Public Defense Services

Agency:	City of Bremerton
State:	Washington
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541330 - Engineering Services 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541820 - Public Relations Agencies
Posted Date:	Nov 21, 2025
Due Date:	Dec 1, 2025
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

Bid Title:	Public Defense Services
Category:	Financial Services
Status:	Open

Description:

The City of Bremerton is requesting qualifications from attorneys and/or law firms interested in contracting public defense services for indigent defendants appearing to answer criminal charges in Bremerton Municipal Court. The City has space available for Public Defense use sufficient for up to four (4) attorneys, support staff, as well as internet connection, and utilities at the City’s expense. Your response should indicate how many cases you are able to take annually or your annual case capacity. Cases will be offered at an alternating rotation, determined by the City, if multiple firms and/or attorneys are awarded.

Publication Date/Time:

11/21/2025 12:00 AM

Closing Date/Time:

12/1/2025 4:00 PM

Contact Person:

The point of contact for this project is Melinda Monroe at Melinda.Monroe@ci.bremerton.wa.us or 360-473-5306.

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Proposals marked “PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES” must be received by:

December 1st, 2025, at 4 PM

Attn: Melinda Monroe

Finance Department

City of Bremerton

345 6th Street, Suite 100

Bremerton, WA 98337

Any proposals received after the scheduled closing time for receipt will be rejected. The point of contact

for this project is Melinda Monroe at Melinda.monroe@ci.bremerton.wa.us or (360) 473-5306. Clarifying

questions are encouraged. The RFP is posted on the City website at www.BremertonWA.gov and hard

copies can be obtained from the City of Bremerton, Finance Office.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES FOR

THE CITY OF BREMERTON

1. INTRODUCTION

The City of Bremerton is requesting qualifications from attorneys and/or law firms interested in contracting

public defense services for indigent defendants appearing to answer criminal charges in Bremerton

Municipal Court. The City has space available for Public Defense use sufficient for up to four (4)

attorneys, support staff, as well as internet connection, and utilities at the City’s expense. Your response

should indicate how many cases you are able to take annually or your annual case capacity. Cases will

be offered at an alternating rotation, determined by the City, if multiple firms and/or attorneys are

awarded.

BACKGROUND

The City of Bremerton operates a Court of Limited Jurisdiction at 550 Park Avenue, Bremerton, WA

98337. Which you may read about on the City website at: www.bremertonwa.gov/156/Municipal-Court.

The City contracts for Jail Services with Kitsap County Jail located at:

Kitsap County Sheriff's Office

614 Division Street MS - 33

Port Orchard, WA 98366

Defense attorneys will be required to appear at the correctional facility to meet with their clients and to

appear for court hearings. Services may be provided in person and through virtual/telephonic

appearances at the discretion of the Court and the City.

The City of Bremerton wishes to initiate a 1-year contract for public defense services with option to extend

for two (2) additional years for misdemeanor offenses. In 2024 there were approximately 861 cases

referred to the Public Defender and another 95 cases referred to conflict public defense. 2025 is year to

date 997 cases referred to the Public Defense including conflict public defense and we expect a 5 %

increase in 2026 for a total of 1,050 cases. Additionally, there is an expected case cap of 285 cases per

full-time attorney with or without a case weighting policy.

Calendars. The Public Defender will be available for all calendars scheduled by the Court. The Public

Defender will ensure that all calendars are adequately staffed with defense attorneys to ensure that public

defense clients receive adequate representation pursuant to the Standards and this agreement and that

the Court calendar time is used efficiently and productively in addressing cases.

2. OBJECTIVES & SCOPE OF WORK

2.1 Objective:

1. The Attorney shall represent from the time of assignment of the case through trial, sentencing, and

post-sentence review, indigent criminal defendants charged under ordinances of the City of

Bremerton and statutes of the State of Washington, whom the City or Court shall qualify for

counsel.

2. The Attorney shall provide criminal defense services at the in-custody and arraignment calendars,

shall attend all hearings and trials involving defendants on whose behalf the Public Defender has

been appointed, and will be available to speak with or meet in person with indigent defendants at

the Public Defender’s office and/or the Bremerton Municipal Court and jail facilities.

3. Ability to simultaneously staff two (2) active court rooms with a minimum of one (1) qualified lawyer

in each courtroom, and to provide staffing for any additional courtrooms or locations

simultaneously,

City of Bremerton Public Defense Services Request for Proposal 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES FOR

THE CITY OF BREMERTON

as may be required by the Court, with a minimum of one (1) qualified lawyer in each

courtroom or location.

4. The Attorney shall comply with all requirements of the Public Defender Duties and Standards and

all applicable rules as promulgated by the Washington State Supreme Court, including but not

limited to the Standards for Indigent Defense as established by CrR 3.1, and as amended from

time to time. Pursuant to Chapter 10.101 RCW, all indigent criminal defendants who are

determined to be eligible and are charged under the ordinances of the City will be referred to the

Public Defender. The Public Defender will provide legal representation for each of these

defendants (through direct Court appointment or through screening) from arraignment through trial,

sentencing, post-conviction review, and any appeal. Public Defenders will not withdraw from cases

until representation is complete. Performance of services shall in all respects comply with the

Standards.

5. The Attorney shall have at least one (1) confidential conference with each client as soon as feasible

after appointment, shall conduct an investigation of the facts using a qualified investigator when

required in the exercise of Attorney’s professional judgment, shall conduct reasonable legal

research into the sufficiency of the prosecution’s case and the availability of legal defenses, if any,

and shall diligently represent the client, including making motions and trying cases as Attorney

deems warranted in the exercise of Attorney’s professional judgment, in order to provide adequate

legal representation under applicable legal standards.

6. The Public Defender will attempt to initiate contact with assigned clients within twenty‐four (24)

hours of assignment. The Public Defender will provide their clients with contact information for

availability during office hours. The Public Defender will return client phone calls or other attempts

to contact the Public Defender within forty-eight (48) hours excluding weekends.

7. The Attorney shall provide to the Bremerton Police Department the telephone number or numbers

at which an attorney may be reached for “critical stage” advice to defendants during the course of

police investigations and/or arrest twenty-four (24) hours each day.

8. Any attorney assisting the primary contractor shall be licensed to practice law before the courts of

record for the State of Washington. The Public Defender shall be responsible for overseeing and

approving services performed by other attorneys at no additional cost. The Public Defender must

immediately report to the City any change affecting the maintenance of membership in good

standing of the Washington State Bar Association. No legal intern shall be used for this contract

unless agreed to in advance by the City.

9. Required public defender services include appearance at the Bremerton Municipal Court and/or jail

for all criminal case calendars, unless excused by the Court, which include standby representation

to all in-custody defendants as well as general advice to defendants as out-of-custody

arraignments. The Public Defender manages cases, and issues subpoenas.

10. The Attorney may withdraw upon completion of the case as allowed by the Rules of Professional

Conduct.

2.2 Scope of Work

1. Purpose: The purpose of this agreement is to provide legal services through effective

assistance of counsel to indigent persons. Legal services shall be statutorily and

constitutionally based.

City of Bremerton Public Defense Services Request for Proposal 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES FOR

THE CITY OF BREMERTON

2. Professional Conduct:

a. The Public Defender shall provide the services of attorneys and staff members in

compliance with all of the applicable laws and administrative regulations of the State of

Washington, the United States, Bremerton Municipal Code, and the Washington State

Rules for Professional Conduct (RPC).

b. Attorneys and staff employed by the Public Defender shall not solicit or accept any

compensation, gifts, gratuities or services from any client.

3. Eligible Population: The population served shall be indigent persons legally entitled to

appointed legal services in Bremerton Municipal Court, as assigned by the Court.

4. Case Assignment: The Public Defender shall accept all case assignments, except for cases

in which there is a conflict of interest or other related issue that would prevent the Public

Defender from accepting assignment of the case. Caseload limits should be compliant with

Washington Supreme Court Standards CrR 3.1

5. Conflicts: The Public Defender reserves the right to decline to advise or represent any client

on the basis of actual legal, ethical, or professional conflict of interest. The Public Defender

shall be responsible for checking for conflicts and identifying if a conflict exists. The Public

Defender shall have a written policy which explains how they define conflict cases. This policy

must be approved by the Contract Administrator. The Public Defender shall perform a conflict

check before any substantial work is done on the case. In event the Contractor must withdraw

from a case because of a conflict of interest, the Contractor shall notify the City, and the City

shall refer the defendant to another attorney competent and able to provide legal services to

the defendant. The cost of the conflict counsel shall be paid by the City and not by the

Contractor.

6. Duties and Responsibilities of the Public Defender: In order to perform its responsibilities

under the Agreement, the Public Defender shall have the power and duty to:

a. Hire all Public Defender personnel;

b. Provide fiscal management; establish compensation of personnel; maintain payroll

records and provide payments for all personnel including withholding of income taxes,

payment of social security taxes, payment of worker compensation and industrial

insurance taxes (where applicable), and fringe benefits;

c. Supervise and maintain the quality of staff and services received or performed, and

provide internal evaluation sessions as necessary;

d. Suspend, remove, or terminate personnel not adequately performing the duties and

responsibilities assigned, engaging in or condoning misconduct, or whose conduct

or continued performance of duties is detrimental to the Public Defender program;

e. Accept and represent all cases and clients officially assigned or appointed by the

Court unless withdrawal from such representation is allowed in accordance with

provisions as stated above;

f. In the event that this Agreement is terminated or not renewed, the Public Defender shall

continue, at the sole discretion of the City, to provide services pursuant to this

Agreement for three (3) months after the Termination date. Public Defender shall not be

assigned any new cases, however, Public Defender shall attempt to complete the

representation of all clients who have been appointed by the Court during the period in

City of Bremerton Public Defense Services Request for Proposal 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES FOR

THE CITY OF BREMERTON

which the Agreement is in effect for the compensation received or receivable under the

terms of the Agreement, unless completed representation is made impossible by a

client's failure to appear;

g. Public defender will be adequately prepared for all cases prior to scheduled court date;

h. Public defender will arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of all scheduled

calendars.

7. Reporting: Public Defender will provide the Contract Administrator with monthly reports

within thirty (30) working days after the close of each calendar month. Acceptable format

shall be as follows:

Report Title

Monthly Court activity reports including

attorney assignments; and hearings held

Year-end reports, additional summaries,

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Public Defense Services

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