Sustainable Strategies DC Contract ApprovalCopyrighted
February 21, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 17.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Sustainable Strategies DC Contract Approval
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of the Sustainable Strategies DC
Professional Services Contract.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Professional Services Contract with Sustainable
Strategies DC-MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation Contract
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
THE C
DUjIBQTE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Sustainable Strategies DC Contract Approval
DATE: February 17, 2022
Dubuque
WAWca 914
ii
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Given the unprecedented and historic opportunity for Dubuque to benefit from increased
federal and state grant funding programs, Director of Strategic Partnerships Teri
Goodmann respectfully recommends approval of the Sustainable Strategies DC
Professional Services Contract.
President of Sustainable Strategies DC Andrew Seth has assisted City
of Dubuque staff with grant writing and consulting since 2010. Andy Seth has been a
key partner in the success of many city grants including EPA brownfield grants, EDA
Disaster Relief grants, Interior Department Outdoor Legacy grant for Comiskey
Park, the TIGER grant for the Historic Millwork District and BUILD grant for John Deere
Road improvements and most recently the Local Arts Agency Subgrant from the
National Endowment for the Arts and more. The City's work in partnership with
Sustainable Strategies DC has yielded tens of millions of dollars to advance City
Council goals and priorities.
Since 2010, the city has paid for the services of Sustainable Strategies DC through
grant writing fees. Now, with the significant increase in federal grant programs and
state grant programs, emanating from large federal programs like ARPA and BIL,
Sustainable Strategies is requesting a monthly retainer fee of $6500.
Staff learn daily, and sometimes hourly, of new state and federal grant opportunities.
Andy Seth and the team at Sustainable Strategies DC serve as eyes and ears on the
ground in Washington DC monitoring opportunities from federal departments and
agencies, seeking their input and sharing information with city staff, all to prepare and
submit successful grant applications which will advance the city's goals and
priorities. Every new grant opportunity requires review, assessment and preparation of
content and materials and can include benefit cost analysis as well. The work of
Sustainable Strategies team and specifically Andy Seth has been very valuable to the
City of Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Y
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships
THE CITF
DUjB- E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Teri Goodmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships
SUBJECT: Sustainable Strategies DC Contract Approval
DATE: February 17, 2022
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
III -America M4
2007,2012.2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memorandum is to request Mayor and City Council concurrence and
approval of the Contract for Professional Services with Sustainable Strategies DC to
assist City staff and partners in maximizing grant awards resulting from the American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and any other state
and/or federal grant programs. Grant funding exceeding one billion dollars in the state of
Iowa and nearly a trillion dollars in federal funds could be potentially secured through
competitive grant opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Sustainable Strategies DC is a government affairs, strategic consulting, and grant writing
firm based in Washington, DC, that helps clients secure resources for community projects
and programs. Sustainable Strategies works strictly with local governments to advance
their unique goals and priorities. The types of services provided include project funding
guidance, grant writing, and agency advocacy. Sustainable Strategies DC has helped
communities across America succeed on innovative local projects and secured hundreds
of millions of dollars for those initiatives.
The Sustainable Strategies DC team has extensive experience meeting the funding
needs of local governments. Sustainable Strategies DC helps communities secure state
and federal grants, private foundation dollars, congressional authorizations, technical
assistance, and other resources for their local priorities. Common issue areas include,
but are not limited to, economic development, transportation, housing, parks and
recreation, public safety, environmental sustainability, clean energy, brownfields and land
revitalization, community health, arts and culture, waterfront revitalization, racial and
socioeconomic equity, historic preservation, disaster recovery, and other key municipal
issues.
The City of Dubuque has worked with Sustainable Strategies DC since 2010 successfully
securing federal grant funds for priority projects and programs in the City of Dubuque.
DISCUSSION
President of Sustainable Strategies DC Andrew Seth has assisted City of Dubuque staff
with grant writing and consulting since 2010. Andy Seth has been a key partner in the
success of many city grants including EPA brownfield grants, EDA Disaster Relief grants,
Interior Department Outdoor Legacy grant for Comiskey Park, the TIGER grant for the
Historic Millwork District and BUILD grant for John Deere Road improvements and most
recently the Local Arts Agency Subgrant from the National Endowment for the Arts and
more. The City's work in partnership with Sustainable Strategies DC has yielded tens of
millions of dollars to advance City Council goals and priorities.
Since 2010, the city has paid for the services of Sustainable Strategies DC through grant
writing fees. Now, with the significant increase in federal grant programs and state grant
programs, emanating from large federal programs like ARPA and BIL, Sustainable
Strategies is requesting a monthly retainer fee of $6500.
Staff learn daily, and sometimes hourly, of new state and federal grant opportunities. Andy
Seth and the team at Sustainable Strategies DC serve as eyes and ears on the ground
in Washington DC monitoring opportunities from federal departments and agencies,
seeking their input and sharing information with city staff, all to prepare and submit
successful grant applications which will advance the city's goals and priorities. Every new
grant opportunity requires review, assessment and preparation of content and materials
and can include benefit cost analysis as well. The work of Sustainable Strategies team
and specifically Andy Seth has been very valuable to the city of Dubuque.
RECOMMENDATION
Given the unprecedented and historic opportunity for Dubuque to benefit from increased
federal and state grant funding programs, I respectfully recommend approval of the
Sustainable Strategies DC Professional Services Contract.
CC: Justin Thiltgen
CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR STRATEGIC
FUNDING SERVICES BETWEEN CITY OF DUBUQUE AND
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES DC
This contract for services is made effective as of the 21 St day of February, 2022, between the City
of Dubuque (hereafter "Dubuque") and Sustainable Strategies DC (hereafter ,S2", for the provision
of professional strategic funding services by S2 for Dubuque.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
S'- shall provide the following services to Dubuque:
• Identifying Funding Opportunities: Keeping Dubuque informed of funding opportunities
that would support its identified priorities.
• Building Dubuque's Competitive Advantages: Providing strategic advice to make
Dubuque more competitive for specific grant opportunities (e.g., what types of projects do
agencies really want to fund, how projects should be shaped to be most eligible and
competitive, what types of partnerships would be most effective, what results do funders
hope to see, what's the likelihood of success, what are the matching or other resource
requirements).
• Grant Writing Assistance and Support: Providing comprehensive analysis of grant
opportunities, strategic advice, and grant writing assistance on up to ten (10) applications.
• Stakeholder Support: Working with Dubuque to identify and gather stakeholder support
for funding projects from the right local, regional, state, and national stakeholders.
• Advocacy Support: S2 will work with Dubuque's internal lobbying team to help connect
the community with appropriate federal, state, and philanthropic officials to advocate for
your priorities.
• Post -Grant Support: In addition, S2 will work with Dubuque to help overcome any grant
administration challenges with federal or state agencies after grant award.
COMPENSATION TERMS AND PROCESS
1.) Payment for Services: S2 will be paid a monthly retainer of $6,250 for a period of 12 months
($75,000 annually) to perform the Scope of Services above. S2 will bill Dubuque monthly and
expect payment within 30 days.
2.) Reimbursable Costs: Dubuque shall reimburse S2 for costs incurred in connection with the
services rendered. Reimbursable costs include travel costs that are attributable to work with
Dubuque. Travel costs are defined as air travel, lodging, meals and incidentals, ground
transportation, and all costs associated with travel. All extraordinary travel expenses must receive
written approval from Dubuque. S2 shall provide Dubuque with substantiation of all costs incurred.
3.) Invoicing: Payment is due upon receipt and is past due 30 business days from receipt of
invoice. If Dubuque has any valid reason for disputing any portion of an invoice, Dubuque will so
notify S2 within 10 calendar days of receipt of invoice, and if no such notification is given, the
invoice will be deemed valid. The portion of Dubuque's invoice which is not in dispute shall be
paid in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.
MISCELLANEOUS
1.) Standard of Care: S2 warrants that its services shall be performed by personnel possessing
competency consistent with applicable industry standards. No other representation, express or
implied, and no warranty or guarantee are included or intended in this Agreement, or in any report,
opinion, deliverable, work product, document or otherwise.
2.) Severability: Should any part of this Agreement for any reason be declared invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of any remaining provisions, which remaining provisions shall
remain in full force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with the invalid portion
thereof eliminated, and it is hereby declared the intention of the parties that they would have
executed the remaining portion of this Agreement without including any such part, parts, or
portions which may, for any reason, be hereafter declared invalid. Any provision shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect in all other circumstances.
3.) Assignment: S2 acknowledges that its identity, capacity, and ability to provide the services
contemplated herein constitute a material consideration for Dubuque having entered into this
agreement. Therefore, this agreement and the performance of services hereunder is not assignable
or transferable by S2 without the prior written consent of Dubuque, which such consent shall be
granted or denied solely at the Dubuque's discretion.
4.) Disputes: S2 and Dubuque recognize that disputes arising under this Agreement are best
resolved at the working level by the parties. Both parties are encouraged to be imaginative in
designing mechanisms and procedures to resolve disputes at this level. Failing resolution of
conflicts at the organizational level, S2 and Dubuque agree that any remaining conflicts arising out
of or relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to nonbinding mediation unless S2 and Dubuque
mutually agree otherwise. If the dispute is not resolved through non -binding mediation, then the
parties may take other appropriate action subject to the other terms of this Agreement. If any
disputes arise between the parties, the parties agree that this agreement, the performance of services
under this agreement, and the terms of this agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Iowa. The parties further agree that the appropriate venue for any actions arising out of this
agreement shall be in Iowa.
5.) Force Maieure: S2 shall not be responsible for delays or failures if such delay arises out of
causes beyond its control. Such causes may include, but are not restricted to, acts of God or of the
public enemy, fires, floods, epidemics, riots, quarantine restrictions, strikes, freight embargoes,
earthquakes, electrical outages, computer or communications failures, and severe weather, and acts
or omissions of third parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written.
City of Dubuque
Mi e Van Milligen
City Manager
02/21 /2022
Date
Sustainable Strategies DC
Andrew Seth
President
February 4, 2022
Date