Sierra Club urges Alameda County to withdraw informal RFP it says seeks strategy to 'water down' Measure D

Kelly Abreu, representing the Sierra Club's San Francisco Bay Chapter, urged the Alameda County supervisors' procurement committee on March 16 to withdraw an informal request for proposals she said seeks an "election strategy to water down Measure D." Abreu said the RFP (identified in public comment as IRFP 902725) would use taxpayer funds to explore changing a voter‑approved initiative and called that a "misuse of public resources and a breach of voter trust."

"Your general services agency recently issued informal RFP number 902725, which seeks a political consultant to assess voter sentiment and recommend a, quote, election strategy to water down measure d," Abreu said. She asked the board to "withdraw IRFP 902725 immediately."

Procurement administrator Dietra Dillon responded during the meeting that GSA had received an informal request and was "awaiting bids" and that those bids were due March 20. Dillon said she would check which client department originated the request; supervisors asked staff to follow up with Director Rivera and provide a public update. Supervisor Marquez said her office had also been contacted about the RFP and would seek to "close the loop for the public."

Committee members and staff described the county's informal bid thresholds during the exchange: Dillon said county informal bids are used for procurements under $100,000, and that professional services above $25,000 generally come to the board for approval. She noted that the county is required by policy to notify a notice of intent to award and that a seven‑day protest window follows that notice.

The committee did not vote on the solicitation at the meeting. Supervisors asked GSA staff to identify the client department that requested the informal solicitation, and to provide any available public updates to clarify the RFP's origin and scope.