RHODE ISLAND INFRASTRUCTURE BANK. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Executive Search Firm

Transcription

1 RHODE ISLAND INFRASTRUCTURE BANK REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Executive Search Firm I. Description of Proposal The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (the Bank ) is issuing this Request for Proposals ( RFP ) for the services of an executive search firm to identify potential candidates for the Bank s Executive Director position. The respondents to this RFP shall provide a proposal, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, to provide services to the Bank as described in the Scope of Work in Section III below. II. Background The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is a state quasi-public agency governed by a five member Board of Directors. The principal functions of the Bank are: 1. To provide low cost financing to cities, towns, other governmental agencies and drinking water suppliers for water pollution abatement and drinking water projects through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. 2. To administer the Municipal Road and Bridge Revolving Fund. 3. To administer septic system upgrade, sewer tie-in, and facility plan loan programs. 4. To administer newly authorized programs including: the Efficient Buildings Fund program (which provides low cost financing to public entities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects), the Residential and Commercial PACE programs (which provide a financing mechanism for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on commercial and residential properties), a Brownsfield Revolving Loan Fund program (which will provide a funding mechanism for remediation of federally designated Brownsfield sites in Rhode Island), and a Water Quality Protection program (which will provide funding for water suppliers for protection of sources of water supply and other improvements to the water systems). The programs listed in this section are newly authorized and at varying stages of development. A principal immediate responsibility of the new Executive Director will be to manage the development of these programs to successful full implementation in an expedited manner. 1

2 To administer these programs, the Bank works with a variety of external entities: state agencies (including the Departments of Environmental Management, Health, Transportation, Energy Resources, and Commerce), cities and towns, banks and other quasi-state agencies. Many of the Bank s programs are federally funded, which require a working relationship with governmental agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). III. Scope of Work 1. Assist the Board of Directors to develop a candidate profile; advertise the position; directly solicit candidates; review initial candidates with a Committee selected by the Board of Directors (the Review Committee); present a written report on background, strengths, accomplishments, interviews (in person or video); provide reference lists on each recommended finalist; facilitate final interview process with suggested interview questions; assist the Bank and legal counsel with negotiating a contract, coordinate all correspondence, travel arrangements, and recordkeeping; and conduct detailed professional reference checks on recommended finalists, if requested. 2. The Bank expects the successful respondent to: a. Develop a comprehensive position profile based upon information obtained in individual meetings with the Board, legal counsel and staff as directed; b. Review the current compensation and recommend changes for a comparable position, if necessary, based upon market and competitive conditions; c. Develop a marketing strategy that utilizes professional contacts throughout the geographic area identified and supplement the candidate identification process through selected advertising, use of internet and direct solicitation of known desirable candidates; d. Source job candidates through a number of different channels including consulting stakeholders regarding leads, proactively reaching out to candidates in the marketplace that may not be actively seeking the position, and other best practice recruitment strategies. e. Implement a screening process that narrows the field of candidates to those that most closely match the needs of the Bank, including discussing results of preliminary reference checks on top candidates. The extent of screening to be conducted by the respondent will be determined by the Board of Directors. f. Conduct personal interviews with the top candidates that meet the stated criteria, if requested; g. Conduct criminal, drivers, credit and related background checks, as requested; h. Deliver a product in the form of a search report that recommends the top group of candidates and provides the Bank with detailed information about their background and experience from interviews and other sources; i. Assist, if requested, during the final interview and the selection process, including developing suggested interview questions; 2

3 j. Assist, if requested, in negotiating a total compensation package with the desired candidate. k. Assist in establishing a process for the recruitment, including a timeline for various actions during the recruitment process. 3. The Interim Executive Director, Board of Directors and Legal Counsel will be available to assist in coordinating the RFQ process, including scheduling meetings, facilitating interviews, providing recruitment information, benefit package for the selected candidate, etc. IV. Experience Requirements 1. Each respondent shall, within the past thirty-six (36) months have worked with a public or quasi-public agency similar to the Bank to conduct executive recruitments. 2. Each respondent shall have, within the past twenty-four (24) months, placed at least one (1) executive candidate with a public or quasi-public governmental entity or other similar entity. V. Response Format and Content 1. Title Page: Indicate the proposal subject, name of firm, address, telephone number, name of contact person, and date of submittal. 2. Introduction: Briefly introduce your firm, indicating whether the firm is local, regional, national or international. Provide a profile of the firm including, but not limited to, the approximate number of professional staff employed. Indicate the name of the person(s) who will be authorized to make representation for and to bind the firm, their titles, and telephone numbers. 3. Information Included in Response: a. Briefly state your understanding of the work to be performed. Including, but do not limit your statement to, the specific items requested above in Section III - Scope of Work. b. Describe the experience of the firm within the past thirty-six (36) months of having worked with a public or quasi-public agency similar to the Bank to conduct executive recruitments. c. Describe the experience of the firm within the past twenty-four (24) months, in having placed at least one (1) executive candidate with a public or quasipublic governmental entity or other similar entity. d. Describe your proposed strategy to complete the recruitment, including a general statement of the philosophy of the firm. e. Provide the names and telephone numbers of at least five (5) clients for whom your firm has worked. The Bank reserves the right to contact any additional individuals or firms to obtain information about the respondent. 3

4 f. Indicate the names and titles, and include resumes, of the person(s) who will be working on this project, including which person will have primary responsibility on this project. A response to this requirement should include all contact information such as telephone number, fax number, address and web address. g. Provide a detailed description of how the recruitment is to be conducted. h. Indicate any additional information for the consideration of your firm s qualifications for conducting this project. i. Discuss the general nature and extent of benefits that the Bank is reasonably likely to experience as a result of these services. j. Provide a copy of a previous position profile your firm has completed which you feel may have some similarities to the positon sought by the Bank. k. Provide a copy of a previous search report your firm has completed for another client similar to the Bank. l. Copies of all documentation which demonstrate the firm(s) has the legal ability to perform the services in the State of Rhode Island, described generally heretofore. Certification that a Certificate of Good Standing from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation will be delivered to the Bank upon award. A listing of any/all current and ongoing contracts between the firm and the Bank or the State of Rhode Island. A disclosure of all outstanding financial obligations with the State of Rhode Island for any of the firms included in the proposal. m. A complete description of the fee structure of the firm. VI. Completion of Project: It is the Bank s goal to have this project completed in two (2) to three (3) months. VII. Eligibility and Selection 1. Eligible Applicants: This RFP is open to all public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit entities possessing the requisite experience. Experience working with public agencies is preferred. 2. Basis of Selection: The Bank is seeking the most comprehensive proposal from qualified firms providing these services. Proposals are expected to demonstrate the firm s specific capabilities required to fill the roles outlined by this RFP. The Bank will evaluate proposals and, if a firm is to be selected, select the firm on the basis of: Quality of response; Demonstrated experience and capability to perform services outlined in the RFP; Specific examples of work similar to that required in this RFP; Proposed budget structure and cost; Governmental, Public Agency or Quasi-Public Agency experience, which is preferred; and Firm s references. 4

5 VIII. Notifications 1. Equal Employment Opportunity (RIGL ) Declaration of policy (a) Equal opportunity and affirmative action toward its achievement is the policy of all units of Rhode Island State government, including all public and quasi-public agencies, commissions, boards and authorities, and in the classified, unclassified, and nonclassified services of State employment. This policy applies to all areas where the State dollar is spent, in employment, public services, grants and financial assistance, and in State licensing and regulation. For further information, contact the Rhode Island Equal Opportunity Office at (401) In accordance with Title 7, Chapter 1.1 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, no foreign corporation, a corporation without a Rhode Island business address, shall have the right to transact business in the State until it shall have procured a Certificate of Authority to do so from the Rhode Island Secretary of State ( ). This is a requirement only of the successful contractor. 3. The Bank reserves the right to consider evaluation criteria other than those listed in this RFP. 4. The Bank is committed to non-discrimination. All candidates for the positions will therefore be treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran s status or marital status. Furthermore, the Bank seeks to identify a diverse pool of candidates for the position. 5. PLEASE NOTE that all materials submitted to the Bank may be Public Records and therefore may be subject to public disclosure under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws , et seq. ( APRA ). In accordance with Section (4)(B) of APRA, trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person, firm, or corporation which is of a privileged or confidential nature are not deemed to be public records. Accordingly, the interested party responding to this RFP should clearly mark as CONFIDENTIAL any and all materials, including without limitation financial information, that the interested party considers to be subject to the privileged or confidential exception in R.I. Gen. Laws (4)(B). If it receives a request for access to records, the Bank will not disclose such confidential or privileged materials in response to an APRA request, absent a court order or consent of the interested party. 6. Selected Firm is required to comply with all RI State statutes and regulations applicable to vendors of the State and Bank. 5

6 IX. Other Provisions 1. Acceptance/Rejection/Modification to Responses: The Bank reserves the right to negotiate modifications to proposals that it deems acceptable, reject any and all proposals, and to waive informalities or irregularities in a proposal or in the proposal process. The Bank reserves the right to split or to make the award in any manner deemed most advantageous to the Bank at its sole and exclusive discretion. 2. Economy of Preparation: Statements of Qualifications should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of the respondent s ability to fulfill the requirements of the project. 3. Cost of Preparation: The Bank shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by a respondent in preparing or submitting a proposal. 4. Ownership: Submitted materials become the property of the Bank and will not be returned. 5. Engagement Letter: The Bank and the selected Firm will execute a separate engagement letter which will set forth the respective roles and responsibilities of the parties. 6. Final Award: A final award is subject to negotiation of final fees and scope of services. The Bank s selection of a firm pursuant to this RFP does not mean that the Bank accepts all of the proposals, modifications to which may be requested and agreed to during contract negotiations. The award will be reviewed during its course and may be extended at the sole discretion of the Bank. X. Response Date & Questions: All proposals to this solicitation must be received by the Bank no later than 12:00 pm on November 10, All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted to Joseph Dewhirst at the address listed below or by at jdewhirst@riinfrastructurebank.com no later than 12:00pm on October 30, Answers will posted to the Bank website and the RI Division of Purchases website no later than 5:00pm on November 3, XI. XII. Contact Information Joseph Dewhirst, Interim Executive Director Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank 235 Promenade Street Suite 119 Providence, Rhode Island Withdrawal from Consideration: A respondent may withdraw its statement of qualifications at any time prior to the submission deadline by submitting a written request for withdrawal to Joseph Dewhirst, at the contact information listed above. XIII. Disclaimer: This RFP does not commit the Bank to award any funds, pay any costs incurred in preparing an application. The Bank reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, negotiate with all qualified applicants, cancel or modify the 6

7 RFP in part or in its entirety, or change the application guidelines, when it is in its best interest. The Bank s decision on these matters is final. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that its Proposal is complete and properly submitted. At its discretion, the Bank may request supplemental materials from the applicant and such materials must be submitted within five (5) days of the request or the Proposal may be rejected without further review. 7