CEO search RFQ

Request for qualifications
Quote for professional fees and expenses
For
Association of Washington Cities
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) recruitment

Request date: September 29, 2021

Due date: October 20, 2021

I. Purpose of request

The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is seeking statement of qualifications and quote for professional fees and expenses from qualified consultants to conduct the recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the association.

The Association of Washington Cities was founded in 1933 as a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington's cities and towns before the state legislature, the state executive branch and with regulatory agencies. Membership is voluntary, yet AWC consistently maintains 100% participation from Washington's 281 cities and towns. A 25-member Board of Directors oversees the association's activities. In addition, AWC is the sponsoring entity and provides management services for the AWC Employee Benefit Trust (health insurance pool with separate board of directors), the Risk Management Service Agency (property liability insurance pool with separate board of directors) and the AWC Center for Quality Communities (foundation with separate board of directors). The Association of Washington Cities office is located in Olympia, Wash.

II. Scope of services

1. Project planning and research
2. Identifying the “ideal” candidate through stakeholder interviews, input from the AWC Board of Directors and executive management
3. Recruitment strategy
4. Candidate screening
5. Candidate interviews
6. Contract negotiation

III. Resources

The Association of Washington Cities will provide the following to the successful consultant:

1. Chief Executive Officer
   1. Job description
   2. Current compensation package
   3. Current comparable compensation research
   4. Any other available in-house information that may be required to complete the recruitment
2. Organizational Information
   1. Organizational chart
   2. Strategic plans
   3. Core values
   4. Annual reports

IV. Materials to submit

Interested parties must submit their proposal electronically to Betsy Hildreth, Executive Assistant, no later than 5 pm on October 20, 2021. Interested parties are solely responsible for ensuring that qualifications statements and quotes are delivered on time. Proposals received after the due date and time will not be considered.

V. Cost of preparing qualification statement and quote

This request for qualifications/quote does not, under any circumstance, commit the Association of Washington Cities to pay any costs incurred by any proposer in the submission of qualifications. The proposer is responsible for all costs associated with response to this request.

VI. Qualification statement/quote disposition

All materials submitted in response to this request for qualifications/quote shall become the property of the Association of Washington Cities upon delivery. This qualification statement/quote disposition and all public records associated with it shall be available from AWC for inspection and copying by the public where required by the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

VII. Statement of qualifications/quote content

The total number of pages in the submittal shall not exceed thirty-five pages. A focused statement and brevity are encouraged. The following information must be included:

1. Introduction
   1. On a cover sheet provide the official name, address, and phone number of the proposer, as well as the name and email address of the principal contact person and the name of the person authorized to execute the contract.
2. Experience and qualifications
   1. A brief description of the experiences and qualifications of the proposed staff member(s) who will be performing the services.
   2. A brief description of the organization.
   3. A list of at least three organizations for which the consultant has conducted CEO recruitments (within the past five years).
   4. A list of three recent client references, including telephone, email addresses, and physical addresses.
3. Approach/methods used to perform the project
   1. Detailed description of the services and methods by which the work set forth in the proposal will be performed.
4. Diversity, equity, and inclusion
   1. A description of how the firm will identify and seek out typically underrepresented talent to assure a diverse pool of candidates for consideration.
5. Cost proposal
   1. A complete breakdown of all costs relating to the project.

VIII. Evaluation criteria

The following will be considered in the selection of a consultant:

1. Relevant experience in similarly structured organizations.
2. Qualifications.
3. Team compatibility, including the ability to work with the AWC Board’s Search Committee and staff based on references and other supporting information.
4. Unique resources the firm may bring regarding innovative techniques.
5. The professional reputation of the firm.

IX. Review process

1. The Association of Washington Cities reserves the right to reject any or all submittals. The Association of Washington Cities may request one or more firms to provide a more detailed statement.
2. The Association of Washington Cities reserves the right to reject any or all proposals at any time with no penalty and to waive immaterial defects and minor irregularities in proposals.
3. The evaluation of statements of qualifications/quote will be completed by Association of Washington Cities Board Search Committee. Fee proposals, which are to be submitted with the qualification proposal, will also be taken into consideration.

The duration of the consultant agreement has not been determined. The Association of Washington Cities retains the right to extend the agreement upon mutual agreement of both parties.

The Association of Washington Cities does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of protected class status. All employees are recruited, selected, training, promoted, compensated, and if appropriate, disciplined or terminated without regard to race, color, religion or creed, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, veteran status, status as a domestic violence victim, use of a guide or service animal, genetic information, the presences of any sensory, mental, or physical disability (unless based on bona fide occupational qualification), or any other characteristic protected by law.

X. AWC contacts

For additional information: Alicia Seegers Martinelli, Deputy CEO, (360) 753-4137 or aliciam@awcnet.org.

Submit electronic proposals to: Betsy Hildreth, Executive Assistant, betsyh@awcnet.org, no later than 5 pm on October 20, 2021.