2027 Apprenticeship Conference

The Texas Workforce Commission is requesting proposals for conference hosting services for the 2027 Apprenticeship Texas Conference under RFP No. 3202700013, with proposals due July 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The conference will be held at one of ten designated Texas locations (Arlington, Corpus Christi, Conroe, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, or The Woodlands) on either September 21–24, 2027 or September 28–October 1, 2027.

The scope includes a two-and-a-half-day conference with one general session room accommodating 350 people in crescent-round setup, four breakout rooms for 125 people each in classroom configuration, registration and exhibitor areas with 22 tables, sleeping accommodations (20 staff rooms for four nights, 200 attendee rooms for two nights, and 6 suites), and full catering including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages. Audio-visual infrastructure must be compatible with an audio-visual company to be awarded separately by TWC. Respondents may propose multiple location and date combinations. The RFP encourages concessions including complimentary staff parking, attendee parking discounts, five complimentary sleeping rooms during site visits, 1.40 cumulative complimentary sleeping room nights, suites at group rates, 20 percent menu discounts, and complimentary wireless internet.

Respondents must demonstrate three years of business experience or five years of ownership or executive management experience in conference services and financial solvency. Historical compensation for similar conferences ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 per fiscal year. Pricing is firm and fixed through the contract term with no renewal options. Evaluation criteria are 40 percent cost, 15 percent past performance and qualifications, and 45 percent technical approach. The successful respondent must carry commercial general liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence / $4,000,000 aggregate), comprehensive automobile liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), and umbrella liability ($25,000,000) before contract award. Award is anticipated in September 2026. All responses are binding for 180 days. Respondents must register and submit through the TWC Procurement Portal; contact Purchaser Gaye Smith at gaye.smith@twc.texas.gov for questions.