REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
FOR
CITY OF STARKVILLE LOBBYING SERVICES
Section 1: - General Information
The City of Starkville is soliciting proposals from qualified Consultants to provide lobbying services. The City is interested in entering into a two-year contract with the successful individual or firm. The City reserves the right to exercise the option to renew the contract for an additional two years by mutual agreement of the both parties.
The City intends to award a single contract for lobbying services. The proposal should address the Consultant’s capabilities for performing all aspects of the scope of work.
Questions regarding this proposal may be submitted to:
Mayor Lynn Spruill
110 West Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
662-323-2525
between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, local time Monday through Friday.
The City shall not be responsible for proposal preparation costs, nor for costs including attorney fees associated with any (administrative, judicial or otherwise) challenge to the determination of the highest-ranked Proposer and/or award of contract and/or rejection of proposal. By submitting a proposal each Proposer agrees to be bound in this respect and waives all claims to such costs and fees.
Section 2: - Rules Governing Competition
Proposers should carefully examine the entire RFP, any addenda thereto, and all related materials and data referenced in the RFP. Proposers should become fully aware of the nature of the work and the conditions likely to be encountered in performing the work.
Award of this proposal is anticipated to be announced within thirty (30) calendar days, although all offers must be completed and irrevocable for 60 days. The content of the proposals will be kept confidential until the selection of the Contractor is publicly announced. After the award of the contract, all proposals will become public information.
Proposals are to be prepared in such a way as to provide a straightforward and concise outline of the Proposer’s capabilities putting emphasis on conformance to the RFP, responsiveness to the RFP and overall completeness and clarity of content.
All proposals must be signed. The name and title of the individual(s) signing the proposal must be clearly shown immediately below the signature.
One electronic copy (PDF or similar) or two (2) hard copied with one electronic copy of the proposal must be received by the City prior to Friday, August 12, 2022. Proposals shall be e-mailed, mailed or delivered to:
Mayor Lynn Spruill
110 West Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
All materials submitted in response to the RFP become the property of the City of Starkville. One copy will be retained and will become public record after award of the contract.
A respondent my withdraw a proposal at any time prior to the final submission date by sending written notification of its withdrawal, signed by an agent with authorization to represent the agency. The respondent may thereafter submit a new or modified proposal prior to the final submission date. Modifications offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered. A final proposal cannot be changed or withdrawn after the time designated for receipt, except for modifications requested by the city after the date of receipt and following oral presentations.
Proposals not received prior to the date and time specified in the advertisement (12:00 PM, August 12, 2022) will not be considered and will be returned unopened after recommendation of award.
The City of Starkville reserves the right to reject any or all proposals if determined to be in the best interest of the City.
Section 3: Scope of Work
The City of Starkville is home to the largest university in the State of Mississippi with a population of in excess of 25,000. We are billed as Mississippi’s College Town and are keenly interested in the issues that impact the University and therefore the City. The City has an industrial park and a sports tourism industry that is growing and creating opportunities for year-round activity establishing Starkville as a destination with events and tournaments. The City is also in the process of redeveloping and redesigning the downtown business district to become a destination. The City’s interests include working toward a Rail to Trail for a defunct rail line and partnering with our region to enhance the development of the local tourism attractions to pull from around the State of Mississippi and the South.
The City is the recipient of 2% and 1% funding for food and beverage that must be renewed regularly with the state legislature. There are existing state and federal grants that are significant in allowing improving the infrastructure. The City believes it is important to insure our continued favorable consideration of those needs. The goal is to secure legislation and funding for programs and projects identified by the City as well as identify and manage those legislative proposals that might work adversely to municipal interests.
The City of Starkville seeks to retain the services of a lobbyist consultant firm that possesses significant demonstrable experience in lobbying and advocacy for their clients. The lobbying consultant shall be able to develop new relationships with the City’s representatives and shall have existing relationships with staffers and elected officials within the legislature and with agencies and other industry lobbyists. The ideal candidate will have existing strong relationships with all levels of government entities.
Services requested may include but not be limited to:
- Identify and provide strategies to successfully secure state and federal funding for the City of Starkville
- Pursue major funding opportunities and investigate other potential opportunities. Provide information on existing and emerging legislation that might offer funding sources and goals relative to City goals.
- Provide information on existing or emerging legislation that might have a negative impact on the City in the short or long term.
- Monitor bills that may impact the city’s interests in accordance with stated legislative priorities and provide interpretation and analysis of bills to City staff or elected officials.
- Work with City staff to assess the impact of certain bills and administrative decisions and develop a response from the City either in support, opposition or work for amendments to bills or administrative rules.
- Provide legislative briefings for key staff and elected officials.
- Represent the City and meet with legislators, their staff and government agency officials to advance the City’s agenda
- Notify city staff of relevant grants and funding opportunities
- Advocate for City funding in budgets through grants or legislation or other appropriations
- Work with the City to secure sponsors for proposed bills or amendments to legislation
- Provide a monthly summary of legislative activities on behalf of the City.
- Assist in preparing draft bills and amendments that accomplish the City’s legislative and/or statutory objectives.
- Facilitate and arrange events to further relationships with legislators and executives likely to support the goals representing the City’s interests.
Proposed Schedule
August 12, 2022 @12:00 - deadline for receiving proposals
August 19, 2022 - Staff evaluation of proposals
September 6, 2022 - Board of Aldermen award Professional Services Agreement
October 1, 2022 - Agreement fully executed and formal Notice to Proceed issued to Consultant
(actual schedule to be discussed and agreed to with selected consultant)
Section 4: Proposal and Submission Requirements
To achieve a uniform review process and obtain the maximum degree of comparability, the proposals shall be organized in the manner specified below. Proposals shall not exceed two (2) pages in length (excluding resumes, title pages, attachments and dividers). Information in excess of those allowed will not be evaluated/scored. One page shall be interpreted as one side of single-spaced, typed letter size paper. Firms are encouraged to include resumes and any applicable past projects in an appendix that will not count toward the pages of narrative.
Identify the RFP contract for which the proposal has been prepared and briefly state your firm’s understanding of the services to be performed with a positive commitment to provide the services as specified.
Provide the name(s) of the person(s) authorized to make representations for your firm, their titles, address and contact numbers.
The letter of proposal must be signed by a corporate officer or other individual who has the authority to bind the firm. The name and title of the individual(s) signing the proposal must be clearly shown immediately below the signature.
The cost of the services should be clearly defined in your proposal. Please include an hourly rate for any tasks that may arise that fall outside the services described above.
The rating structure will be:
Firm experience and key staff (0-40 points)
Detail firm’s experience in the same areas of expertise for the required services
Provide at least three (3) references for which your firm has provided the same services
Identify your firm’s performance
Identify key staff expected to provide services on behalf of the firm
Available resources and consultant location (0-30 points)
Provide information on personnel resources available to your firm
Describe firm’s location where primary services are to be provided
Proposal methodology and approach (0-30 points)
Provide information on the firm’s approach in meeting the scope of work.
Describe information on practices used to communicate with the City and staff.
Total possible score: 100 points
A committee representing Starkville will evaluate the proposals. The City reserves the right to request oral interviews with the highest-ranked firms. The purpose of the interviews will be to allow expansion on the written submissions.
The highest-ranked proposer may be invited to enter into contract negotiations with the City of Starkville. The City of Starkville reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted.