INTRODUCTION
Pierce Transit is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide legal services to the Agency.

Pierce Transit is a municipal corporation formed under authority of Chapter 36.57A of the Revised Code of Washington. The Agency operates fixed route and elderly and disabled transportation services in urban Pierce County, from Tacoma to Olympia and Seattle. The Agency’s jurisdiction includes the incorporated cities and towns of Bonney Lake, Dupont, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, Pacific, Puyallup, Ruston, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma, and University Place, along with some unincorporated areas of Pierce County. Pierce Transit’s jurisdiction covers 450 square miles containing an estimated population of 635,290.

The Board of Commissioners of Pierce Transit is responsible for the governance of the Agency. It is comprised of three members of the Tacoma City Council, two members of the Pierce County Council, the Pierce County Executive or his delegate, a member of the Lakewood City Council, an elected official representing Puyallup/University Place, and an elected official chosen by the remaining small cities and towns. Wendell Brown, a Pierce County Councilmember, is chair of the Board of Commissioners. The vice chair is City of Lakewood Councilmember Larry Humphrey.

In 2001, the Agency will operate a fleet of 229 coaches and will provide regularly scheduled transit services on 44 routes using approximately 932 miles of streets, roads, and highways. One hundred percent of all routes are wheelchair accessible. Service is available from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. throughout the week. The Agency will operate 544,700 service hours in 2001. This service is expected to carry approximately 14.6 million passengers.

The Agency also operates a specialized transportation program known as “SHUTTLE.” SHUTTLE is the Agency’s demand responsive service for disabled people who are unable to use regular fixed route transit service.

Pierce Transit employs approximately 750 people. The Agency is divided into the following five departments: Executive, Operations and Development, Maintenance, Finance and Administration, and Human Resources.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Act as General Counsel to Pierce Transit and the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners. General Counsel will provide advice and interpretation of municipal corporation law as it applies to Pierce Transit. Such information may involve federal laws as well as state and local statutes and ordinances.

2. The term of the contract shall be three (3) years with a provision for two (2) one-year contract extensions. The contract is expected to commence January 1, 2002.

3. Typical Duties (not exhaustive):
   1. Provide general legal advice.
   2. Represent the Agency in litigation.
   3. Maintain a knowledge of issues facing Pierce Transit and be prepared to offer legal opinions.
   4. Contracts--as needed prepare, review, consult, and approve.
   5. Board of Commissioners actions--review and approve legislative documents.
   6. Purchasing--participate and recommend appropriate purchasing actions.
   7. Grants--assist Agency in federal and state grant process when requested.
   8. Work with other assigned Agency counsel.
   9. Attend work sessions and meetings with Board and staff when requested.

4. Specific Duties:
   1. Attend (twice monthly 2d and 4th Mondays at 4:30 p.m.) meetings of the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners.
   2. Twice monthly, review and approval of legislation to be considered and approved by the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners at the subsequent Board meeting.
   3. Report to and receive assignments from the Chief Executive Officer or his delegate. Board of Commissioners may also contact the General Counsel with own inquiries and Counsel is as well authorized to respond to those inquiries.

5. Excluded Duties:
   1. Tort Liability.
   2. Bond Counsel.
   3. Labor Counsel.
   4. Pierce Transit reserves the right on a specific case basis to use alternate counsel.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Substantial knowledge and experience in the interpretation of state laws as they relate to municipal corporations, municipalities, and Washington State transit agencies (in particular Public Transportation Benefit Areas under RCW 36.57A).

2. Substantial knowledge and experience in the interpretation of federal laws as they relate to the United States Department of Transportation.

3. Substantial experience in working with agencies and public boards with multi-million dollar annual budgets.

4. Experience in all aspects of contract law.

5. Knowledge of funding, purchasing, and grants administration regulations of Washington State and the Federal Transit Administration.

6. Member of the Washington State Bar. The selected firm will be required to declare that it will represent Pierce Transit to the exclusion of all other clients having potential conflicts with the interests of Pierce Transit.

TERM OF CONTRACT
The contract resulting from this request for proposals shall be for a three (3) year period with an option for a two (2) one-year extensions.