State lobbying services

The City of Scottsdale is issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) #26RFP014 to procure state lobbying services through four separate contracts: one for an ongoing, retained state lobbyist and three for as-needed, project-based state lobbyists. The primary objective is to secure professional services that will support the City Council, City Manager, other Charter Officers, and staff in developing and advocating for Scottsdale's positions on state legislation, administrative rules, regulations, and other state actions that may impact the City. Successful respondents must demonstrate comprehensive qualifications including firm and staff expertise in state legislative matters, local knowledge of Arizona's political landscape and Scottsdale-specific issues, and a detailed methodology for delivering lobbying services. The evaluation criteria emphasize firm and staff qualifications, method of approach, demonstration of local knowledge, pricing competitiveness, and professional references. The initial contract term is one year with potential extensions for four additional one-year periods, allowing for up to five years of services through calendar year 2030. Pricing proposals must include monthly retainer and total annual firm fixed prices for the period 2026-2030. The proposal submission deadline is October 17, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. Arizona Local Time, with questions due by October 9, 2025. The City will conduct a comprehensive evaluation process that may include oral presentations to select the most advantageous proposal.

The City of Scottsdale encourages participation from small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in this procurement opportunity, though the solicitation does not impose set-aside restrictions limiting responses to specific business classifications. Respondents must comply with all Arizona state and City of Scottsdale tax regulations, including transaction privilege taxes, and maintain appropriate business licenses and professional credentials required for lobbying activities in Arizona. All proposals must include required documentation such as detailed company profiles, project approach descriptions, evidence of local knowledge, sample work products, current client lists, proposal signature pages, general and litigation disclosure forms, professional references, and a company information questionnaire. Vendors must register through the City's Euna Procurement portal and submit proposals electronically by the established deadline. While the RFP documents do not specify incumbent contractors or existing technology integration requirements, the contract will be managed by a designated City Contract Administrator who will review and accept all deliverables. Budget information specific to contract values is not disclosed in the available RFP documentation; however, pricing will be a significant evaluation factor, and respondents are required to submit competitive monthly retainer and annual firm fixed pricing for the multi-year contract period.