RFP Conflict Public Defender Services

The City of Lacey (City) is seeking proposals from qualified attorneys to provide public defense conflict counsel services to indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crimes whenever the Public Defender has a conflict.

This RFP seeks responses from law firms, nonprofit entities, and public agencies. The City provides public defender representation in compliance with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) current Standards for Indigent Defense Services (Standards). Public defense service providers will meet current and any future changes to these standards.

All public defense service providers must maintain compliance with the requirements of the current WSBA Standards and any future changes, comply with any and all federal law, state law, local law, rules of professional conduct, and/or any other law or regulation pertaining to representation of indigent defendants.

Public defense conflict counsel services shall include legal representation for defendants from the date of appointment through the conclusion of the case. [...]

Representation includes sentencing advocacy, investigatory, and legal services including but not limited to interviews of clients and potential witnesses, legal research, preparation and filing of pleadings, negotiations with the appropriate prosecutor or other agency and court regarding possible dispositions, and preparation for and appearance at court proceedings.

Defense counsel shall:

• Be available to provide services in-person and through virtual/telephonic appearances as needed, at the discretion of the City and the Court.
• Be available to meet indigent defendants in person and through virtual/telephonic appearances at the Nisqually Detention and Corrections Center, the Thurston County Correctional Facility, or other facilities used by the City as needed.
• Prepare and make available for City monthly reporting as required in Addendum A.
• Prepare and make available for the City any necessary grant reporting documentation upon request.

The primary scope of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to obtain public defense conflict counsel services. However, the City may also consider proposals from qualified and experienced providers who are interested in providing additional services for Rules for Appeals from Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (RALJ) representation, on an as needed basis.

**Submission method:** Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the following instructions and received by email at Court.Services@cityoflacey.org no later than **5:00 PM Pacific PST, Friday, November 20, 2026**. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Proposal responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format and not exceed 20 pages.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Responsiveness to and completeness of the proposal.
2. Experience providing services of a similar nature and scope.
3. Demonstrated ability and capacity to perform the required services.
4. Proposed compensation rate and structure.

**Term.** The City intends to enter into an agreement for services for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2027, with the option to extend the contract, at the discretion of the City.

Public Defense Service providers are independent contractors and are required to maintain insurance as outlined in *Addendum A*.