Resolution 2023-32841RESOLUTION NO ! 2023-32841
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
CITY MANAGER, TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO REQUEST
FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2024-055-ND, FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL
CONSULTING; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC., AS THE TOP RANKED
PROPOSER; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN
NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC.,
AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS
WITH CONTINENTAL STRATEGY, LLC, AS THE SECOND RANKED
PROPOSER; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY
CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF
SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, on October 13, 2023, the City issued Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2024-
055-ND for Federal Governmental Consulting; and
WHEREAS, a voluntary pre -proposal meeting was held on October 20, 2023; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2023, the City received two (2) proposals from Ballard
Partners, Inc., and Continental Strategy, LLC; and
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2023, the City Manager, via Letter to Commission No. 475-
2023, appointed an Evaluation Committee consisting of the following individuals: Krystal Dobbins,
Grants Management Division Director, Finance Department, Joe Gomez, Director, Public Works
Department, Jose R. Gonzalez, Director, Transportation Department, Marcia Monserrat, Chief of
Legislative and External Affairs, Office of the City Manager, and Lindsey Precht, Assistant
Director, Environment and Sustainability Department; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee convened on November 15, 2023 to review and
score the proposals; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee received 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 Evaluation Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal
pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee process resulted in the ranking of proposers as
follows: Ballard Partners, Inc., as the top -ranked proposer; and Continental Strategy, LLC, as the
second -ranked proposer; and
WHEREAS, after reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee's
rankings and analysis, the City Manager concurs with the Evaluation Committee and recommends
that the Mayor and City Commission authorize the Administration to enter into negotiations with
Ballard Partners, Inc., the top -ranked proposer; further, if the Administration is not successful in
negotiating an agreement with Ballard Partners, Inc., authorize the Administration to enter into
negotiations with Continental Strategy, LLC, as the second -ranked proposer; and further
authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of successful
negotiations by the Administration.
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 hereby accept the recommendation of the City Manager, pursuant to Request For
Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2024-055-ND for Governmental Consulting, authorize the Administration
to enter into negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc., as the top -ranked proposer; further, if the
Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with Ballard Partners, Inc., authorize
the Administration to enter into negotiations with Continental Strategy, LLC, as the second -ranked
proposer; and further authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon
conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this /3
ATTEST:
RAFAEL E. GRANADO, CITY CLERK
DEC 19 2023
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
I — IA _ 2 -3
City Attorney �� Date
day of Dece�V6lr 2023.
•
STEVEN MEINER, MAYOR
IHCOU10FIATE
k.
Competitive Bid Reports - C2 A
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: December 13, 2023
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CITY MANAGER, TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2024-055-ND, FOR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTAL CONSULTING; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION
TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BALLARD PARTNERS, INC., AS
THE TOP RANKED PROPOSER; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS
NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH BALLARD
PARTNERS, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH CONTINENTAL STRATEGY, LLC, AS THE SECOND
RANKED PROPOSER; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON
CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution accepting the
City Manager's recommendation pertaining to the proposals received, pursuant to RFQ 2024-
055-ND, for Federal Govememental Consulting, and authorizing the Administration to enter into
negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc., as the top -ranked proposer. If the Administration is not
successful in negotiating an agreement with Ballard Partners, Inc., authorizing the Administration
to enter into negotiations with Continental Strategy, LLC, as the second -ranked proposer_ The
Resolution also authorizes the City. Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon the
conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.
The solicitation is currently underthe cone of silence.
BACKGROUNDIHISTORY
On February 1, 2018, the City executed an agreement with Ballard Partners, Inc. for federal
consulting services. The initial term of the agreement was three (3) years and included two (2)
one (1) year renewal options. All renewal options have been exercised, and the agreement will
expire on February 4, 2024.
As a result of'the expiring contract, the RFQ was developed seeking responses from qualified
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firms or individuals interested in being considered to provide governmental consulting services,
including lobbying services, to represent the City's interests before the legislative and executive
branches of the Federal Government, including all federal agencies.
The services generally include assistance and advise on legislation, policy, and regulations that
may impact the City, including but not limited to:
Confer with the Mayor, City Commission, City Manager, City Attorney, and other
City personnel on all organizational planning and program activities that have a bearing on
the ability of the City to make the best use of federal programs;
Maintain liaison with the Citys Congressional delegation and assist with the
delegation in any matter which the City determines to be in its best interest;
• Counsel with the City regarding appearances by City personnel before
Congressional Committees and Federal Administrative agencies;
• Identify and notify the City in advance of opportunities such as grant opportunities
and funding availabilities, or changes in policies and regulations for transportation,
community and economic development, environment and resiliency, beach re -
nourishment, sargassum, algae blooms, infrastructure improvement, emergency
management, housing and urban development, homeless programs, intermodal
programs and any other areas of interest to the City;
• Review, identify, and monitor federal legislative, executive, and regulatory policy
changes or developments to advise the City on those items that may have a significant
bearing on City policies, funding, and programs;
Establish a strong identity and presence in Washington D.C. on behalf of the City
maintain working relationships with the executive and legislative branches of the federal
government that will enhance the Citys position with respect to financial assistance
applications, regulatory procedures, legislation, budget authorizations and appropriations,
and other areas of interest to the City;
Design and implement a strategy, in consultation with the City staff, that raises the
consciousness and awareness of issues relating to the City of Miami Beach with
congressional leaders and broadens and improves direct communication of City staff
with the Federal leadership;
Assist in implementing the City's federal legislative agenda.
ANALYSIS
On October 13, 2023, the City issued RFQ No. 2024-055-ND for federal governmental
consulting. The Procurement Department issued bid notes to 21,971 companies through the e-
procurement system, with 75 prospective bidders accessingthe advertised solicitation A
voluntary pre -proposal conference to provide information to proposers submitting a response
was held on October 20, 2023. One (1) addendum was issued.. RFQ responses were due and
received on November 3, 2023. The City received -a total of two (2) proposals from the following
firms: Ballard Partners, Inc., and Continental Strategy, LLC.
On October 20, 2023, the City Manager appointed the Evaluation Committee via LTC # 475-
2023. The Evaluation Committee convened on November 15, 2023, to consider proposals
received. The Committee was comprised of Krystal Dobbins, Grants Management Division
Director, Finance Department, Joe Gomez, Director, Public Works Department, Jose R.
Gonzalez, Director, Transportation Department, Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Legislative and
External Affairs, Office of the City Manager, and Lindsey Precht, Assistant Director,
Environment and Sustainability Department. The Committee was provided an overview of the
project and information relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government
Page 25 of 1118
NJ
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.
The Evaluation Committee deemed Ballard Partners, Inc. the best -qualified firm to provide
governmental consulting services. The Evaluation Committee noted that Ballard Partners, Inc.
specializes in all governmental and public affairs aspects, including legislative advocacy and
administrative issues affecting executive agency decisions. The Evaluation Committee also
noted that Ballard Partners, Inc. has proposed to advance the City's projects, policies, and
programs at the federal level by developing an annual legislative agenda and annual budgetary
requests and facilitating meetings with key members of relevant committees, legislative
leadership, agency officials, and other public office holders.
Continental Strategy, LLC, the second -ranked proposer, was also deemed by the Evaluation
Committee to. be qualified in the event that negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc. are
unsuccessful.
A summary of each top -ranked firm follows based on information provided by each firm:
Ballard Partners. Inc,
Ballard Partners, Inc. (Ballard Partners), founded as a Florida Corporation in 1998, has been a
force in Florida politics and government for 25 years. Its' statewide presence consists of nine
offices in Tallahassee, Sarasota, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, West
Palm Beach, and Fort Myers.. • The clients to which it provides federal legislative and executive
branch advocacy include but are not limited .to' Manatee County, the City of Pensacola, and the
City of Nashville.
Ballard Partners is the incumbent providing these services to the City, and the City has- been
satisfied with its work and offered positive feedback.. .
Continental Strategy, LLC -
Continental Strategy, ,LLC ..(Continental Strategy) is a •new, rapidly expanding lobbying and.
consulting, fi rr-with.'t3aobbying: professionals with• over.100.years of combined experience in -
lobbying and strategic advising at every level -of government, from the federal to the municipal
level. Continental, Strategy,.has..;offices; in Tallahassee, - Washington,_, DC, Miamiy and
,lacksonville_ Its ' clients . include but' -are -.not limited to: _the City. 'of West _.Miami, Miami';Dade:
- College, and,the Town -of Miami L- akes
SUPPORTING SURVEY
Not applicable.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Fees wilt be established through the negotiation process. The estimated ' annual budget for
these services,is$102,000. ttis not anticipated that -grant funding will be utilized for this contract.
Amount(s)/Acount(s):
011-0310-000312-10-400-579-00-00-00 $102,000
KORMIJA • ,
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Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the
Resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Ballard Partners, Inc.,
the top -ranked proposer. If the Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with
Ballard Partners, Inc., the Resolution authorizes the Administration to enter into negotiations with
Continental Strategy, LLC, as the second -ranked proposer. Finally, the Resolution authorizes
the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of successful
negotiations.
Applicable Area
Not Applicable
Is this a "Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item, pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Manager/Procurement
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
n Attachment A
n Resolution
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