RFP for 2017 Ratepayer Advocate

ANNOUNCEMENT CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC WORKS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 2017 RATEPAYER ADVOCATE RFP NO. IPS17021 Under the 1932 Refuse Collection and Disposal Initiative Ordinance, the City approves changes in residential refuse rates during a series of public hearings before the San Francisco Public Works and the Rate Board. There is public interest in the rate adjustment process and concerned ratepayers attend the hearings or contact City staff during the process. The City anticipates that the refuse collection and disposal companies will notify the City of their intent to seek a rate increase effective July 1, 2017. According to the Public Works Director’s rules of procedure, the rate adjustment proceedings will start as early as mid-September 2016 with a technical workshop and draft application. The City intends to award an agreement to an individual or firm to perform services as a refuse ratepayer advocate with an estimated contract amount of $75,000 until the end of June 2017. The City reserves the right to change the number of contracts and contract amount limits to be awarded. Proposals will be received at 1155 Market Street, 4th Floor, ATTN: Tiffany Tsang, San Francisco, CA 94103 until 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 17, 2016. Electronic Submissions can be emailed to [email protected]. Late submissions will not be considered. Postmarks will not be considered in judging the timeliness of submissions. Each proposer accepts all risks with improper delivery or with failure to deliver before such time and date by courier, mail or other delivery service. Digital files of the RFQ Package may be downloaded at no cost at: https://stgint.sfdpw.org/biddocs/pages/default.aspx. Notices regarding Addenda and other proposal changes will be distributed by email to Plan Holders. Additional information is available from the Contracts, Bid Opportunities and Payments webpage at: www.sfpublicworks.org. The purpose of the advocate is to assist the City in developing and implementing a public participation plan to broaden ratepayer understanding of and participation in the rate application process; to serve as a single point of contact between the City and the ratepayers; and to help ratepayers convey their comments and concerns to the City during the rate adjustment process. The ratepayer advocate needs to have credibility and be able to inspire the confidence of the ratepayers and City officials. The person or firm contracted for this position will have experience conducting public outreach campaigns, be familiar with rate regulations and/or utility rate setting procedures, and be able to work well with the public. The responsibilities of this position include advocating the public’s positions and representing the public’s views in an articulate and comprehensive manner at the San Francisco Public Works Director’s hearings and before the Rate Board. Services will be required from mid-September 2016 through the end of the rate process, anticipated to be the end of June 2017.

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August 1, 2016

RFP for 2017 Ratepayer Advocate

Rating bonuses will be applied as per San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 14B. The LBE subconsulting participation requirement and good faith efforts have been waived. All other Chapter 14B requirements shall apply. A pre-proposal meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 1:00 P.M., at the Main Conference Room, 1155 Market Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, California. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted no later than close of business day August 12, 2016 to Tiffany Tsang by email at [email protected] or by mail to: Contract Administration Division ATTN: Tiffany Tsang San Francisco Public Works 1155 Market Street, 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103

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August 1, 2016