City of Washougal Indigent Defense Services

The City of Washougal is seeking a qualified attorney, law firm, nonprofit, or public agency to serve as the primary public defender for misdemeanor and gross‑misdemeanor cases involving indigent defendants. The contract will run from January 1 2027 through January 31 2029 (approximately 25 months) and may be extended by mutual agreement. The provider must deliver full‑cycle criminal defense—including arraignment, pre‑trial motions, trials, sentencing and appellate assistance—while meeting Washington’s statutory caseload standards, maintaining conflict‑screening procedures, and submitting monthly performance reports. Compensation may be structured as a fixed monthly fee, per‑case fee, or hybrid model, and the City expects a detailed fee proposal covering both contract years. • Service period: Jan 1 2027 – Jan 31 2029 (≈ 25 months) • Expected workload: ~131 cases per calendar year (based on 2025 historical data) • Required deliverables: full legal representation, client contact within 5 business days of appointment, conflict management, reporting, and optional appellate services • Qualification criteria: Washington‑licensed attorneys, criminal defense experience, capacity to meet caseload standards, insurance (≥ $100k GL, $500k PL per occurrence) • Submission deadline: Oct 30 2026, 2:00 p.m. PDT via OpenGov portal • Questions due: Oct 23 2026, 2:00 p.m. PT • Award notification anticipated: Dec 1 2026