2026 KYLEAD Conference Sponsorship

The Kentucky Personnel Cabinet is soliciting sponsorships for the 2026 Governor's LEAD Conference, a virtual professional development event scheduled for November 17-18, 2026, anticipated to attract over 1,000 attendees including local and state government employees, university and college professionals, private sector employers, human resource professionals, attorneys, students, and members of the public. The conference will feature presenter-led panel sessions and keynote speakers focused on leadership, talent management, employee engagement, and human resource administration. Sponsorship opportunities are available at three tiers: Presenting Sponsor at $10,000 (limited to two sponsors) with keynote speaker branding benefits; Platinum Sponsor at $5,000 with company branding prior to one workshop session; and Gold Sponsor at $3,000, with a maximum of twenty sponsors across all levels. All sponsorship levels include logo placement on the conference website, virtual exhibit hall participation, vendor raffle options with attendee contact information, and complimentary conference registrations. The Request for Proposal (RFP) opened on April 22, 2026, with proposals due electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service System by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 1, 2026. Evaluation will be based on responsiveness to solicitation (20 points), sponsor and background information (20 points), and sponsorship response quality (60 points), for a maximum total score of 100 points.

Prospective sponsors must submit notarized affidavits swearing compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 45A.110 and 45A.115, along with business documentation including certificates of authority and disclosures regarding any tax or labor law violations within the previous five years per KRS 45A.485. All sponsors must comply with nondiscrimination employment practices and federal equal opportunity requirements. Selected sponsors are required to submit payment within thirty days of award notification; failure to remit funds within this timeframe voids signage and advertisement guarantees. No specific set-asides or restrictions limiting response eligibility to disadvantaged enterprises or other designated categories are noted in the solicitation materials. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified. The Personnel Cabinet reserves the right to cancel or reject responses not deemed in the Commonwealth's best interest, with maximum award values ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on sponsorship tier selection.