Professional Legal Services

Background

The City of Farmington is seeking proposals from qualified Offerors to provide professional legal services as counsel to assist the City Attorney and designated officers with various projects that may be assigned periodically. This RFP (Request for Proposal) is identified as RFP #26-168016, issued on June 12, 2026. Firms that have previously been awarded RFP 25-161884 do not need to respond to this solicitation as their contracts remain active.

Work Details

The selected Offeror will provide legal services in various areas including: 1. General and Auto Liability - Defense under the New Mexico Tort Claims Act. 2. Public Official Liability - Representation involving civil rights law violations. 3. Police Liability - Defense against allegations of wrongful conduct in police activities. 4. Personnel and Labor - Representation in employment-related matters including wrongful termination and collective bargaining. 5. Electric Utility (State and Federal Issues) - Representation regarding utility regulations and issues before FERC. 6. Water Rights - Advice on acquisition and protection of water rights. 7. Eminent Domain - Representation in condemnation actions under New Mexico law. 8. Environmental Law - Advice on compliance with environmental laws. 9. Land Use Law - Representation in land use planning and zoning issues. 10. Workers Compensation - Defense of claims and advice on obligations under New Mexico statutes. 11. Employee Benefits - Guidance on federal and state laws regarding employee benefits. 12. Bond Disclosure and Financial Counsel - Advice on municipal bond laws and related financial regulations. Additionally, the Offeror must provide quarterly Case Management Plan updates, respond to the City's auditor during annual audits at no charge, copy relevant City personnel on all communications regarding lawsuits, obtain approvals for certain expenditures, present to the City Council for settlements exceeding $50,000, and return original lawsuit documents upon completion.

Period of Performance

The contract is expected to commence on September 1, 2026, with an initial term of one year, automatically renewing annually until July 1, 2029, unless terminated earlier.

Place of Performance

Legal services will be performed primarily within the jurisdiction of the City of Farmington, New Mexico.

Bidder Requirements

Offerors must be licensed to practice law in New Mexico and maintain good standing with a reputation for reliability and integrity. Proposals must include qualifications, experience with the City of Farmington's organization, references from previous clients or projects, resumes of key staff members who will be involved in providing services, and a detailed cost proposal.