City of Evanston - Special Ethics Counsel Services - RFQ 26-50 (2026)
City of EvanstonCity · Evanston, IL- Due
- Oct 27, 2026
- 11 days left
- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Contract term
- 1 year
- Primary contact
- Jessica Cooper
- (847) 866-2935
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THE 30-SECOND BRIEF
The City of Evanston is seeking proposals from experienced law firms to serve as Special Ethics Counsel pursuant to City Code 1-10-11. Counsel will act as general, independent counsel to the Ethics Board, investigate complaints, prosecute ethics code violations, and defend the board in appeals of decisions. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in municipal, state, or federal ethics laws, administrative law, open meetings acts, and government investigations. The initial contract term is November 16, 2026, through November 15, 2027, with one additional one-year renewal option. Proposals are due by 2:00 P.M. on October 27, 2026, and must be submitted electronically via DemandStar. Evaluation criteria include qualifications, unit/hourly pricing, proposal organization, willingness to execute the professional services agreement, and M/W/D/EBE participation goals of 25%.
Qualifications and Expertise, Unit/Hourly Pricing, Organization and Completeness of Proposal, Willingness to Execute the City of Evanston’s Professional Services Agreement, M/W/D/EBE Participation
SUMMARY
The City of Evanston is seeking proposals from experienced law firms to serve as Special Ethics Counsel pursuant to City Code 1-10-11.
Counsel will act as general, independent counsel to the Ethics Board, investigate complaints, prosecute ethics code violations, and defend the board in appeals of decisions. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in municipal, state, or federal ethics laws, administrative law, open meetings acts, and government investigations. The initial contract term is November 16, 2026, through November 15, 2027, with one additional one-year renewal option. Proposals are due by 2:00 P.M. on October 27, 2026, and must be submitted electronically via DemandStar. Evaluation criteria include qualifications, unit/hourly pricing, proposal organization, willingness to execute the professional services agreement, and M/W/D/EBE participation goals of 25%.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
5- Qualifications and Expertise
- Unit/Hourly Pricing
- Organization and Completeness of Proposal
- Willingness to Execute the City of Evanston’s Professional Services Agreement
- M/W/D/EBE Participation
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
11- Disclosure of Ownership Interests
- Additional Information Sheet
- Conflict of Interest Form
- Acknowledgment of Understanding
- Anti-Collusion Affidavit and Proposer’s Certification
- M/W/D/EBE Participation Compliance Form
- M/W/D/EBE Utilization Summary Report
- M/W/D/EBE Participation Waiver Request
- Professional Services Agreement Acknowledgment
- Consultant Certification and Verification
- Cost Form
REQUIRED STAFFING
5- Submit to
- https://www.demandstar.com
- Duration
- 12 months
- Scope location
- Evanston, IL
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFQ from City of Evanston?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is October 27, 2026. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://www.demandstar.com. For questions, contact Jessica Cooper.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFQ?
Most government agencies, including City of Evanston in IL, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFQ submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Jessica Cooper at (847) 866-2935. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What staffing is required for this project?
This solicitation outlines specific staffing requirements. The required roles include: Senior Partner / Lead Counsel, Partner, Senior Associate, Junior Associate, Paralegal / Legal Assistant. Proposers should demonstrate relevant qualifications and experience for each required role.
Can I search RFQs like this in ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Civic IQ has an MCP server that connects ChatGPT, Claude and other AI assistants to live Civic IQ data: open RFPs, pre-RFP signals from public meetings, awarded contracts and agency decision-makers across 100,000+ US public agencies. Add https://beta.mcp.civiciq.com/mcp as a connector (in ChatGPT under Settings > Apps & Connectors, in Claude under Settings > Connectors) and sign in with a free Civic IQ account at civiciq.com/mcp.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Qualifications and Expertise, Unit/Hourly Pricing, Organization and Completeness of Proposal, Willingness to Execute the City of Evanston’s Professional Services Agreement, M/W/D/EBE Participation" Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from City of Evanston?
All active and historical solicitations from City of Evanston are tracked and searchable. As a city agency, City of Evanston regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 1 year. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of October 27, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFQ?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Disclosure of Ownership Interests, Additional Information Sheet, Conflict of Interest Form, Acknowledgment of Understanding, Anti-Collusion Affidavit and Proposer’s Certification, M/W/D/EBE Participat. Additionally, proposals should address staffing requirements as outlined in the solicitation. Review the full document from City of Evanston for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Evanston, IL. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.