Title
Authorization to Enter into Agreements for Investigative Services (Ordinance S-48140)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, through the City Attorney, or his designee, to enter into investigative service agreements with various law firms and lawyers to provide investigation services to the City on an as-needed basis as determined by the City Attorney. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse funds in an amount not to exceed $300,000 in total over the five-year contract term.
Report
Summary
The existing list of qualified firms and attorneys, that currently provide investigative research to the City on an as-needed basis, expires December 31, 2021. Although the Law Department is exempted in the City Code as to the requirement to issue a solicitation for these legal services, the Law Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for law firms and lawyers to submit qualifications to be on a list to provide investigative services to the City. The Law Department received 4 responses to the RFQ and determined that 4 firms met the minimum requirements and have been approved to be placed on the list to be engaged to represent the City on a case-by-case basis, as follows:
Investigative Research, Inc.
Kolb, Stewart, & Associates, Inc.
Outback Adjusting and Investigative Services, Inc.
Venti Investigations, Inc.
The City Code authorizes the City Attorney to enter into agreements to provide legal services for the City of Phoenix. Upon approval of this request by the City Council, the City Attorney will enter into agreements, as needed, with firms of approved respondents to the RFQ. As needed, the City Attorney may also contract for other legal services, including services of attorneys, expert witnesses, and other legal advisors or consultants consistent with the authority granted in the Phoenix City Code, sections 2-10 and 43-2.
Contract Term
Each contract term will be for a period of two years with three one-year options for a maximum of five years.
Financial Impact
Funds are available in various department budgets, including Law Department and the Self-Insurance Fund. The individual contracts will set forth the specific fees for each service. Payments will be made from affected funding sources, primarily the Self-Insurance Fund, or the general fund on an individual case or assignment basis. Total expenditures over the life of all contracts will not exceed $300,000.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Jeffrey Barton and the Law Department.