External Legal Services

Dallas Independent School District is requesting qualifications for external legal services on an as-needed basis to support complex litigation and provide specialized legal expertise across sixteen practice areas, with proposals due July 16, 2026. The RFQ covers a two-year initial term with an option to extend for an additional two years upon mutual agreement, provided either party gives ninety days' written notice of non-renewal prior to expiration.

Dallas ISD has established an aspirational SBE goal of 35 percent for professional services; SBE compliance forms carry evaluation weight of up to 20 percentage points and are mandatory for all submissions. Approved certifications include 8(a), SDVOSB, SBE, VOSB, and WOSB designations from the SBA, Texas Department of Transportation, and regional certification bodies.

The scope encompasses bond counsel (Public Facility Corporation experience with debt structuring and tax compliance), construction law and real estate counsel (contract drafting, negotiation, and eminent domain), employment and litigation counsel (state and federal trial and appellate representation), general litigation counsel (extensive school-district representation experience), immigration counsel (H-1B and J-1 worker matters), and special education and Section 504 counsel (ARD meetings, due process hearings, and state/federal proceedings). Selected counsel must provide in-service training to administrators, Board members, and internal legal staff on legal developments and law application.

Evaluation criteria include purchase price, vendor reputation and quality, extent to which services meet District needs, past relationship with the District, SBE participation impact with emphasis on comprehensive SBE compliance plans, total long-term cost, and principal place of business or number of employees in Texas. The District does not award contracts based on low price alone and reserves the right to make awards to multiple offerors or make no award.

Proposals must be submitted electronically through Bonfire at https://dallasisd.bonfirehub.com or as sealed paper bids to Dallas ISD Procurement Services at 9400 N Central Expressway, Suite 1510, Dallas, TX 75231. Vendors must submit Form 1295 (Certificate of Interested Parties) to the Texas Ethics Commission, a Conflict of Interest Questionnaire to Procurement Services by the seventh business day after beginning contract discussions, a W9, and completed SBE forms. Reference checks are due by July 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time to Procurementreferencecheck@dallasisd.org. Bid prices must remain firm for 120 days following receipt and opening. The procurement complies with 2 CFR Part 200 and may utilize local, state, federal, and grant-funded program dollars.