2027 Keynote Speaker Fee Conference

The Texas Workforce Commission’s Child Care and Early Learning division is seeking one qualified keynote speaker to deliver presentations at three Texas Rising Star Early Educator Conferences in 2027, hosted in Houston and Grapevine, Texas, on January 14, July 13, and August 5 of that year. The speaker must provide an inspiring, motivational, and practical keynote that addresses the professional development of early childhood educators, including strategies for working with families and children in high-risk situations, while drawing from personal or professional experiences in early education. The fee for each presentation is capped at $12,500, inclusive of all costs except hotel accommodations, which TWC will provide for up to two nights per event. The speaker is responsible for arranging their own travel and must be available to present on the exact dates specified. The contract will expire on December 31, 2027, and performance will occur solely within the state of Texas. Selection will be based on a best value determination weighing cost at 40 percent, past performance and qualifications at 30 percent, and the relevance and quality of the proposed presentation at 30 percent, with mandatory pass/fail gates for initial compliance and minimum qualifications. The procurement is governed by Texas Government Code statutes, including provisions on conflict of interest, induction prohibitions, and dispute resolution under Chapter 2260. The speaker must certify compliance with numerous legal and ethical requirements, including no discrimination against firearm entities or energy companies, no boycott of Israel, no human trafficking involvement, no antitrust violations, and adherence to Texas’s tax and identification protocols. A valid EIN and Texas Identification Number are required for payment processing, with payment terms aligned to Chapter 2251, allowing TWC up to 30 days to pay uncontested invoices and permitting withholding of up to 110 percent of disputed amounts. Failure to perform will incur liquidated damages totaling 15 percent of the contract value—10 percent for non-performance and 5 percent for reputational harm—along with associated event costs. The vendor must maintain professional liability insurance of at least $25,000 as primary coverage, ensure compliance with workers’ compensation for any subcontractors, and submit all materials through the TWC Procurement Portal in a specified format using Verdana or Arial 12-point font, with required documentation including a narrative proposal, cost response, references, and a completed W-9 form. Termination rights allow TWC to end