2017-30120 ResolutionRESOLUTION NO.
2017 -30120
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER,
PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2017 - 232 -WG, FOR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC; AND IF UNSUCCESSFUL
IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC, AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP, LLC;
AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2016, the Mayor and City Commission adopted
Resolution No. 2016 - 29357, authorizing the extension of the existing agreement with MWW
Group, LLC, for Federal governmental lobbying and consulting services, on a month to month
basis, terminable by the City for convenience and without cause, upon thirty (30) days written
notice to MWW Group, LLC; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further authorized the City Manager to
issue Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2017- 005 -WG for Federal Governmental Consulting
Services; and
WHEREAS, subsequent to the issuance of RFQ 2017- 005 -WG, the Administration
determined that it was necessary to modify the solicitation requirements and specifications, in
order to provide full transparency of the City's intent to potential bidders; and
WHEREAS, given the need to revise the solicitation requirements and specifications, the
City Manager recommended that all proposals be rejected; and
WHEREAS, following the necessary modifications, the Administration released a
subsequent RFQ for the services; and
WHEREAS, on June 2, 2017, RFQ No. 2017- 232 -WG for Federal Governmental
Consulting Services (the RFQ) was issued; and
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2017, the City received proposals from Alcalde & Fay, Ballard
Partners, Inc. Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC, MWW Group, LLC, The Ferguson Group, LLC, Van
Ness Feldman, LLP and Scoyoc Associates, Inc., 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager, pursuant to LTC
No. 398 -2017, convened on August 11, 2017, to consider the responsive proposals received;
and
WHEREAS, the Committee was provided an overview of the project, information relative
to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law, general information
on the scope of services and a copy of each proposal; and
WHEREAS, the Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to
the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation process resulted in a tie between Ballard Partners, Inc. and
The Ferguson Group, LLC as the top ranked proposers; and
WHEREAS, after considering the successful relationship between Ballard Partners, Inc.
and the present Administration and their comprehensive knowledge of Florida issues, the City
Manager recommends that the Administration be authorized to enter into negotiations with
Ballard Partners, Inc.; and if unsuccessful in negotiating an agreement with Ballard Partner, Inc.,
that the Administration be authorized to enter into negotiations with The Ferguson Group, LLC.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission accept the recommendation of the City Manager, pursuant to Request for
Qualifications No. 2017 - 232 -WG, for Federal Governmental Consulting Services; authorize the
Administration to enter into negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc; and if unsuccessful in
negotiating an agreement with Ballard Partners, Inc, authorize the Administration to enter into
negotiations with The Ferguson Group, LLC; and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to
execute an Agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13 day of Detember 2017.
ATTEST:
RAFAEL E. GRANADO, CITY CLERK
T:\AGENDA\ 2017 \12 cr1br \Procure 2017- 232 -WG Federal Government Consulting \RFQ2017 -232-
DAN GELBER, MAYOR
WG- RESO.doc
ere c+VED AS TO
CQI K & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney Date
MIAM
BEACH
Resolutions - R7 C
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: December 13, 2017
SUBJECT A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2017 - 232 -WG,
FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BALLARD
PARTNERS, INC.; AND IF UNSUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT
WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP, LLC; AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
On December 14, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted resolution 2016 - 29357 authorizing the extension
of the existing agreement with MWW Group, LLC, for Federal governmental lobbying and consulting services, on a
month to month basis, terminable by the City for convenience and without cause, upon thirty (30) days written notice to
MWW Group, LLC, and further authorized, the City Manager to issue Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2017 -
005-WG for Federal Governmental Consulting Services.
On December 16, 2016, RFQ No. 2017 - 005 -WG for Federal Consulting Services was issued. RFQ responses
were due and received January 20, 2017. The City received five (5) proposals. Notwithstanding the results of the
evaluation of proposals, the Administration determined that it was necessary to modify the solicitation requirements
and specifications, in order to provide full transparency of the City's intent to potential bidders. Given the need to
revise the solicitation requirements and specifications, the City Manager recommended that all proposals be
rejected and following the necessary modifications, that the Administration release a subsequent RFQ for the
services.
RFQ PROCESS
On June 2, 2017, (RFQ) No. 2017 - 232 -WG for Federal Governmental Consulting Services was issued. RFQ
responses were due and received on July 20, 2017. The City received proposals from the following firms: Alcalde &
Fay, Ballard Partners, Inc. Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC, MWW Group, LLC, The Ferguson Group, LLC, Van Ness
Feldman, LLP and Scoyoc Associates, Inc.
Page 1009 of 1320
The Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager pursuant to LTC# 398 -2017 convened on August 11,
2017, to consider the responsive proposals received. The Committee was comprised of Erick Chiroles,
Commission Aide, Office of the Mayor and City Commission, City of Miami Beach, Judy Hoanshelt, Division
Director, Grants Management Division, Office of Budget and Performance Improvement, City of Miami Beach,
Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Staff, Office of the City Manager, City of Miami Beach, and Elizabeth Wheaton, Chief of
Staff, Office of the Mayor and City Commission, City of Miami Beach.
The Committee was provided an overview of the project, information relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance
and the Government Sunshine Law. The Committee was also provided with general information on the scope of
services and a copy of each proposal. The Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to
the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ. The evaluation process resulted in the ranking of proposers as
indicated in Attachment A. A brief description of each proposer, as provided in their response to the RFQ, follows.
Alcalde & Fay
Recognized as a bipartisan firm, Alcalde and Fay's partners and personnel are drawn from both sides of the political
aisle and maintain close working relationships with many key legislators and staff in the United Stated Senate and
House of Representatives, as well as in the ranks of political appointees and senior career staff in most Federal
agencies.
Ballard Partners, Inc.
The Firm has extensive experience in governmental relations and advocacy, this is the cornerstone of their practices.
They are versed in all components of effective legislative and executive branch representation. More importantly,
their team understands how to accomplish the tasks given to them by their clients, working to identify their priority
issues and implementing the best course of action to address those issues.
Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC
The Cardinal Infrastructure team offers a distinctly different approach to serving the City. They are a team of
transportation, community and economic development professionals and subject matter experts who offer a targeted
and tailored approach designed to address the City's goals They have years of experience on Capitol Hill and in the
executive branch, specifically regarding public transportation and community development.
The Ferguson Group, LLC
The Ferguson Group specializes in representing local governments before congress and the Administration. Local
governmental advocacy is the core of their business. They have strong ties in Florida and have staffed a South
Florida office since 2001. Their Florida presence enables a unique opportunity to engage in unmatched levels of
communications and collaboration with the City in South Florida and in Washington D.C.
MWW Group. LLC
The MWW Group maintains and continues to develop a strong and deep network of federal agency
contacts, program directors and leadership figures. Where changes in leadership require new
relationship building, they have been proactive in adapting strategies, as they have for decades, to
target and approach new leadership successfully.
Van Ness Feldman, LLP
Van Ness Feldman has strong roots in South Florida. They offer the advantage of having members of their proposed
team which includes a former United States Senator, a former staffer to the former U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 4 Regional Administrator /and Principal Legal Advisor to Homeland Security's Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, the former Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate /former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Water and Science /and former Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization, and myself, a former advisor to
Governor Jeb Bush and native Floridian. In their various capacities of service, both while working in the public sector
and in private practice, they have successfully navigated Congresses and Administrations under both Republican
and Democratic control.
Page 1010 of 1320
Van Scoyok Associates, Inc.
VSA is full service, bipartisan lobbying firm founded in 1990. Their success over the past 27 years, is due to their
principals, each of whom has been hired by VSA because of the quality of his or her knowledge, contacts, and skills.
VSA Offers their clients unparalleled resources, which cannot be matched by smaller firms. They retain the touch of
a small firm, but the resources and knowledge of the entire firm. They offer extensive federal experience that
combines insider knowledge of Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch with a record of representing local
governments in Washington D.C.
CONCLUSION
The evaluation process resulted in a tie between Ballard Partners and The Ferguson Group as the top ranked
proposers. After considering proposals, its comprehensive knowledge of Florida issues, as well as its strong
relationship current Administration, I recommend that the City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the
Administration to enter into negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc.; and if unsuccessful in negotiating an agreement
with Ballard Partners, Inc., authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with The Ferguson Group, LLC;
and further authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement, upon conclusion of successful
negotiations by the Administration.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Ensure Expenditure Trends Are Sustainable Over The Long Term
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The cost of the related services, determined upon successful negotiations, are subject to funds
availability approved through the City's budgeting process. Grant Funding will not be utilized for this
project.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the Mayor and Commission /Procurement
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Attachment A
CI Resolution
Page 1011 of 1320
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