Request for Proposals for Outside Legal Counsel for the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, on behalf of the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, is seeking qualified independent individuals and law firms to serve as outside legal counsel under RFP No. 240n. The contract requires provision of specialized legal services on an as-needed basis related to the administration of the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan, Texas College Savings Plan, LoneStar 529 Plan, and Texas Tuition Promise Fund, collectively known as the Texas Tomorrow Fund programs. The initial contract term spans from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028, with the Comptroller holding the discretion to extend the agreement for two additional one-year optional periods and a possible six-month transition period. Proposals must be submitted electronically by June 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CT in searchable PDF format via email, with strict adherence to labeling and formatting requirements; hand delivery and fax submissions are prohibited. Only vendors that meet minimum qualifications will be evaluated, with awards based on a best value standard, where 80% of the scoring weights toward demonstrated competence, knowledge, and qualifications, and 20% toward the reasonableness of proposed fees. Vendor references will be contacted and rated on quality of legal work, timeliness, cost accuracy, and client satisfaction using a scale from Unsatisfactory to Excellent. The contract imposes specific administrative, ethical, and compliance obligations. All invoices must be submitted within ten business days after month-end and include the vendor's Texas Comptroller ID number, a detailed service description, the specific plan or program served, the project manager’s name, and a progress assessment report using the Comptroller’s template. Billing must conform to the guidelines in Addendum B, which caps paralegal fees and details flat-rate trademark services, while reimbursable expenses are limited to pre-approved copying, courier, and travel costs. Outside Counsel must certify compliance with numerous Texas statutes including prohibitions on human trafficking, boycotts of Israel and energy companies, firearm entity discrimination, and vaccine passport mandates, as well as adherence to the Drug-Free Workplace Act, ADA, and immigration laws. A Buy Texas affirmation requires purchasing Texas-made products when comparable in price and availability. Respondents must disclose all conflicts of interest within the past year, submit a completed VetHUB Subcontracting Plan, and provide Social Security numbers for owners with 25% or greater interest if subject to child support certification