Health district seeks federal grants

Friday, Dec. 15, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Bolstered by reports that Cassidy & Associates has found millions of dollars in federal funds for other Southern Nevada government entities, the Clark County Health District Board wants to hire the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to do the same for its agency.

By voice vote, with at least two in opposition, the 13-member board on Thursday directed the health district staff to begin negotiations with Cassidy, one of five East Coast firms that applied for the independent contractor position.

Board member Erin Kenny, a Clark County commissioner, made the motion to select Cassidy because of "its proven track record," despite the firm submitting the highest bid -- $125,640 to $251,280 a year -- to requests for proposals sent out in October.

Board member Gary Reese, a Las Vegas city councilman, said he could not support the measure because Alcalde & Fay, an Arlington, Va., based firm that he says has done good work for the city of Las Vegas, had offered to do the same job for half the money -- $63,000.

Kenny said Cassidy has well represented UNLV in the last year, finding $17 million in previously unidentified federal money, and University Medical Center in just a few months, finding $900,000 for its pediatrics unit.

The health district operates on a $43 million annual budget, with about 8 percent in reserves. Board members were warned by staff that to fund some projects it may have to dip into the reserves if it does not identify other funds, such as federal grants.

Health board chairwoman Paula Brown, a North Las Vegas city councilwoman, noted that the board, "is in unchartered territory with a federal lobbyist." The district does have a state legislative lobbyist.

Board member Joseph Hardy, a doctor and Boulder City councilman, said that while the health district has several unfunded projects that need money, a federal lobbyist also is an unfunded project.

He questioned whether Cassidy could be hired under a performance contract, meaning that if it did not produce, the health district would not have to pay anything.

Larry Grossman, an executive vice president for Cassidy, told the board that it is against federal law to hire a federal lobbyist under terms where the company would receive a percentage of the federal money it got for a client.

Grossman, said, however, that his 25-year-old firm would negotiate at the low-end of its offer to represent the health district. The company has a staff of 200 employees, three to five of whom would be assigned to the health district's account.

In addition to raising money, a federal lobbyist would represent the health district's interests before Congress as a full-time legislative liaison.

"Whether you choose us or another firm, I would suggest you do it quickly because you will want to be ready when Congress gets to work ... in late January," Grossman told the board.

He said that from the health district's website alone he has ideas that could produce federal money in the areas of immunizations and air quality programs.

Others who applied for the position were Van Scoyoc Associates of Washington, D.C., which wants $150,000 a year; Beacon Consulting of Washington, D.C., which wanted $140,000 annually; and Sagmore Associates Inc., of Washington, D.C., which wanted $72,000.

The final contract will come back before the board for review and possible approval.