Legislative Representation Services - State and Regional

The City of Tucson is seeking proposals for a private firm to provide legislative representation services at the Arizona State legislature and State government through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 260114. The selected consultant will serve as the city's designated contract lobbyist, responsible for developing, representing, and advocating for Tucson's interests across multiple municipal government service areas including finance, transportation, water, environmental services, police, fire, and parks and recreation. Key deliverables include monitoring pending legislation, analyzing potential impacts, attending legislative sessions and committee hearings, coordinating with relevant organizations, identifying funding opportunities, and regularly communicating with City staff to develop strategic legislative approaches. The proposal requires firms to have a minimum of five years working with municipal entities in Arizona, demonstrate a proven track record of executing legislative agendas, and exhibit expertise in local government and water utility issues. Evaluation criteria will prioritize qualifications and experience, with the proposal due on Monday, September 8, 2025, to be submitted through the City's online bidding system. The initial contract will run for one year with potential renewal for up to four additional one-year periods.

The RFP documents suggest potential opportunities for disadvantaged business enterprises, with several attachments indicating compliance requirements for minority and women-owned business enterprises and Section 3 worker provisions. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed for this procurement, the City of Tucson's documentation includes guidelines for maximizing opportunities for disadvantaged businesses. The contract does not specify an exact award value, but the pricing methodology allows for an annual not-to-exceed amount covering consulting services and expenses, with reimbursement based on actual billable rates and approved expenses. The solicitation emphasizes strong bipartisan connections with state leadership as a desirable qualification, and the selected firm will represent Tucson's interests in critical areas such as shared revenues, local authority, economic development, and water resource management. Given Tucson's significance as the second-largest city in Arizona with a population of approximately 542,000 and a metropolitan region of over one million people, this legislative representation contract is strategically important for advancing the city's governmental objectives.