The City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Richmond (the “City”) seeks proposals from offerors with the experience and qualifications necessary to provide lobbyist services on behalf of the City on any and all matters before the General Assembly of Virginia (the “General Assembly”) affecting the interests of the City, as directed by the Council.
Background:
The city of Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia and has a population of approximately 223,000 residents. The Council serves as the governing body of the City government. Its responsibilities include setting policy through the adoption of ordinances and, in some cases, resolutions, adopting the City’s annual budget and monitoring the implementation of these policies and budgets by the executive and administrative branches of the City government. The Commonwealth of Virginia is a Dillon’s Rule state. The Council’s ability to legislate is regulated by state law and the City Charter, both of which may be enacted, modified and repealed only by the General Assembly.
Scope of Work:
- As directed by the Contract Administrator, the Contractor shall advocate and engage in lobbying executive officials and legislative officials in favor of or against Proposed Actions at the state level in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the interests of and on behalf of the City.
- As needed, the Contractor, on behalf of the City, shall arrange meetings and meet with executive officials, legislative officials, and other parties to convey, advocate for, and engage in lobbying for the interests of the City.
- The Contractor shall attend meetings of committees of the General Assembly and their subcommittees when those committees and subcommittees are considering legislative actions that may affect the interests of the City.
- The Contractor shall attend meetings of state government agencies and collegial bodies at which those agencies and bodies are considering any Proposed Action.
- The Contractor shall advocate and engage in lobbying for the City’s interests at the meetings described in subsections (C) and (D) above. When appropriate to advance the City’s interests, the Contractor shall coordinate the attendance of elected officers, appointed officers, or employees of the City at the meetings described in subsections (B), (C), and (D) above.
Analysis.
- The Contractor shall research and provide to the Contract Administrator its analysis of the following:
- Proposed Actions.
3. Potential grant and similar funding opportunities that may be available to the City.
4. Legislative proposals made by the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia First Cities, other Virginia localities, and other organizations that may affect the interests of the City.
- The Contractor shall furnish the Contract Administrator with the following reports, in a format approved by the Contract Administrator, during any period in which this Contract is in effect:
- For each week that the General Assembly is in session, a written report by the close of business on the Monday following such week detailing the following:
- The progress during such week of legislative actions that may affect the interests of the City.
- The Contractor’s anticipated activity for the week following such week on legislative actions that may affect the interests of the City.
- The Contractor’s recommendations for actions that should be taken by City officers or employees to advance the City’s interests with regard to any pending legislative actions.
- For each month that the General Assembly is not in session, a written report by the close of business on the seventh day of the following month detailing the following:
- The results of meetings and hearings by state agencies or other collegial bodies concerning any Proposed Action.
- The status of any studies by executive officials, legislative officials, or other state employees concerning any Proposed Action.
- Advance notice of legislative actions that may affect the interests of the City prior to the commencement thereof.
- For each session of the General Assembly, a written report within seven days after the end of that session of the General Assembly detailing the status of the City’s legislative proposals submitted to the General Assembly.
Consultation.
- As needed and upon request, the Contractor shall furnish the City with advice and similar assistance concerning the following:
- The potential effects of any Proposed Actions.
- The development of the City’s legislative proposals, including requests for appropriations, for submission to the General Assembly, including a schedule for such development and submission.
- Any arguments that may be raised on behalf of the City in support of or opposition to Proposed Actions.
Upon request, the Contractor shall attend internal meetings with City staff, meetings of the Council, and meetings of the Council’s committees to provide such advice.
- As needed and upon request, the Contractor shall confer and coordinate with members of the City Administration, the school division (i.e., Richmond Public Schools), and constitutional officers with jurisdiction in the city on matters related to the subject matter of this Contract.
Monitoring.
- The Contractor shall monitor the progress of Proposed Actions.
- The Contractor shall monitor the progress of the state budget to determine the potential and final impacts of the state budget on the City.
- The Contractor shall monitor gubernatorial vetoes and special sessions of the General Assembly to determine their impact on the City.
Due Date:
March 6, 2018
Address:
tillie.jackson@richmondgov.com
American lobbying firms include APCO Worldwide.