A Jacksonville firm whose owner hosted a campaign event for Mayor Donna Deegan in January has won a no-bid contract worth $300,000 for federal grant-writing, lobbying and policy development after the city determined no other firm in the nation could provide all those services.
The city typically requires competitive bidding, but the Professional Services Evaluation Committee recommended Deegan approve the one-year contract to Langton Consulting without seeking proposals from any other firms.
The unanimous vote by that committee came after the mayor’s office said its research showed Langton Consulting is the only firm in the country that could provide all the services in the same contract — a justification that City Council member Nick Howland said “just smells odd to me.”
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Langton Consulting contributed $2,500 to the Donna for Duval political committee in April. Company President Mike Langton and his wife, Laura, also hosted a campaign event for Deegan at their home in January.
City spokesman Phillip Perry said time is of the essence in getting a firm onboard to pursue federal grant money in time for upcoming deadlines. He said campaign contributions have no impact on how Deegan makes decisions as mayor.
“Mayor Deegan has said repeatedly that she is not transactional,” Perry said. “Thousands of people across the city and all walks of life donated to her campaign because they believed in her vision for Jacksonville, not because they expected something in return.”
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Federal lobbying is a key part of the scope of services for the contract, but neither Langton Consulting nor any of its consultants are registered to lobby at the city, state or federal…
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