Legislative Advocacy

The City of Aspen is seeking legislative advocacy services for the 2026 Colorado General Assembly legislative session through a Request for Proposals (RFP) numbered 2025-339. The procurement targets a political advocacy firm with demonstrated expertise in municipal government policy strategy and a requirement for full-time representation at the Colorado State Capitol. Key deliverables include advocating for the city's policy priorities, which encompass affordable housing, water availability, transportation, and related policy areas. The proposal must comprehensively address the city's legislative agenda, as outlined in their 2025 Regional, State and Federal Policy Agenda, which emphasizes environmental sustainability, local control, and collaborative policy approaches. Evaluation of proposals will follow a weighted scoring system: 20% for Firm Experience, 25% for Understanding of City Legislative Priorities, 35% for Team Qualifications, and 20% for Costs. Critical dates include a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference on October 14th, 2025, via Microsoft Teams, with proposal submissions due by 2:00 PM on October 31st, 2025. Qualified firms must demonstrate ability to build relationships with state legislators, the Governor's office, and other policy leaders.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. While the city emphasizes its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability, no specific vendor type restrictions are noted in the documentation. The procurement appears open to qualified political advocacy and lobbying firms with appropriate state-level policy experience. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the available documents. The RFP does not specify a precise budget range, though the complexity of the advocacy work and full-time Capitol presence suggests a substantial contract value. The city's policy agenda indicates potential for a multi-faceted engagement, with strategic priorities spanning climate action, renewable energy, transportation, and regional collaboration. Successful vendors will need to align with the city's ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals of 63% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, suggesting a preference for firms with demonstrated environmental policy expertise.