Outside Counsel Services

The University of Kansas is soliciting proposals for Outside Counsel Services to support its Office of General Counsel across 14 distinct practice areas, including Athletics, Civil Rights, Research Compliance, and Business and Transactional Matters. This negotiated procurement, conducted under K.S.A. 76-769, seeks firms with specialized knowledge of higher education legal issues and experience advising public universities or state agencies. The University will evaluate bidders based on their expertise, capacity to handle urgent matters, and proposed hourly rates, with a preference for firms that demonstrate effective cost management, particularly regarding data collection and storage. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the KU eBid system by October 29, 2026, and must include a detailed hourly rate sheet and a qualifications statement of one to two pages per practice area. These statements must outline the firm's capabilities, provide two representative matters from the last five years, identify the proposed legal team, and list up to three client references. Award decisions will be made by the KU Procurement Negotiation Committee in the best interest of the University, with anticipated contract execution in December 2026. Selected counsel must adhere to strict guidelines regarding monthly invoicing, conflict of interest reviews, and the responsible use of generative AI, which requires maintaining data confidentiality and avoiding public AI models. Contractors are required to certify they are not debarred from federal contracts and must comply with various Kansas state and federal anti-discrimination and accessibility laws. All work is billed on an hourly basis, and the University reserves the right to reject any non-conforming services or deliverables upon arrival.