State Lobbying - Government Advocacy and Relationship Building

The City of Peoria, Illinois is seeking a state lobbying and government advocacy firm to assist with developing and pursuing its annual legislative platform through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP # 21-25). The selected vendor will be responsible for developing city-specific legislation, building appropriate coalitions, proactively identifying and analyzing potential impacts of the State budget and pending legislation, and representing the City's interests to various stakeholders. Key deliverables include monthly advocacy activity reports focused on advancing the City's legislative priorities around local control, fiscal stability, efficient service delivery, and obtaining additional capital and operational funding. The initial contract will be for one year, commencing around October 1, 2025, with potential for three additional one-year extensions. Proposals are due on September 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM, with submission options including hardcopy (one original and three copies) or electronic submission through BidNet. The evaluation will be conducted using a 1000-point scoring system, with 30 points allocated to project approach, 35 points for previous experience, and 35 points for pricing. The City will select the most qualified proposer offering the best value through a committee using a detailed scoring matrix.

While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are explicitly mentioned in the provided documents, vendors must be registered on www.BidNetDirect.com to participate in the electronic bidding process. The solicitation does not indicate incumbent vendors or specify mandatory technology integration requirements. Proposers are required to submit comprehensive information about their firm, including team member qualifications, past governmental work experience, and detailed pricing proposals. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the contract's scope suggests a significant investment in state-level advocacy services. The electronic bid submission guidelines emphasize secure document handling, with submitted materials only accessible to buyers after the closing date and time, and include multi-stage security protocols such as password re-entry during the submission process. Interested firms should carefully review the RFP documentation and demonstrate a proven track record in government advocacy and relationship building at the state level to be competitive.