Indigent Défense Conflict Attorney Services
- Client
- City of Bellingham
- RFP Number
- LEGAL-18260
- Posted
- 10/16/2026
- Category
- Legal Services
- Budget
- Looking for Proposal
- NAICS
- —
- Set-aside
- —
- Contact
- —
Description
AI GeneratedThe City of Bellingham is seeking proposals from attorneys and law firms to form a Conflict Public Defender Attorney Pool. Selected attorneys will provide legal defense services to indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crimes when existing contracted public defenders have a legal conflict of interest. The scope requires offsite performance, providing legal representation through final disposition, continuing representation through jail time served for temporary release to treatment, handling assigned appeals, and maintaining law offices within Bellingham, Washington. Eligible applicants must be licensed to practice law in the State of Washington and be located in the USA. Proposals are evaluated based on capability and availability, as well as experience and expertise. Bidders must submit questions by October 28, 2026, via procureware.com. Electronic proposals must be submitted online by 11:00 AM Pacific time on November 4, 2026. The contract period is for one year, with firm pricing required during the first year and hourly billing permitted for appeals.
Key solicitation details
AI-extracted from 9.pdf. Confirm against the original documents before bidding.
The City of Bellingham is seeking proposals from attorneys and law firms with criminal court experience to provide Indigent Defense Conflict Attorney Services. The successful bidders will form a Conflict Public Defender Attorney Pool to represent indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crimes when existing contracted public defenders have a legal conflict of interest.
- Issued by
- City of Bellingham
- Issue Date
- October 15, 2026
- Last Day to Submit Questions
- October 28, 2026
- RFP Submission Deadline / Proposals due
- November 4, 2026 11:00 AM
- Committee Evaluations Completed
- November 15, 2026
- Contract Execution
- December 2026
- Contract start / Service/Work Commences
- January 1, 2027
- How to submit
- Electronic via the agency portal
- Submission details
- Submitted online at https://cob.procureware.com/ under the responses tab for this RFP prior to the deadline.
- Contract term
- January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027
- Place of performance
- Bellingham, Washington
- Insurance and bonding
- Professional Liability/Malpractice Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 with a 30-day notice of cancellation provision.
How proposals are evaluated
| Demonstration of Experience & Expertise | 30 |
Scope of work
- Provide legal representation in compliance with Chapter 10.101 RCW and Washington Supreme Court Orders on Public Defense Standards
- Provide legal defense for indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crimes
- Provide representation through final disposition including bench or jury trial
- Provide continuation of representation through completion of jail time served when defendant seeks Temporary Release to treatment
- Provide representation for appeals if assigned by the City's representative
- Maintain law offices within the City of Bellingham, Washington with sufficient facilities
Minimum qualifications
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Washington
- Maintain law offices within the City of Bellingham, Washington
- Obtain and maintain a City of Bellingham business registration
- Criminal court experience
Documents to include with the bid
- Signed proposal cover letter (substantially similar to Attachment A)
- Statement regarding City Business Registration compliance
- Demonstration of Capability & Availability
- Summary of Experience and Expertise
- Proposed Fees/Costs per case and appellate rate
- List of references with contact information
Verify important details
Document checkConfirm submission instructions and amendments with the issuing agency before responding.
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