Sponsorship- 2026 KYLEAD Conference

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Personnel Cabinet is soliciting sponsorships for the 2026 Governor's LEAD Conference, a professional development event scheduled for November 17-18, 2026, presented as a virtual event. This procurement seeks one or more corporate sponsors to support the conference, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees including local and state government employees, university and college professionals, private sector representatives, human resource professionals, attorneys, students, and members of the public. The conference will feature presenter-led panel sessions and keynote speakers addressing leadership, talent management, employee engagement, and human resource administration. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service System by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 15, 2026. The Personnel Cabinet will evaluate all responses using a 100-point technical scoring rubric that assesses responsiveness to the solicitation (20 points), sponsor background and qualifications (20 points), and sponsorship response quality (60 points). Selected sponsors must provide payment within 30 days of award notification.

The solicitation offers three distinct sponsorship levels with tiered benefits and corresponding investment amounts: Presenting Sponsor at $10,000 (limited to two sponsors) including company branding prior to a highlighted keynote speaker presentation, logo placement, virtual exhibit hall participation, vendor raffle option, and two complimentary registrations; Platinum Sponsor at $5,000 providing company branding before a workshop session plus the same ancillary benefits; and Gold Sponsor at $3,000 offering logo placement, virtual exhibit hall access, raffle option, and one complimentary registration. The total sponsorship opportunity is capped at a maximum of 20 sponsors across all levels. All sponsors must comply with Kentucky state laws regarding tax, employment, occupational safety, and workers compensation, must disclose any violations within the previous five years, and are required to provide a certificate of authority authorizing them to conduct business in Kentucky. Additionally, selected sponsors must agree to nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity provisions aligned with federal and state civil rights laws. All bidders and offerors must complete and submit the Annual Required Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors, which attests compliance with Kentucky's campaign finance laws under KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115.