RFP - Public Defender 2026

Request for Proposal (RFP) for

Public Defender,

As Appointed in Tribal Court Cases

Deadline for Submission: 5:00 P.M. Thursday, December 04, 2025

1. General Information. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) Tribal

Court is soliciting contractual-service proposals for a Public Defender, to represent clients, in the Tribal Court, for one (1) year (FY'2026), (effective on Oct. 1, 2025 and end on Sept. 30, 2026). Up to three (3) Attorneys will be selected to enter into contracts, to represent Tribal Member and Non-Tribal Member Court Clients, who have been charged with alleged criminal violations, within the Tribe's jurisdiction. The Attorney must be familiar with Tribal laws and State of Michigan and Federal laws governing criminal laws. The Attorney will be required to meet with his/her client as soon as a case is assigned and thereafter, on a regular basis, as required by law or court rule.

1. Required/Recommended Credentials. All applicants must be State of Michigan bar licensed

attorneys in good standing. All applicants should have experience with criminal laws. Some travel may be required within the Tribe's Six-County Service Area of: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Manistee Counties.

1. Proposal Format. Applicants must include the Required Documents listed below and should provide Requested Information with sufficient detail to facilitate the factors in the Evaluation Criteria. The failure to provide Required Documents will result in the proposal deemed non-responsive. The failure to include Requested Information may result in no points assessed.
2. Required Documents:
3. Resume.
4. Proof of Bar Licensure in Good Standing.

iii. References.

1. Cost Proposal. Must be placed into a clearly marked envelope separate

from the other requested documents, to include: billable hours, travel,

reimbursement, paralegal rates, and any other fees. The cost proposal must

be clearly discernable.

1. Requested Information:
2. Cover Letter.
3. Outline of Experience: (1) Working with Criminal Laws; and (2) Working as

a Public Defender.

iii. Two (2) years minimum experience in each case type is recommended but

not required.

1. Tribal-Owned or Indian-Owned. A statement of Tribal-Owned / Indian-

Owned business is required for consideration of points below. Copies of

tribal identification cards must be included to support the statement.

Tribal-Owned is defined as "any business that is at least fifty-one percent

(51%) owned by an individual who is a member of the Grand Traverse Band

of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians." Indian-Owned is defined as "any

business that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned by an individual who

is a member of a federally-recognized tribe."

1. Evaluation Criteria:

1. Evaluation Process:
2. Step 1: Written proposals will be reviewed for compliance with the Required Documents. Proposals that fail to include the Required Documents will be deemed non-responsive and the applicant's proposal will be eliminated.
3. Step 2: The Chief Judge, Associate Judge and/or Court Administrator will tally the responsive proposal points from the Evaluation Criteria.
4. Step 3: The Chief Judge, Associate Judge and/or Court Administrator will conduct reference checks with the highest-scoring responsive proposals. If the reference checks are positive, interviews may be scheduled, or applicants may be outright selected to proceed to the cost proposal evaluation.
5. Step 4: The cost proposal is evaluated separate from Evaluation Criteria. Cost comparisons will be evaluated as follows:

1. Evaluation Process, Continued:
2. Step 5: The Chief Judge, Associate Judge and/or Court Administrator will select the applicant(s) and begin contract negations.
3. Step 6: If negotiations with the selected applicant fail to produce a contract, the Tribal Court reserves the right to enter negotiations with the next highest-scoring proposal.
4. Deadline for Submission. The deadline to submit proposals is 5:00 PM Thursday, December 04, 2025. Proposals may be mailed, emailed and/or hand-delivered. No faxed proposals will be accepted. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the Tribal Court receives his/her proposal by the deadline. All proposals received after the deadline will be eliminated from consideration. Proposals will be evaluated after the RFP deadline.

Questions should be in writing and directed to:

Sherri Vezina, Court Administrator,

Email: Sherri.Vezina@gtb-nsn.gov

Mailing address:

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Court

Attention: Sherri Vezina, Court Administrator

2605 N. West Bay Shore Dr.

Peshawbestown, MI 49682

Physical Address:

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Court

Attention: Sherri Vezina, Court Administrator

2809 N. West Bay Shore Dr.

Peshawbestown, MI 49682

Current Openings for RFP Public Defender 2026 Jobs at Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians