Federal Legislative Consultant Services

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is requesting proposals for Federal Legislative Consultant Services under RFP 26-08, with proposals due July 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST via PlanetBids and questions due July 6, 2026.

Minimum qualifications are a hard filter: proposers must demonstrate eight years' experience as a Federal Legislative Representative, maintain a Washington, D.C. office location, possess established relationships with Texas congressional delegation members, and hold current federal lobbyist registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Knowledge of public transit and rail issues and experience with the Federal Transit Administration and Department of Transportation are required.

The scope encompasses federal legislative representation and monitoring before Congress, federal agencies, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, including advice on matters affecting public transportation, mobility, infrastructure funding, and federal grant opportunities. The consultant will support DCTA's federal legislative and regulatory strategy. Proposers must provide three verified external client references; references from DCTA Board members, DCTA employees, or affiliated personnel are not permitted.

The initial contract term runs October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028, with one optional two-year renewal extending through September 30, 2030. Compensation is a fixed flat fee per year, invoiced monthly. DCTA is funding the work through board-approved budget; no state or federal funds are used. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $2,000,000 aggregate / $1,000,000 per occurrence and commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000, with proof due ten days before performance.

Evaluation is weighted as qualifications and experience (30 points), federal legislative approach and written presentation (30 points), DCTA-specific issues and understanding (25 points), and pricing (15 points). Proposals must not exceed 45 single-sided pages. Interviews are anticipated the week of August 10, 2026, with Board authorization expected September 24, 2026. Mandatory certifications include non-collusion affidavit, conflict-of-interest questionnaire per Texas Local Government Code Chapter 176, and compliance with Texas boycott prohibitions on Israel, energy companies, and firearm entities (all apply for contracts valued at $100,000 or more).