Public Notice: Request for proposal Lenoir County Schools legal services
The Lenoir County Schools invites applications from interested attorneys to provide legal services. This request for proposal is for the purpose of selecting local Lenoir County Schools legal counsel to handle criminal bail bond and vehicle forfeiture work for the school system.
The work primarily includes reviewing and objecting to motions to set aside bond forfeitures, reviewing petitions to remit previously paid bond forfeitures, and attendance at district and superior court hearings regarding bond forfeiture matters. The work will also involve addressing issues with the forfeiture of vehicles pursuant to state law, including reviewing lienholder, innocent owner and other petitions seeking the release of vehicles subject to forfeiture. The Lenoir County Schools is seeking legal counsel beginning February 1, 2022.
Sealed proposals for legal counsel are requested by the Lenoir County Board of Education. All proposals should be submitted to Brent Williams, Superintendent of Schools, on or before 4:00 p. m. on Friday, January 7, 2022.
Nothing herein is intended to exclude any responsible firm or attorney or in any way restrain or restrict competition. All responsible firms and attorneys are encouraged to submit proposals.
The Lenoir County Schools reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals submitted in the best interest of the Lenoir County Schools, and the Board further reserves the right to waive any defect or informality in any proposal should it be in the best interest of the Lenoir County Schools.
The Lenoir County Schools intends to enter into a contract with the successful Proposer incorporating all provisions of the Request for Proposal. By submitting a Proposal, the Proposer is agreeing to enter into such a contract if they are awarded the work.
Submission of Proposals
Ten (10) copies of all completed Legal Services proposals MUST be returned to Brent Williams, Superintendent of Schools, Lenoir County Schools, 2017 W. Vernon Avenue, Kinston, NC 28504, by Friday, January 7, 2022. The Lenoir County Schools requests that each proposal include the following: a summary page listing all rates, fees and charges.
All RFPs submitted up to the deadline date will be reviewed by the Lenoir County Schools. Proposals received after the 4:00 p.m. deadline will not be considered. Items that will be considered are credentials, experience, references and fee schedules.
If you have any questions regarding this RFP, please contact Brent Williams, Superintendent of Schools, at 252-527-1109, ext. 1025.
Fee Structure and Invoicing
All services are to be invoiced no more often than monthly and must include a detailed description of the matter invoiced, service provided, the date the service was provided, the time expended, the hourly rate, the charges, and reimbursable expenses.
Hourly Rates/Fee:
1. Please provide the hourly rate for the services of the following personnel:
Paralegals:
Associates:
Any additional fees/costs proposed by your firm.
The Board shall not pay an hourly rate for the services of secretarial or other administrative staff. Administrative support is considered part of the outside counsel’s overhead and is built into its rate structure. Such administrative support includes the services of word processors, librarians, and any information technology professionals. While it may be appropriate to pay an hourly billing rate for the services of a paralegal, purely clerical or secretarial tasks (i.e. taking telephone messages, faxing, setting up case files) should not be billed at a paralegal or attorney rate, regardless of who performs them.
Professional Credentials and Experience
All proposals must include the following information in the order requested:
Please submit a brief description and history of your law firm including date established, number of employees and any related specialty services provided.
Please list the members of your firm who will be assigned to criminal bond and vehicle forfeiture matters along with their professional credentials and resumes.
Minimum Qualifications: The firm shall designate at least one lawyer within the firm, who will be assigned to represent the interest of the Lenoir County Schools in these matters. This individual shall be licensed to practice law in North Carolina throughout the term of the contract and shall remain in good standing with the North Carolina State Supreme Court.
Please list your firm’s professional memberships in North Carolina and national law associations.
Please list the courts that members of your firm are admitted to practice.
Please include assurances that your firm and any individual attorney assigned to represent the Board have not been subject to discipline by the North Carolina Bar Association or any other Bar Association
Request for References
Please provide a listing of any public clients, if any, your firm has represented in the last five (5) years.
Insurance
The successful firm(s) must provide and maintain the following minimum limits of insurance coverage during the period of performance required under the contract resulting from the Request for Proposal:
Professional Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence
Commercial General Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence
Automobile Liability - $500,000 per occurrence
Workers Compensation – statutory limits
Prior to commencing work under this contract, the successful firm(s) shall furnish the Lenoir County Schools with a certificate of insurance evidencing that the insurance required herein has been procured. Firms must give the Lenoir County Schools thirty (30) days advance notice of cancellation, non- renewal, or any change in insurance coverage below the required minimums, including changes in the amount of the coverage.
Subcontractors
No sub-contractors are permissible; a partner, lawyer, or other legal representative from the awardee’s firm must perform any or all work.
Evaluation of Proposals
All responsive proposals meeting the eligibility requirements defined herein shall be evaluated by the school system
The selection will be based on the following:
Responsiveness of the proposal in clearly stating an understanding of the work to be performed
Demonstrated capabilities to perform the required services
Final Criteria Evaluation
The Lenoir County Schools will select the top proposals for final comparison review and may contact each servicer and ask follow-up questions concerning the responses if needed. At this time, the Lenoir County Schools may request individual interviews with the top finalist to allow them to clarify areas of their responses. Based on the review and evaluation process discussed in this Request for Proposal, a decision will be made concerning awards of service.
General Requirements
Waiver and/or Rejection: The Lenoir County Schools reserves the right to reject any and all proposals in whole or in part; with or without cause, and to accept proposals, if any, which in its judgment will be in its best interest. Lenoir County Schools will also have the option should no submittal meet their criteria to hire an attorney of their choice.
Proposal Public Record: Proposer acknowledges that all information contained within their proposal is a public record as defined by the State of North Carolina Public Record Law.
Unrequested Solicitation: Any solicitation of Board Members, Officers or any other employee of the Lenoir County Schools by the proposer may result in his/her proposal being denied consideration.
Term and Renewal
The term and renewal options for the contract shall be negotiated with the selected firm. The initial term and any renewal terms may be terminated by either party with thirty (30) day’s written notice.
