as supporting detail. Final June invoices shall be received no later than the 5th business day of July to meet City fiscal year-end deadlines. 14. Inspection. City shall at all times have the right to inspect the work -product being created under this Agreement and Consultant shall furnish City with every reasonable opportunity and assistance required for City to ascertain that the Services of the Consultant are being performed in accordance with the requirements and intentions of this Agreement. All work-product created, and all materials furnished, if any, shall be subject to the City’s inspection and approval. The inspection of such work-product shall not relieve Consultant of any of its obligations under the Agreement. 15. Release of Information. a. All information gained by Consultant in performance of this Agreement shall be considered confidential and shall not be released by Consultant without City's prior written authorization. Consultant, its officers, employees, agents, or subconsultants, shall not, without written authorization from the City Manager or unless requested by the City Attorney, voluntarily provide declarations, letters of support, testimony at depositions, response to interrogatories, or other information concerning the work performed under this Agreement. Response to a subpoena or court order shall not be considered "voluntary" provided Consultant gives City notice of such court order or subpoena. Page 240 of 581 -23- b. Consultant shall promptly notify City should Consultant, its officers, employees, agents, or subconsultants be served with any summons, complaint, subpoena, notice of deposition, request for documents, interrogatories, request for admissions, or other discovery request (“Discovery”), court order, or subpoena from any person or party regarding this Agreement, unless the City is a party to any lawsuit, arbitration, or administrative proceeding connected to such Discovery, or unless Consultant is prohibited by law from informing the City of such Discovery. City retains the right, but has no obligation, to represent Consultant and/or be present at any deposition, hearing, or similar proceeding as allowed by law. Unless City is a party to the lawsuit, arbitration, or administrative proceeding and is averse to Consultant in such proceeding, Consultant agrees to cooperate fully with City and to provide the opportunity to review any response to Discovery requests provided by Consultant. However, City's right to review any such response does not imply or mean the right by City to control, direct, or rewrite said response. 16. Conflicts of Interest. The Consultant shall disclose any financial, business, or other relationship with the City that may have an impact upon the outcome of this engagement. The Consultant covenants that it presently has no interest, and shall not acquire any interest—direct, indirect or otherwise—that would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of the work hereunder. The Consultant further covenants that, in the performance of this work, no sub -consultant or person having such an interest shall be employed. The Consultant certifies that no one who has or will have any financial interest in performing this work is an officer or employee of the City. 17. Ownership of Documents. a. Consultant shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to sales, costs, expenses, receipts, and other such information required by City that relate to the performance of the Services under this Agreement. Consultant shall maintain adequate records of Services provided in sufficient detail to permit an evaluation of Services. All such records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be clearly identified and readily accessible. Consultant shall provide free access to the representatives of City or its designees at reasonable times to such books and records; shall give City the right to examine and audit said books and records; shall permit City to make transcripts or copies therefrom as necessary; and shall allow inspection of all work, data, documents, proceedings, and activities related to this Agreement. Such records, together with supporting documents, shall be maintained for a period of five (5) years after receipt of final payment. b. Upon completion of, or in the event of termination or suspension of this Agreement, all original documents, designs, drawings, maps, models, computer files, surveys, Page 241 of 581 -24- notes, and other documents prepared in the course of providing the Services under this Agreement shall become the sole property of the City and may be used, reused, or otherwise disposed of by the City without the permission of the Consultant. With respect to computer files, Consultant shall make available to the City, at the Consultant's office and upon reasonable written request by the City, the necessary computer software and hardware for purposes of accessing, compiling, transferring, copying and/or printing computer files. Consultant hereby grants to City all right, title, and interest, including any copyright, in and to the documents, designs, drawings, maps, models, computer files, surveys, notes, and other documents prepared by Consultant in the course of providing the Services under this Agreement. 18. Deliverable Products and Methods of Collaboration. The Consultant will be required to provide computer files compatible with the following programs whenever possible unless otherwise directed by the City Attorney: a. Word Processing (drafts): Microsoft Word b. Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel c. Final Work-product: Adobe PDF While collaborating on drafts with City staff, Consultant will be asked to use links to shared files and to avoid, whenever possible, the emailing of drafts to minimize version control issues. City staff will review any docum ents or materials provided by the Consultant and, when necessary, provide feedback that the Consultant will be required to respond to and make such changes as deemed appropriate. 19. Indemnification and Defense. a. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including, but not limited to California Civil Code Sections 2782 and 2782.8), Consultant shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City, and its elected officials, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents (“City Indemnitees”), from and against any and all causes of action, claims, liabilities, obligations, judgments, or damages, including reasonable legal counsels’ fees and costs of litigation (“claims”), arising out of the Consultant’s performance or Consultant’s failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement or out of the operations conducted by Consultant, including the City’s active or passive negligence, except for such loss or damage arising from the sole negligence or willful misconduct of the City. In the event the City Indemnitees are made a party to any action, lawsuit, or other adversarial proceeding arising from Consultant’s performance of this Agreement, the Consultant shall provide a defense to the City Indemnitees or at the City’s option, reimburse the City Indemnitees their costs of defense, including reasonable legal fees, incurred in defense of such claims. Page 242 of 581 -25- b. The review, acceptance or approval of the Consultant’s work or work-product by any indemnified party shall not affect, relieve or reduce the Consultant’s indemnification or defense obligations. This Section survives completion of the Services or the termination of this Agreement. The provisions of this Section are not limited by and do not affect the provisions of this contract relating to insurance. 20. Suspension or Termination of Agreement Without Cause. a. The City may at any time, for any reason, with or without cause, suspend or terminate this Agreement, or any portion hereof, by serving upon the Consultant at least thirty (30) days prior written notice. Upon receipt of said notice, the Consultant shall immediately cease all work under this Agreement, unless the notice provides otherwise. If the City suspends or terminates a portion of this Agreement such suspension or termination shall not make void or invalidate the remainder of this Agreement. b. In the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, the City’s liability will be the lesser of a reasonable price for the services rendered prior to termination, or the price for the services reflected in the contract. Upon termination of the Agreement pursuant to this Section, the Consultant will submit an invoice to the City pursuant to Section 13. 21. Termination For Cause. If, during the term of the Agreement, the City determines the Consultant is not faithfully abiding by any term or condition contained herein, the City may notify the Consultant in writing of such defect or failure to perform. This notice must give the Consultant a ten (10) calendar day notice of time thereafter in which to perform said work or cure the deficiency. a. If the Consultant has not performed the work or cured the deficiency within the ten (10) days specified in the notice, such shall constitute a breach of the Agreement and the City may terminate the Agreement immediately by written notice to the Consultant to said effect (“Notice of Termination”). Thereafter, neither party shall have any further duties, obligations, responsibilities, or rights under the Agreement except to comply with the obligations upon termination. b. In said event, the Consultant shall be entitled to the reasonable value of its services performed from the beginning date in which the breach occurs up to the day it received the City’s Notice of Termination, minus any offset from such payment representing the City’s damages from such breach. “Reasonable value” includes fees or charges for goods or services as of the last milestone or task satisfactorily delivered or completed by the Consultant as may be set forth in the Agreement payment schedule; compensation for any other work or services performed or provided by the Consultant shall be based solely on the City’s assessment of the value of the work-in-progress in completing the overall scope. Page 243 of 581 -26- c. The City reserves the right to delay such payment until completion or confirmed abandonment of the project, as may be determined in the City’s sole discretion, so as to permit a full and complete accounting of costs. In no event, however, shall the Consultant be entitled to receive in excess of the not to exceed amount shown in this Agreement. 22. Safety Provisions. The Consultant shall conform to the rules and regulations pertaining to safety established by OSHA and the California Division of Ind ustrial Safety. 23. Undue Influence. Consultant declares and warrants that no undue influence or pressure was used against or in concert with any officer or employee of the City in connection with the award, terms or implementation of this Agreement, includin g any method of coercion, confidential financial arrangement, or financial inducement. No officer or employee of the City has or will receive compensation, directly or indirectly, from Consultant, or from any officer, employee or agent of Consultant, in co nnection with the award of this Agreement or any work to be conducted as a result of this Agreement. Violation of this Section shall be a material breach of this Agreement entitling the City to any and all remedies at law or in equity. 24. Rebates, Kickbacks or Other Unlawful Consideration. The Consultant warrants that this contract was not obtained or secured through rebates, kickbacks or other unlawful consideration, either promised or paid to any City employee. For breach or violation of the warranty, the City shall have the right, in its discretion, to terminate the contract without liability; to pay only for the value of the work actually performed; to deduct from the contract price; or otherwise recover the full amount of such rebate, kickback or other unlawful consideration. 25. Covenant Against Contingent Fees. The Consultant warrants by execution of this contract that no person or selling agency has been employed, or retained, to solicit or secure this contract upon an agreement or understanding, for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee, excepting bona fide employees or bona fide established commercial or selling agencies maintained by the Consultant for the purpose of securing business. For breach or violation of this warranty, the City has the right to annul this contract without liability; pay only for the value of the work actually performed, or in its discretion, to deduct from the contract price or consideration, or otherwise recover the full amount of such commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee. 26. Assignment and Sub-contract Provisions. The Consultant shall not assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of the Agreement, or its right, title or interest, or its power to execute such an agreement to any individual or business entity of any Page 244 of 581 -27- kind without the previous written consent of the City. No portion of the work pertinent to this Agreement shall be subcontracted without written authorization by the City. Any substitution of subconsultants must be approved in writing by the City. As required above, before retaining or contracting with any subconsultant for any services under this Agreement, City must consent to such assignment of performance in writing. For City to evaluate such proposed assignment, Consultant shall provide City with the identity of the proposed subconsultant, a copy of the proposed written contract between Consultant and such subconsultant, which shall include an indemnity provision similar to the one provided herein and identifying City as an indemnified party, or an incorporation of the indemnity provision provided herein, and proof that such proposed subconsultant carries insurance at least equal to that required by this Agreement or obtain a written waiver from City for such insurance. 27. Amendments. Any amendment, modification, or variation from the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective only upon approval by the City Attorney or other appropriate review authority according to the City’s Financial Management Manual. 28. Working Out of Scope. If, at any time during the project, the Consultant is directed to do work by persons other than the City Attorney and the Consultant believes that the work is outside of the scope of the Agreement, the Consultant shall inform the City Attorney immediately. If the City Attorney and Consultant both agree that the work is outside of the scope of the Agreement and is necessary to the successful completion of the project, then an amendment to the Agreement, reflecting the additional work, will be drafted as agreed upon between the City and the Consultant, and executed by the Parties. Any extra work performed by Consultant without prior written approval from the City Attorney shall be at Consultant's own expense. 29. Notice. All notices to the Parties hereto under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent either by (i) personal service, (ii) delivery by a reputable document delivery service, such as, but not limited to, Federal Express, which provides a receipt showing date and time of delivery, (iii) United States Mail, certified, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iv) via electronic mail. All such notices shall be delivered to the addressee at the address(es) set forth below: To City: City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Attention: City Attorney’s Office Email: city_attorney@slocity.org Page 245 of 581 -28- To Consultant: [Consultant’s Full Legal Name] [Consultant Mailing Address] Email: [Consultant email address) 30. Governing Law. Any action arising out of this Agreement shall be brought in the Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County, California, regardless of where else venue may lie. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement, and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereto shall be governed, construed, and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. 31. Complete Agreement. This written Agreement, including all writings specifically incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute the complete Agreement between the Parties hereto. No oral agreement, understanding, or representation not reduced to writing and specifically incorporated herein shall be of any force or effect, nor shall any such oral Agreement, understanding, or representation be binding upon the Parties hereto. Each party is entering into this Agreement based solely upon the representations set forth herein and upon each party's own independent investigation of any and all facts such party deems material. 32. Authority to Execute Agreement. Both City and Consultant do covenant that each individual executing this Agreement on behalf of each party is a person duly authorized and empowered to execute agreements for such party. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed the day and year first above written. CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO: [Consultant’s Full Legal Name]: __________________________ _______________________________ J. Christine Dietrick, By: [Name of Authorized Representative] City Attorney Its: [Title of Authorized Representative] Page 246 of 581 -29- Exhibit A to Agreement Detailed Scope of Work for the Services: [To be provided by Consultant] Names of the individuals in the law firm assigned to provide the Services: [To be provided by Consultant] Confirmation of the rates proposed for the work of the individuals named above: [To be provided by Consultant] Page 247 of 581 -30- Exhibit B to Agreement [City’s insurance requirements for professional services current at the time of execution of the Agreement.] Page 248 of 581