Recommend approval to award a contract for executive recruitment services to The Mercer Group in the amount of $22,700. These services will be used to recruit candidates for the City of Savannah’s next City Manager.

On August 29, 2019, Council approved the use of four firms that were deemed pre-qualified to conduct executive recruitment searches at the City’s request in the amount of $100,000. Those firms were Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, Developmental Associates, The Mercer Group, Inc., and Ralph Andersen & Associates. On December 19, 2019, a fifth firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, was added to the pre-qualified vendor list.

For the City Manager search, proposers were reviewed and scored by former managers Russ Abolt, Michael Brown, and Stephanie Cutter. Scores were evaluated on the basis of qualifications and experience, project approach, and fees. Of the five pre-qualified firms, only four were considered, as Developmental Associates chose not to submit a response for this search.

The recommended firm, The Mercer Group, will conduct an extensive national executive recruitment search for Savannah's next City Manager. The firm will be responsible for developing marketing materials based on Council's visioning session priorities. Council will determine the number of applications it will review, as well as the number of candidates to interview. 

Approval