Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 23-000776
MEETING DATE:	11/28/23
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	All Districts
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	County Executive Office (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Jessica Witt (714) 834-7250
	Peter DeMarco (714) 834-5777

Subject: Approve Federal Legislative Advocacy Services Contract

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

Approved Agreement to Form

Discussion

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: Yes

Current Year Cost: $120,000

Annual Cost: FY 2024-25 $240,000
FY 2025-26 $240,000
FY 2026-27 $120,000

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

Funding Source: See Financial Impact Section	County Audit in last 3 years: No
Levine Act Review Completed: Yes

Prior Board Action: 10/17/2023 #26, 6/6/2023 #50

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

Authorize the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to execute the Contract with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to provide Federal Legislative Advocacy Services effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $720,000, renewable for two additional one -year terms.

SUMMARY:

Authorizing the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to execute the Contract with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. will provide continued Federal Legislative Advocacy services for the County of Orange.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

As the third-most populous county in California and the sixth most populous in the United States, Orange County is committed to maximizing resources and improving the quality of life for its three million residents. As federal resources are a necessity to meet these objectives, it is essential to have an effective presence in Washington, D.C. with a firm that understands the County’s growing needs and delivers results in a rapidly changing political environment. The Orange County Board of Supervisors (Board) has recognized the need to protect the County’s interests in Washington, D.C. and continues to make federal advocacy a priority.

On June 6, 2023, the Board authorized the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to conduct a new Request for Proposal procurement for Federal Legislative Advocacy services and return with a recommended action on or before October 17, 2023.

On October 17, 2023, the Board selected Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to be the County’s Federal Legislative Advocate, and directed the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to enter into negotiations and return to the Board of Supervisors with the proposed Contract MA-017-24010544 (Contract) for approval no later than November 28, 2023. This Contract does not include subcontractors or pass through to other providers. See Attachment B for Contract Summary Form.

Proposed Fees

The Contract proposes a monthly fee of $20,000.

Annual Fee	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total
Federal Legislative Advocacy Services	$240,000	$240,000	$240,000	$720,000

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

The current funding breakdown for the County’s federal advocacy contract is as follows:

General Fund 017: 42%

OC Flood Control District 400: 54%

OC Parks 405: 2%

John Wayne Airport 280: 2%

Appropriations for this Contract are included in the Budget Controls listed above for the FY 2023-24 Budget, and will be included in the budgeting process for future years.

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - Contract MA-017-24010544 with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Attachment B - Contract Summary Form