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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE
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DATE:
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February 21, 2006
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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February 28, 2006
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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John L. Maltbie, County Manager
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SUBJECT:
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Agreement with MARC Associates, Inc.
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with MARC Associates, Inc. for federal government liaison services for the term of January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007, in the amount of $147,000.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.
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Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.
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BACKGROUND:
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In October of 2003, the County issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for federal government liaison services. The competitive process required individuals and firms responding to demonstrate their success and expertise: (1) performing advocacy services for public agencies with members of Congress, the executive branch and federal government agencies; (2) providing research and issue information on federal administrative matters, policies, funding opportunities and legislative proposals; and (3) ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, applicants were required to describe their working relationship with administrative and elective officials, and specifically with members of the San Mateo County and California delegation, including bipartisan contracts.
After checking references, a seven-member committee consisting of County department heads reviewed the proposals, ranked and made a recommendation of four finalists firms for the Board of Supervisors to conduct personal interviews. MARC Associates, Inc. was selected from 12 proposals. The County and samTrans shared the contract in the 2004 and again in 2005, opting to exercise the one-year extension. For the first two years of the contract, the annual compensation was held constant at $60,000. The additional samTrans annual contract amount is $50,000.
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DISCUSSION:
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MARC Associates, Inc. has successfully represented the County of San Mateo in several federal matters. Specifically, MARC Associates, Inc.:
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Secured a three-year extension of the County’s Moving to Work Demonstration Project through special provisions in federal legislation;
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Protected the “ongoing emergency” status at Devils Slide on Highway 1 to retain eligibility for federal funding;
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Conduct Legislative Training for County Department;
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$200,000 earmark for the Youth Services Campus; and
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$800,000 for the San Mateo Medical Center Mental Health Emergency Room Construction and Improvement.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The total County cost for the two-year contract is $147,000: this represents a $7,000 increase in 2006 and an additional $7,000 increase in 2007.
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