Memorandum
Date: January 14, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Stephen L. Carter, Jr., Assistant County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: Consideration of an Agreement Between the County of Lake and Paragon Government Relations for Professional Federal Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Services in the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $187,660.00
Executive Summary:
As members of your Board may be aware, on August 26, 2024, the County Administrative Office issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2024-34 for Federal Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy (Lobbying) Services. To encourage the most competitive possible process, the County Administrative Office staff directly contacted six highly qualified firms on August 30, 2024. As of the September 23, 2024, deadline for Proposals, nine responses were received.
A Consultant Selection Panel comprised of leadership staff from four County departments and the Cities of Lakeport and Clearlake was convened Monday, October 21, 2024, to review Proposals, clarifying questions were thereafter sent to all respondents, and follow-up interviews were conducted Friday, December 13, 2024, with the five top-ranked respondents. Paragon Government Relations emerged as the top-ranked candidate. Administrative Office staff are grateful to all who contributed to this rigorous review.
The Agreement attached to your Board’s Agenda provides for a retainer of $7,000 per month for Federal Advocacy services. That rate increases to $7,210 per month in year two of the Agreement. The remainder of the “not-to-exceed” total is recommended to accommodate potential travel expenses (particularly in the event one or more Paragon staff must travel to California solely for County of Lake business). Your Board will appreciate, effective advocacy for Lake County’s needs at the federal level is essential, and it would be difficult and costly for County staff, alone, to maintain a consistent presence in Washington, D.C.
Members of your Board will be aware, Paragon currently represents the California State Association of Counties. They also have experience contributing to development of federal advocacy programs for multiple California Counties, including Humboldt and Nevada Counties.
Notices of Intent to Award were sent to all nine respondents the afternoon of Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Therefore, it is conceivable a valid protest to award of this Agreement could be received following your Board’s meeting. Since this is your Board’s final regular meeting of January, staff recommends your Board approve the Agreement, contingent on the protest period elapsing without a valid protest; if this occurs, Paragon would be under contract and able to contribute to your Board’s Annual Governance Workshop. Should a valid protest be received, Administrative Office staff will return to your Board in February with any relevant update.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☒ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☒ Business Process Efficiency ☒ Clear Lake
Recommended Action:
Approve the Agreement Between the County of Lake and Paragon Government Relations for Professional Federal Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Services in the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $187,660.00, contingent on the protest period elapsing without a valid protest.