State Legislative and Lobbying Services

The City of Spokane is soliciting proposals for State Legislative and Lobbying Services under RFP 6584-26, with a deadline of September 1, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. The contract seeks a firm to represent the City before the Washington State Legislature, the Office of the Governor, state agencies, and other stakeholder groups to advance its legislative agenda and secure funding for capital projects, with a focus on areas such as telecommunications, solid waste, parks and recreation, economic development, transportation, sanitation, infrastructure, green space, police and fire services, grants, and issues affecting municipal authority like eminent domain and annexation. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City’s portal at https://spokane.procureware.com, and hard copy, email, or fax submissions are not accepted. The firm must be licensed to do business in Washington, registered with the Public Disclosure Commission for lobbying, and have at least three years of documented experience in state-level legislative affairs or lobbying in Olympia. The contract has an initial two-year term with an optional one-time two-year extension, set to begin on October 1, 2026. Evaluation of proposals will be based on a weighted scoring system: 40% for Technical Proposal (project approach and work plan), 30% for Management Proposal (firm and staff qualifications), and 30% for Cost Proposal, which must include a fully detailed budget excluding Washington state sales tax. The City reserves the right to award to the most favorable proposal without further discussion and may select finalists for oral presentations, with commitments made during those sessions considered binding. All awards are contingent on funding availability. The firm must maintain specific insurance coverage, including $1 million in Employers Liability Insurance, $1 million per claim in Professional Liability Insurance, General Liability Insurance with limits of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate, and Automobile Liability Insurance with a $1 million combined single limit, plus Workers Compensation compliant with RCW 51. The firm waives immunity under RCW Title 51, is subject to Washington’s Public Records Act (Chapter 41.56 RCW), and must comply with Spokane’s Code of Ethics (Chapter 1.04A) and state and federal nondiscrimination laws, including the ADA and Section 504. Indemnification obligations require the firm to defend and hold harmless the City from claims arising from its negligence or breach. The firm must also certify it is not