Federal government relations consultant

Thurston County and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 25-00018) seeking a Federal Government Relations Consultant to represent and track federal issues for multiple state agencies, including the Recreation and Conservation Office, Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, Puget Sound Partnership, and Washington State Conservation Commission. The consultant will be responsible for developing strategies to maintain and increase federal funding, facilitating multi-state congressional letters of support, building awareness among congressional members and federal agencies, tracking congressional actions, and providing strategic counsel to agency leadership. Bidders must possess at least 10 years of experience in federal government relations and have established relationships with the Washington congressional delegation, federal agencies, and key stakeholders. The evaluation criteria will assess proposed experience and qualifications (40%), existing federal relationships (40%), federal strategy development (15%), cost (5%), and small business preference (5%). Key procurement dates include the RFP release on November 14, 2025, an optional pre-bid conference on December 1, 2025, proposal submissions due by December 30, 2025, and the apparent successful bidder to be announced around January 9, 2026.

The procurement offers a 5% bid preference for Small Businesses or Veteran-Owned Businesses, providing potential opportunities for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract will cover a two-year period from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2028, with a total budget of $170,000. Successful bidders must demonstrate comprehensive federal government relations experience, with a particular focus on salmon and wildlife conservation, Puget Sound recovery, and agricultural voluntary stewardship programs. The consultant will be expected to work closely with multiple state agencies to advance their federal policy and funding objectives. While no incumbent vendor is specifically mentioned, the RFP suggests a competitive selection process that values deep institutional knowledge and strong congressional relationships. The contract aims to secure strategic federal representation and advocacy for Washington state's environmental and conservation priorities.