City of Norcross
Department of Public Works
REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – CITY ATTORNEY
RFQ MC 25-04
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City of Norcross
Mayor & Council
REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – CITY ATTORNEY
RFQ MC 25-04
INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW:
The City of Norcross is soliciting qualifications from qualified law firms or individual attorneys licensed to practice
law in the state of Georgia to provide legal services to the City. Qualifications may be submitted by an individual
attorney, or by an attorney who represents a law firm. In any case, the attorney who would serve as the primary
legal counsel to the City must be named. Interested firms shall provide qualified and experienced technical and
professional personnel to perform duties and responsibilities as assigned. The selected firm or individual will
represent the City of Norcross in any and all legal matters.
The statement of qualifications package should be clearly marked “RFQ MC 25-04 PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES - CITY ATTORNEY” on its face and submitted by 11:00 a.m. on November 13, 2024, to the
address below. Please submit two printed copies and one electronic copy (USB) of your RFQ package to:
Charlene Marsh, Procurement & Capital Projects Manager
City of Norcross – Public Works Department
345 Lively Avenue
Norcross, GA 30071
Both printed and electronic copies must contain the same information.
Please submit questions/requests via e-mail only to the Procurement & Capital Projects Manager at
procurement@norcrossga.net by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2024.
No submission will be received or accepted after the above specified date and time. Submissions
received after the designated date and time will be deemed invalid and returned unopened to the firm.
No submission may be withdrawn within thirty (30) days after the deadline and all submissions shall
remain firm during this period. Requests for withdrawals must be submitted in writing.
We appreciate your interest in the City of Norcross!
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE OF PROCUREMENT
The City of Norcross is requesting qualifications of interested firms or attorneys to provide legal
services as the “City Attorney” for the City of Norcross. The selected firm or individual will represent
the City of Norcross in any and all legal matters.
1.2 SCOPE OF WORK
In furtherance of those duties set forth in Section 2-95 of the City Charter, the City Attorney is
expected to perform all general legal representation for the City as required. Compensation for
these defined services will be at an hourly rate. The City Attorney or assistants under his or her
direction shall be the legal advisor and representative of the city and, in that capacity, shall:
1. Exercise any powers and perform any duties charged to the City Attorney by the Charter or
this Code;
2. Advise any Councilmember or the Mayor when requested, upon all legal questions arising
in the conduct of the city business;
3. Prepare or revise ordinances when so requested by the City Council or Mayor;
4. Give official opinions upon any legal matter or question submitted by a majority vote of
the City Council;
5. Shall at the discretion of the Mayor and Council attend Council meetings for the purpose
of giving the Mayor and Council any legal advice requested by its members;
6. Prepare for execution all contracts and instruments to which the city is a party when so
requested and approve, as to form, all bonds and city contracts;
7. Prepare, when authorized by the City Council, charges and complaints against, and appear
in the municipal court in the prosecution of persons charged with a violation of this Code
or of any regulations and see to the full enforcement of all civil judgments or decrees
rendered or entered in favor of the city;
8. Defend any and all suits and actions at law or equity brought against the city, unless
otherwise directed by the City Council;
9. Prepare and file any civil suit or action at law or equity to secure or protect the city's best
interest when so ordered by a resolution of the City Council;
10. Make immediate report to the City Council of the outcome of any litigation in which the
city has a direct interest;
11. Keep complete and accurate records of the following, which records shall remain the
property of the city:
a. All suits in which the city had or has an interest, giving the names of the parties, the
nature of the action, the disposition of the case or its status, if pending, and the briefs of
counsel; and
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b. All written opinions prepared by the City Attorney and all certificates or abstracts of
titles furnished by the City Attorney to the city, or any department or official thereof;
and
12. Render any other legal services that may be required by the City Council.
The City of Norcross reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive technicalities and to
make an award deemed in its best interest to the proposer offering the best value. The City of
Norcross reserves the option to negotiate terms, conditions, and pricing.
1.3 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Current member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia, with no history of
disciplinary actions, and is admitted to practice before the appellate courts of the State
of Georgia.
2. At least 5 years of experience, consecutive to this request for qualifications, as an
attorney practicing within the general area of work associated with the duties described
herein.
1.4 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
See Appendix A for the detail Schedule of Events
1.5 RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH STAFF
All questions about this RFQ should include the company name and the referenced RFQ
section in the following format:
Company Name
1. Question
Citation of relevant section of the RFQ
1.6 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Please provide the required information in the following order:
1. Introduction -- A brief history of your firm including firm size and areas of practice of
its attorneys. Also include the address of the local office long with names, email, and
phone contacts for the proposed City Attorney and other office staff as applicable.
2. Resumes -- Identify the attorney in your firm that would take primary responsibility
to advise and represent the City of Norcross if your firm were selected, as well as
other attorneys within your firm that will also perform tasks or assist in the
representation. Provide resumes for each individual.
3. Experience and Qualifications-- Describe the qualifications for the individual to be
designated as City Attorney. At a minimum, this information should include:
i. Legal education and training, and type and years of practice to include
the date of admission to the Georgia Bar
ii. Years of municipal or other local public-sector law practice as a full-time,
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contracted, or part-time local government attorney and/or private law
practice with specialization in local government law
iii. General description of tasks and responsibilities associated with past
practice as a local government attorney
iv. General description of experience in litigation representing local
government including types or categories of cases litigated.
4. Capacity & Resources – Provide a list of all public clients and/or local agencies for
which the firm currently provides services. Please define the normal time frame for
responses by the City Attorney to direction and/or inquiry by Mayor & Council or
City Manager.
5. References – Please use attached reference form (Appendix B) to provide at least
three professional references regarding ability to serve as City Attorney. List any
experience in representing governmental entities, including the name of the
government(s) represented, lengths of representation, and individuals within the
government with whom your firm worked closely.
Please provide accurate information and inform your references that the City of Norcross
will follow up to perform reference checks. It will affect your scores if we are not able to
contact your references, or they do not respond in time.
The City of Norcross will not serve as a reference, in the event that your Company worked
with the City of Norcross previously.
Alternatively, Proposers are welcome to provide three (3) reference letters where
they provided the same or similar services. Reference letters must be on official
letterhead and signed by the point of contact of the agency where the service was
performed.
6. Signed Statement of Qualifications Letter
7. Signed Disclosure Form
8. Provide proof of Professional Liability Insurance Coverage (Lawyer’s Professional
Liability Insurance) for errors and omissions of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.
1.7 EVALUATION CRITERIA
Evaluation Criteria
Experience & Qualifications of Primary City Attorney
Experience & Qualifications of Supporting Attorneys
References
Capacity & Resources
Compliance with submission guidelines
Total
Max Score
35
30
15
15
5
100
The City will schedule interviews with the top-scoring firms.
2.0 GENERAL CONDITIONS
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.
