On January 11, 2017 the Commission voted to terminate the agreement with Corcoran & Associates, Inc. for convenience.  At the April 26, 2017 meeting Commission authorized the issuance of a new RFQ to retain a new state legislative consulting firm.

RFQ PROCESS

On July 27, 2017, (RFQ) No. 2017-242-WG for State Legislative Consulting Services was issued.  RFQ responses were due and received on August 29, 2017.  The City received proposals from the following firms: Rutledge Ecenia, P.A., Colodny Fass P.L.L.C. and Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC.

The Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager pursuant to LTC# 453-2017 convened on October 6, 2017, to consider the responsive proposals received. The Committee was comprised of 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.

Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC

According to the information contained in its proposals, Southern Strategy Group is a full-service lobbying firm that was established in Tallahassee, Florida in 1999, with offices throughout Florida in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Miami. They understand how and why decisions are made at every level of Florida government and use that knowledge to the benefit of their clients. Their Tallahassee office is staffed by 13 full-time lobbyists, as well as two full-time and four part-time administrative staff. Their Miami office is staffed by three full-time lobbyists and one fulltime office administrator who spend a great deal of their time in South Florida. From transportation to infrastructure, to stormwater issues as well as economic development, they are keenly aware of the issues that the City faces.  Their team includes the services of Ronald L. Book, P.A. considered one of the premier lobbying firms in the State, with unparalleled experience in the appropriations process. Established in 1987, the firm specializes in government affairs, and offers a powerful combination of talent and experience with a proven track record of success before the legislative and executive branches of Florida government.

Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.

According to the information contained in its proposals, the attorneys of Rutledge Ecenia have extensive expertise in practicing before state agencies, the Division of Administrative Hearing, state and federal courts, and the legislative and Executive Branches of Government.  They are committed to excellence in regulatory affairs and litigation and seek to ensure that their services are provided in a cost-effective and efficient manner, pursuing their clients’ litigation objectives with focused determination, while striving to achieve beneficial resolutions through settlements and alternative dispute resolution when such approaches best serves their clients’ needs.

Colodny Fass P.L.L.C.

The legislative and executive team of Colodny Fass possesses the bi-partisan contacts and access to legislative and executive leadership of the State of Florida to successfully and consistently advocate for diverse policy issues and cultivate bipartisan relationships with legislators statewide. Colodny Fass has worked with virtually every aspect of the City’s legislative agenda in all realms of government, and is highly experienced and ready to represent Miami Beach and its interests before Florida’s Legislature, Executive Branch and regulatory agencies.

I have reviewed each firms' submissions and the results of the Evaluation Committee process. In doing so, I find that the Evaluation Committee has unanimously ranked Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC, as the top-ranked firm responding to the RFQ. I commend each firm for its proposal and acknowledge each firms excellent qualifications in the field of governmental consulting services. However, I do concur with the evaluation committee's determination and, after reviewing Southern's, the top-ranked firm's, proposal and qualifications, I find that this firm has documented exceptional qualifications, including (but not limited to): 

• its expertise relating to transportation, infrastructure, stormwater and economic development projects;
• a broad range of bipartisan contacts in the legislative and executive branches of state government. 

Therefore, I recommend that the City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC; and if unsuccessful in negotiating an agreement with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC, that the Administration be authorized to enter into negotiations with Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.; and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an Agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.

Grant funding will not be utilized for this project.