Title
Resolution - Approval of Award to Negotiate Contract for Election Services Provider - S Romero
Other Info
Submitted By: Sylvia Romero Department: General Counsel
Financial Impact and Cost/Benefit Considerations: The financial impact on the Cooperative is estimated for a negotiated contract as discussed in Executive Session. The 2020 Operating Budget will reflect a negotiated contract amount. In 2018 and 2019, election services costs ranged from approximately $191,000 to $220,000. It is anticipated that approximately 1,750 plus hours of staff time will be necessary to ensure completion of the 2020 election cycle.
Discussion
Section 4.2 of the Election Policy and Procedures provides that "[w]hen the Board decides to solicit for election service providers, the Board shall direct the General Counsel to initiate a competitive procurement to identify and recommend to the Board the most qualified Election Service Provider. In any such decision the Board should recognize that such procurement will typically take between four and six months. Unless the Board directs otherwise, a competitive procurement will be performed every three years."
The Cooperative's current contract with Survey & Ballot Systems, the Cooperative's independent third-party election services provider expires on December 31, 2019. The Cooperative's governing documents provide that Members have "the right to fair and open Director Elections" and to "designate an independent election service provider to conduct" Cooperative elections (the "Election Service Provider.")
Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Elections RFP Committee Team was established to seek competitive quotes and related proposals for Election Service Provider vendors for a contract beginning January 1, 2020. The RFP was issued on April 17, 2019 seeking competitive bids. The Elections RFP Committee solicited for election services on behalf of the Board in coordination with the Procurement Team, Request for Propo...
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