RFP 902754 Legal Research Services for Justice-Involved Individuals

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is soliciting legal research services for justice-involved individuals at the Santa Rita Jail to ensure constitutionally mandated access to the courts. The contractor will provide both physical and digital legal research assistance, handling approximately 5,000 requests annually across criminal, civil, and habeas corpus matters. Key performance requirements include a 95% compliance rate for turnaround times, with pro per requests due within three business days and standard requests within five. The contractor must maintain 99% system availability for digital services and provide a video in MP4 format with English and Spanish narration within 45 days of the contract start date. To qualify, the bidder must have at least three years of experience in providing legal research within a jail or prison setting, and the lead supervisor must be a licensed member in good standing with the State Bar of California. The contract is awarded based on best value, prioritizing qualitative competence over the lowest price, with a maximum possible score of 550 points. Preference points are available for Small Local Emerging Business (SLEB) certified bidders or those located within Alameda County. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the procurement portal in PDF format, with pricing provided in a specific Excel bid form. The contractor is prohibited from establishing attorney-client relationships or providing actual legal representation. Payment is issued monthly within 30 days of invoice approval, and the contractor must provide certificates of insurance and a fully executed agreement before commencing operations.