City Attorney Services

The City of Sweet Home is requesting proposals from qualified members of the Oregon State Bar (hereinafter referred to as the “City Attorney”) qualified and interested in serving as the City Attorney for the City of Sweet Home. Concurrent with this RFP are two other Requests for Proposals for City Prosecution Services and Labor Attorney Services. Law firms and individuals may respond to two of these three Requests--either City Attorney Services and City Prosecution Services, or City Attorney Services and Labor Attorney Services. The City will not hire a firm or individual to act as both City Prosecutor and Labor Attorney.

The selected City Attorney serves at the pleasure of the City Council and will work closely with the City Manager and City staff on various municipal issues. Services include and are not limited to providing legal advice of general administration of City business; preparing and providing legal opinions; assisting with establishment of procedures; drafting and reviewing ordinances, resolutions, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and other legal documents; advising the City with respect to the City Charter, City Code, Oregon land use law, and other aspects of the City’s legal needs.

This RFP contains the necessary information to understand the scope of work and responsibility, the City Attorney selection process, and the required documentation in submitting a proposal. The City of Sweet Home is seeking a professional service attorney or legal firm to provide regular, ongoing City Attorney services. This work includes regular, reoccurring legal services, in addition to legal services provided on an on-call basis. It is expected that a portion of legal services can be provided remotely through the use of technology, but it would also be expected that the firm be available in person at City Council meetings at least a twice a month, and at Planning Commission meetings as needed.

Background

The City of Sweet Home, pop. 10,206, is an Oregon municipal corporation with city limits covering approximately six square miles. The City of Sweet Home is set in a beautiful area with many natural amenities both directly in the City as well as in the surrounding areas.  The City is located in Linn County, 25 miles east of I-5, and is the third largest city in the county.

The City Council consists of the Mayor and six council members elected from the city at large. The Council acts as the local contract review board for the City.  The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government.

As the closest city in Linn County to the Cascade Mountains and Willamette National Forest, the City receives thousands of summer tourists for local attractions including recreational boating and fishing on the South Santiam River, Foster Lake, and Green Peter Lake as well as camping and hiking in the National Forest. The City is also a frequent stop for fuel and supplies for travelers between the Willamette Valley and central Oregon.

Project Details

• Department: Executive
• Department Head: Jason Ogden (City Manager / Chief of Police)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-08-14T00:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Comprehensiveness of Services (25 pts) —

  Overall capabilities and experience of the Proposer to provide the requested services described in this RFP without exception, which the contractor may demonstrate through the expertise of available Proposer staff or other means.

• Experience & Qualifications (25 pts) —

  The credentials and experience of the assigned staff selected to perform the requested services.

• Cost of Services (25 pts)
• Availability to and Familiarity with the Locale (25 pts) —

  Ability of the Proposer to be available for required appearances and working knowledge of legal issues and requirements specific to the City of Sweet Home and the surrounding region as demonstrated by their proposal.

Submission Requirements

• PROPOSAL FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS – MANDATORY (required) —

  Each Proposer shall provide the following (no more than 15 pages, minimum 12 point font):

  1. Cover Letter: Include the name of the proposing Firm or Individual and its principal business address and phone number. The letter should address the Proposer’s willingness and commitment to provide the services as outlined in the Scope of Work and a description of why the Proposer believes they should be selected. The letter should be signed by an officer of the firm authorized to bind the firm to all comments made in the proposal. Please provide all contact telephone, e-mail addresses, and addresses of the Proposer's office(s);
  2. Narrative identifying proposed project understanding, approach, project team members, team members qualifications, and firm qualifications;
  3. Previous projects showing services experiences related to project;
  4. Statement indicating the consultant has the time and resources necessary for completing the project within the required schedule;
  5. List of references from previous projects listed above.
• Cost Proposal Requirements (required) —

  Proposer shall submit a cost proposal listing standard professional hourly rates, cost estimate by deliverable task(s) for the Scope of Work outlined above, and a not-to-exceed estimate for reimbursable expenses (including method for charging). Please note the final Scope of Work and compensation will be negotiated with the selected Proposer.

  The undersigned hereby proposes and, if selected, agrees to furnish all services in accordance with the Request for Proposal, and Addenda, for the prices enclosed.

• W9 (required)
• COBID Businesses (required)
• Business Name (required) —

  This will be verified in the Secretary of State Portal. https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.login

• Business Type (required)
• Non-Collusion (required) —

  The undersigned Proposer hereby certifies that it, its’ officers, partners, owners, providers, representatives, employees and parties in interest, including the affiant, has not in any way colluded, conspired, connived or agreed, directly or indirectly, with any other Proposer, potential Proposer, firm or person, in connection with this solicitation, to submit a collusive or sham bid, to refrain from bidding, to manipulate or ascertain the price(s) of other Proposers or potential Proposers, or to secure through any unlawful act an advantage over other Proposers or the City. The fees and prices submitted herein have been arrived at in an entirely independent and lawful manner by the Proposer without consultation with other Proposers or potential Proposers or foreknowledge of the prices to be submitted in response to this solicitation by other Proposers or potential Proposers on the part of the Proposer, its officers, partners, owners, providers, representatives, employees or parties in interest, including the affiant.

• Conflict of Interest (required) —

  The undersigned Proposer and each person signing on behalf of the Proposer certifies, and in the case of a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of their knowledge and belief, no member of the City Council, officer, employee, or person, whose salary is payable in whole or in part by the City, has a direct or indirect financial interest in the award of this Proposal, or in the services to which this Proposal relates, or in any of the profits, real or potential, thereof, except as noted otherwise herein. The undersigned hereby submits this Proposal to furnish all work, services systems, materials, and labor as indicated herein and agrees to be bound by the following documents: Request for Proposal, Professional Services Agreement (once negotiated and approved), and associated inclusions and references, specifications, Proposal Form, Proposer response, mutually agreed clarifications, appropriately priced change orders, exceptions which are acceptable to the City, and all other Proposer submittals.

   

• Reciprocal Preference Law - Residency (required)
• The Proposer hereby certifies that the information contained in these certifications and representations is accurate, complete, and current. (required)
• Pre-Proposal Meeting (required)
• Pricing (required)
• Procurement Portal Link (required)