Sausalito Municipal Code Art. IV Professional Or Special Services

In contracting for those professional and special services as defined in SMC § 3.30.020, such contracts should only be awarded to firms or persons who have demonstrated an adequate level of experience, competence, staffing and other professional qualifications necessary for more than a satisfactory performance of the services required. Once the department requesting the service has determined a firm has an adequate level of competence, the cost of the service may be considered. However, the lowest cost shall not be the sole factor in deciding the award of the contract, which shall be awarded after consideration of the scope of services available, unique skills, staffing levels, timing, prior experience, past working relationship and other factors required by the department or proposed by that contractor. The information needed for determining that level of competence, other qualifications and the procedure for selecting such services shall be determined by each City department responsible for recommending the professional or special service contract.

(Ord. 05-2024 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

A. Contracting for professional or special services is decentralized and shall be the responsibility of the department head requesting the service.

B. The acquiring of professional or special services in an amount less than or equal to the negotiated purchase amount under California Public Contract Code Section 22032(a) or successor statute shall be procured through negotiated contract and proposals should be solicited from a minimum of three sources unless waived by the procurement officer.

C. Contracts for professional or special services estimated to cost more than the negotiated purchase amount under California Public Contract Code Section 22032(a) or successor statute must be approved by the City Council. Recommendation for award should be pursuant to the following guidelines and based on competitive proposals; however, it is recognized that the City's need for professional or special services will vary from situation to situation, and accordingly, flexibility will be provided in determining the appropriate evaluation and selection process to be used in each specific circumstance. Neither total cost nor hourly rates are the sole criterion in selecting a provider of professional or special services. Proposals will be evaluated based on a combination of factors that result in the best value to the City, including but not limited to:

1. Understanding of the work required by the City;

2. Quality and responsiveness of the proposal;

3. Demonstrated competence and professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of the work required by the City;

4. Recent relevant experience in successfully performing similar services to similar clients;

5. Proposed methodology for completing the work;

6. References;

7. Background and related experience of the specific individuals to be assigned to the project;

8. Proposed compensation, rates and the basis of the proposed compensation (e.g., lump sum, time and expenses, reimbursable against a budget, or time and expenses not to exceed, cost plus fixed fee, etc.);

9. Proposed level of effort and schedule;

10. Commitment regarding the continuity and level of involvement of key personnel.

(Ord. 05-2024 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

The City Manager may approve professional service contracts up to the negotiated purchase amount under California Public Contract Code Section 22032(a) or successor statute. The Assistant City Manager may approve contracts not exceeding half of the amount under California Public Contract Code Section 22032(a) or successor statute. The City Council shall approve professional or special service contracts greater than the negotiated purchase amount under California Public Contract Code Section 22032(a) or successor statute.

(Ord. 05-2024 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 01-2026, 1/20/2026)