Advocacy and Lobbying before the Texas Legislature and State Agencies

The City of Waco, Texas is requesting qualifications for a governmental affairs consultant to provide lobbying and advocacy services before the Texas Legislature and state agencies, with SOQs due June 23, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time and opening at 2:01 p.m. via Zoom. The consultant must demonstrate significant experience in state-level lobbying and established relationships with members of the Texas House and Senate, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, State Comptroller, Attorney General, and relevant state agencies.

Core services include legislative advocacy and securing legislative sponsors for City bills; monitoring legislative and administrative actions; identifying beneficial and harmful legislative issues; bill tracking with regular updates; developing talking points and briefing materials; and arranging meetings between City officials and state officials.

The contract term is estimated to run from August 4, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with the City reserving the option to extend or renew. The RFQ does not specify contract value; the City will negotiate terms with the highest-ranked firm following evaluation and interviews. Contract awards exceeding $100,000 require City Council approval.

Evaluation will use a 100-point scoring system: demonstrated competence and qualifications (maximum 40 points), ability to deliver services as described (maximum 40 points), depth of relationships with State members and staff (maximum 10 points), and availability of team members (maximum 10 points). SOQ submissions must include firm qualifications, partner and staff experience, references from other represented municipalities, and organizational charts, but no price information.

The successful bidder must provide professional liability insurance with a minimum of $500,000, comply with Texas conflict of interest provisions, register with the Texas Secretary of State, and execute certifications regarding debarment, non-collusion, and compliance with House Bill 89 provisions on energy, firearms, and Israel boycott restrictions. Questions are due June 15, 2026.