Project Information

Bid Title

Evaluation of the Private Defender Program

Issuing Agency

County of San Mateo

Location

California

Published Date

May 5, 2026

Closing Date

May 29, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

Project ID:

Title: Evaluation of the Private Defender Program

Addenda: 0

Release Date: 5/5/2026

Due Date: 5/29/2026

Follow

Evaluation of the Private Defender Program

Request for Proposals

County Executive's Office

Project ID: 2026-RFP-00481

Release Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026

· Due Date: Friday, May 29, 2026 5:00pm

Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2026 2:00pm

All dates & times in Pacific Time

Draft Response No Bid23 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes

Post Information

Posted At:Tue, May 5, 2026 2:00 PM
Sealed Bid Process:Yes (Bids Sealed / Pricing Sealed)
Private Bid:No

Overview

Summary

The County Executive’s Office is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to evaluate the County’s Private Defender Program. Since 1969, the County has contracted with the San Mateo County Bar Association (the “SMCBA”) to provide indigent defense services through the Private Defender Program (the “PDP”). Under this agreement, the SMCBA contracts with approximately 116 attorneys to represent adult defendants and minors in criminal cases, probate and Lanterman-Petris-Short conservatees, along with children and adults in dependency court.

As detailed further below, the County seeks a qualified contractor with broad experience in evaluating indigent defense programs, including assessing how the PDP’s performance compares to applicable national and state guidelines and best practices for indigent defense programs. Ultimately, the County expects the selected contractor to prepare a written report detailing its evaluation findings, its methodology of data collection and analysis, and its recommendations for how to improve indigent defense in the County.

Background

In 1963, the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainright established that anyone charged with a crime who cannot afford an attorney has a constitutional right to counsel at public expense. Following this decision, the County in 1969 partnered with the SMCBA to establish the PDP to provide legal representation for clients charged with crimes in San Mateo County who cannot afford an attorney.

A “managed assigned counsel” system, the PDP oversees a panel of approximately 116 private attorneys who handle assigned court cases. Since the PDP’s founding in 1969, PDP attorneys have handled cases ranging from low-level misdemeanors to capital murder. PDP attorneys also represent children who have been abused or neglected, individuals living with serious mental illness, respondents in CARE Court cases, and older adults unable to manage their own affairs. The PDP provides panel attorneys with support services, including investigators, paralegal services, criminal immigration services, and social workers.

In May 2021, the County retained the consulting firm, Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC, to conduct an independent assessment of the provision of legal services for indigent defendants by the PDP and to provide recommendations for improving indigent defense in the County. This assessment concluded that the PDP provides sufficient representation of indigent defendants in a cost-effective manner for the County but identified six areas for improvement with a total of 37 recommendations to address these areas for improvement.

Specifically, the assessment made recommendations to improve the PDP’s (1) data systems, caseload monitoring, and reporting, (2) management oversight and quality of representation, (3) training policies and compliance with such policies, (4) staffing for attorney supervision and use of investigators, (5) fee structure to incentivize panel attorneys to provide high-quality representation, and (6) fee submission policies, data entry, and billing procedures. Following this report, the PDP began work to implement these recommendations and continues to make improvements in the identified areas for improvement.

On June 8, 2023, the County and SMCBA entered into a five-year agreement to continue providing representation through the PDP. Before this agreement expires on June 30, 2028, the County desires to conduct an evaluation of the PDP to assess its performance in key areas against applicable performance guidelines for indigent defense programs. Accordingly, the County is launching this competitive request for proposals process to identify a qualified contractor to evaluate the PDP and prepare a report with key findings and recommendations for how to improve indigent defense in the County.

Timeline

RFP Released:

May 5, 2026

Deadline for Questions, Comments, and Contract Exceptions:

May 19, 2026, 5:00pm

Question Response Deadline:

May 22, 2026, 5:00pm

Proposal Due Date and Time:

May 29, 2026, 5:00pm

Conduct Interviews, Reference Checks, and Select Program Administrator:

Week of June 1, 2026

Initiate Contract Negotiations:

Week of June 1, 2026

Anticipated Contract Award Date:

June 23, 2026

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541720Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.