City of Washougal Indigent Defense Services

The City of Washougal is soliciting proposals for primary public defense services to represent eligible defendants in misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases. The anticipated service period runs from January 1, 2027, through January 31, 2029, with cases heard at the Camas-Washougal Municipal Court. The selected provider, which may be an individual attorney, law firm, nonprofit, or public agency, must be capable of appearing for all required proceedings either in person or remotely. While the city provided a historical workload figure of 131 cases for 2025 for planning purposes, this is not a guaranteed assignment count. Proposals are due by October 30, 2026, via the OpenGov portal. The City will evaluate submissions using a 100-point system focusing on criminal defense experience, service approach, caseload capacity and standards compliance, overall value, and professional references. Price is not the sole deciding factor, and the City intends to negotiate first with the highest-ranked proposer. Providers must be active members in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association and comply with Chapter 10.101 RCW, the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct, and Washington Supreme Court Standards for Indigent Defense. The contract requires the designation of a lead attorney for administrative contact and the submission of monthly invoices and service reports. Proposers must provide their own pricing models, which can be a fixed monthly fee, per-case fee, or a hybrid model, and must separately quote costs for conflict counsel and optional RALJ appellate representation. Additionally, the provider must maintain a City of Washougal business license and appropriate insurance, while adhering to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding nondiscrimination.