RFP - Survivor Legal Aid Attorney

GRAND TRAVERSE BAND OF OTTAWA AND CHIPPEWA INDIANS

Survivor Legal Aid Attorney

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

GTB 24-031

April 8, 2024 Contact:

Sherri Vezina or Yvette R. Weese

2605 N. West Bay Shore Dr.

Peshawbestown, MI 49682-9275

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians (GTB)

Request for Proposal (RFP) for

Survivor Legal Aid Attorney, as Appointed in Tribal Court Cases

Deadline for Submission: 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 30, 2024

• General Information. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) Tribal Court is soliciting contractual-service proposals for a Survivor Legal Aid Attorney, to represent survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence. The contract may be extended with Tribal Court for up to two (2) years (FY'2024 & FY'2025), (effective on Oct. 1, 2023, and end on Sept. 30, 2025). The Survivor Legal Aid Attorney will be compensated at a rate of $100 per hour up to a total 160 hours per year for work related to survivor representation, consistent with local rates for assigned attorneys in surrounding areas and consistent with applicant policies requiring full and open competition. One (1) Attorney will be selected to enter into a contract to represent Tribal Members or non- Tribal Member GTB Court Clients who are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence, who may require an attorney, within the Tribe's

jurisdiction. The Attorney must be familiar with GTB Tribal laws, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Custody, Personal Protection Orders, Divorce, and the State of Michigan Laws.

Survivor victims needs may include, but are not limited to, filing personal protection orders, preparation and representation for personal protection order hearings, enforcement of personal protection orders, child custody proceedings, divorce, and property distribution hearings when these matters arise as a consequence of abuse or violence. The goal for this initiative is to reduce the amount of power and control an offender may have over a survivor using covert control tactics, such as child endangerment or financial control. Survivors will directly benefit by removing these barriers that prevent separation from their abuser by providing a means for survivors to effectively use civil court processes for protection. 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.

• Required/Recommended Credentials. All applicants must be State of Michigan bar licensed attorneys in good standing. All applicants should have experience with GTB Tribal laws, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Custody, Personal Protection Orders, Divorce, and the State of Michigan Laws, as well as be willing to apply and gain admission in The Grand Traverse Band Tribal Court if not already

• 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 being deemed non-responsive. The failure to include Requested Information may result in no points

a. Required Documents:

• Proof of Bar Licensure in Good
• Cost Proposal. Must be placed into a clearly marked envelope separate from the other requested documents. Including billable hours, travel,

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

b. Requested Information:

• Cover
• Outline of Experience: (1) Working with GTB Tribal laws, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Custody, Personal Protection Orders, Divorce, and the State of Michigan
• Two (2) years minimum experience in each case type is recommended but not
• Tribal-Owned or Indian-Owned. A statement of Tribal-Owned / Indian- Owned business is required for consideration of points 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."

4. Evaluation Criteria:

1. Evaluation Process:
   1. Step 1: Written proposals will be reviewed for compliance with the Required Documents. Proposals that fail to include the Required Documents will be deeded non- responsive and the applicant's proposal will be
   2. Step 2: Court Administrator and Tribal Court Survivor Liaison will tally the responsive proposal points from the Evaluation
   3. Step 3: Court Administrator and Tribal Court Survivor Liaison 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.

1. Step 4: The cost proposal is evaluated separate from Evaluation Criteria. Cost comparisons will be evaluated as follows:

1. Step 5: The Court Administrator and Tribal Court Survivor Liaison will select the applicant(s) and begin contract
2. 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
3. Deadline for Submission. The deadline to submit proposals is 5:00 PM Tuesday April 30, 2024. 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 by Tuesday May 7, 2024, in order to schedule

interviews. Upon completion of proposals evaluated, interviews will be scheduled and conducted, and this may begin as early as Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

Questions should be in writing and directed to:

Sherri Vezina, Court Administrator Email: Sherri.Vezina@gtb-nsn.gov

Yvette R. Weese, GTB Tribal Court Survivor Liaison Email: Yvette.Weese@gtb-nsn.gov

Mailing address:

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Court Attention: Yvette R. Weese, GTB Tribal Court Survivor Liaison 2605 N. West Bay Shore Dr.

Peshawbestown, MI 49682

Physical Address:

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Court Attention: Yvette R. Weese, GTB Tribal Court Survivor Liaison 2809 N. West Bay Shore Dr.

Peshawbestown, MI 49682

Current Openings for RFP Survivor Legal Aid Attorney Jobs at Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians