San Francisco LAFCO reviews CCA contractor bids, plans interviews and urges SFPUC to stick to timeline

San Francisco’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) on the meeting reviewed responses to a joint request for qualifications (RFQ) issued in November for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) advisory services and discussed next steps for interviewing and selecting contractors.

Consul Miller, LAFCO staff, told commissioners the RFQ was issued Nov. 21, 2007, and that five responses had been received by staff so far; the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) later issued an amendment and extended its response deadline to Feb. 7, 2008. Miller identified bidders that had submitted material to LAFCO: Davis Wright Tremaine; GES Engineers and Appraisers; Navigate Consulting; Local Power; and work involving SMUD-related experience. Miller said two additional firms — KPMG and Booz Allen Hamilton — participated in a pre-bidders conference but had not yet filed bids with LAFCO.

Commissioners discussed how to vet and interview candidates. Commissioner Jake McGoldrick said it would be “somewhat inappropriate for any of us to serve on the panel” because that could create a perception of prejudgment, and he urged an objective, criteria-driven process with careful reference checks. Miller said the RFQ itself breaks out roughly 30 tasks, including legal and outreach work, and that interview panels would likely include representatives from SMUD, the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, an SFPUC representative and LAFCO’s staff lead, with Palo Alto utilities as a potential backup.

Chair Ross Mercarini and others raised scheduling concerns because SFPUC General Manager Susan Liao is on medical leave; Miller said SFPUC had the contract on its March 25 calendar and that some hiring decisions (notably a staff-director level position) often are finalized with the general manager’s approval, which could affect timing. Commissioner Chris Daley pressed LAFCO to “move forward” and said the commission should plan to hear the panel’s recommendation and invite recommended contractors to the February meeting so LAFCO could make an actionable decision.

On procurement policy, Miller noted an SFPUC amendment added a city/county Local Business Enterprise (LBE) requirement that generally expects 15% of the contract be fulfilled by designated LBEs. Commissioners agreed LAFCO’s RFQ and contract language currently require LBE compliance at the time a contract is awarded rather than forcing designations at RFQ submission, and they discussed evaluating LBE commitments as part of the contracting step.

Commissioner Daley moved that LAFCO direct staff to send a formal letter to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission expressing LAFCO’s interest in adherence to the previously agreed timeline and asking SFPUC to clarify what, if any, activities are delayed while the general manager position is unsettled; staff offered to draft the letter and the commission agreed the chair would sign it on LAFCO’s behalf.

Next steps set by LAFCO include scheduling panel interviews within about two weeks after Feb. 7, having the panel provide a recommendation to LAFCO, and calendaring a February meeting (Feb. 22 was chosen) at which recommended bidders would be invited to present. SFPUC’s commission calendar item to approve a contract was noted for March 25.

LAFCO members emphasized careful reference checking and an open process for interviewing to avoid repeating past instances where a selected consultant underperformed. The commission closed public comment on the item with no speakers and continued work on the RFQ process to future meetings.

The commission did not take a final contract award at this meeting; the panel’s recommendation and contractor presentations are expected after the Feb. 7 RFQ deadline.