REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL GENERAL COUNSEL …

1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL GENERAL COUNSEL (Outside) The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) invites qualified attorneys to submit proposals to provide outside GENERAL COUNSEL services. This solicitation is for a three year contract for services that may be extended for up to two additional years by mutual agreement of the parties. The Authority SRTA is a Regional Transit Authority established pursuant to MGL c161B. Member communities include Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, Westport. SRTA contracts with a private company that operates the public transit services on behalf of the Authority. The Authority is governed by an Advisory Board pursuant to MGL c161B, Section 5.

2 SRTA is the recipient of annual operating and capital grants from the Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The Authority's operating budget exceeds $14,000,000 per year with a capital program of approximately $4,000,000 annually. Responsibilities of GENERAL COUNSEL 1. The selected attorney shall serve as GENERAL COUNSEL to SRTA and will have GENERAL responsibility for overseeing the Authority's legal affairs. The GENERAL COUNSEL will report to the Administrator as an independent contractor and will advise the Advisory Board and SRTA staff on an "as needed" basis. 2. The GENERAL COUNSEL will review and/or draft contracts, procurement documents, bidding procedures, and other documents arising in the ordinary course of business.

3 The GENERAL COUNSEL shall be familiar with federal and state procurement laws and regulations as well as laws affecting the operation and 2 financing of Regional Transit Authorities. The GENERAL COUNSEL will be responsible for executing grant certifications and other documents requiring the signature of SRTA GENERAL COUNSEL . 3. The GENERAL COUNSEL will be asked to attend SRTA's board meetings. These meetings are held a minimum of 6 times a year, usually during evening hours at various locations throughout the SRTA service area. The GENERAL COUNSEL will also attend special meetings at the REQUEST of Administrator on an "as needed" basis on specific matters. These meetings may occur 4-6 times a month on 1-3 days notice.

4 The attorney will also be required to be available for regular phone conferences as needed. 4. The GENERAL COUNSEL will be asked to facilitate SRTA's board sub-committee meetings. These meetings are held a minimum of 4 times a year, usually during evening hours at various locations throughout the SRTA service area. 5. The GENERAL COUNSEL will make himself/herself available for consultation with SRTA staff members on such matters as they may wish to discuss with him/her. Some examples of consultations conducted in the past included the following: a. assisting SRTA staff in maintaining compliance with federal procurement regulations; b. assisting SRTA staff in developing bid packages, contracts and other documents; c.

5 Assisting SRTA staff in resolving protests arising under various bids; d. assisting SRTA staff in resolving conflicts and disagreements between SRTA and private carriers with whom it deals; e. advising SRTA on matters involving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; f. advising SRTA on matters involving compliance with federal and state Civil Rights, DBE and private enterprise participation regulations; g. assisting SRTA staff in drafting of vehicle lease agreements and purchase of transportation service contracts; h. assisting SRTA staff in handling various matters involving property and the management and disposition of, and i. assisting SRTA staff in human resource matters. 3 6. The GENERAL COUNSEL may represent SRTA before the FTA, MassDOT , State Boards and other government agencies.

6 Any legal matters requiring extraordinary amounts of time, litigation, shall not necessarily be covered by this agreement, but will be agreed to by the GENERAL COUNSEL and the SRTA Administrator on an ad hoc basis, and may be subject to a separate engagement with written approval of the Administrator or Advisory Board. PROPOSAL Content All proposals shall include at a minimum the following: 1. Name of firm or attorney, address, name of contact person, and phone number. Describe the law firm, including its size and locations of office(s). 2. Describe the firms experience in matters relevant to this solicitation. Identify any restrictions on attorney availability. 3. Identify the proposed fee including any retainer and hourly rate.

7 List any additional charges. Describe the nature of the fee ( , fixed, estimated, etc.) and how it might increase or decrease over the following years should be firm be reappointed. 4. Submit resume of the proposed Attorney-In-Charge, and any additional personnel that might be assigned to the engagement. The resume should include a description of the individual's GENERAL qualifications and experience, availability, as well as experience in the transit industry. 5. Provide a list of other transit and public entities (current and former) over the past 5 years. 6. Include a cover letter signed by an official of the firm that is authorized to commit the firm to the contents of the PROPOSAL . 7. Provide any additional information that may be useful to the Authority in evaluating the qualifications of the firm.

8 4 8. Provide a list of clients (current or former, within 5 years) that may be contacted as references. Evaluation Criteria The following criteria will be used in evaluating proposals. The criteria are listed in order of importance. 1. Qualifications and experience of GENERAL COUNSEL candidate 2. References 3. Proposed fee for the contract period and any additional charges Evaluation Process The proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Committee who will review the proposals, participate in any interviews, and provide the Administrator with a ranked list of candidates. Notwithstanding the recommendation of the selection committee, the Administrator, will make the final recommendation to the advisory board, subject to satisfactory review of the procurement process.

9 Notwithstanding the recommendation of the Administrator, the Advisory Board reserves the final selection to itself, subject to satisfactory conclusion of negotiations. SRTA reserves the right to REQUEST additional information from any proposer at any time during the evaluation and selection process. SRTA reserves the right to negotiate fees, as well as any additional charges. 5 Submitting Proposals Four copies of the PROPOSAL should be mailed to delivered to: Erik B. Rousseau, Administrator Southeastern Regional Transit Authority 700 Pleasant Street, Suite 320 New Bedford, MA 02740 prior to 3:00 on Monday, July 15, 2013. All proposals must be in a sealed envelope clearly marked " PROPOSAL FOR GENERAL COUNSEL ".

10 PROPOSAL s received after the above noted deadline will be rejected and returned unopened. Any correspondence or written questions regarding the REQUEST for Proposals should be direct to the above address no later than Monday, July 8, 2013. All answers to any questions and copies of any requested document, being deemed relevant and appropriate by the Administrator, will be distributed to all firms that receive a REQUEST for PROPOSAL . Issuance of the REQUEST for Proposals does not commit SRTA to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in preparation of the proposals in response to this REQUEST . SRTA reserves the right to reject any an all proposals, in whole or in part, to waive any formalities, and to re-advertise or to discontinue this process without any prejudice.