The Vermont Legislature and the Douglas administration have agreed to pay Public Strategies Group an additional $168,000 for consulting services for the Challenges for Change restructuring project now under way.
In January, PSG was paid $20,000. From February through June 1, the consultants are being paid $29,600 per month. For their work in the fall, from October to December, the St. Paul, Minn.-based firm charged the state $100,000.
Under the new contract, the PSG is tasked with providing “advisory team” services to the state (the Legislature and the administration), including the development of a “high level change strategy for the long term.”
PSG was responsible for providing advice to legislative committee chairs through the “quick-start” period, in order to pass the Challenges 1 legislation in February.
PSG was assigned to work with each “champion team” for the Challenges. The consultants are also to be involved in the “roll-out process” throughout the legislative session.
The contract does not include additional services and makes specific reference to a trademarked methodology called “Design Labs,” which is not part of the scope of the contract.
Here is a description of Design Labs.
Public Strategies Group contract, unsigned version. On Feb. 9, Secretary of the Administration Neale Lunderville said signatures for the contract had been filed.
