RFP 1179 Legislative and Lobbying Services

MPS seeks proposals for legislative liaison and lobbying services related to working with and communicating with State of Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent, federal officials and regulatory agencies regarding education policy, funding and other related subjects as identified by the MPS Office of Governmental Relations (see Exhibit 2 - MPS Legislative Agenda).

Expertise in the area of education policy, local control issues including school governance and the process of developing legislation and education funding policy at the State level is **required**. The ability to work with legislators of all party affiliations is **required**. The ability to work in collaboration with related public education advocacy groups is **required**. Expertise in other policy areas that affect school districts such as the state budget, special education funding, public instruction regulations, revenue limit fairness, educational accountability, voucher school funding, health care and early childhood education will be necessary. Prior experience working in the public education sector is **required**.

It is currently anticipated that the types of services will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Governmental Relations

• Monitor and analyze legislative and administrative proposals that impact education in Milwaukee and public education in general.
• Provide assistance with the development and implementation of legislative policy and agendas regarding any or all of the following levels of government: local; state; and federal.
• Assist in building coalitions of legislators, interest groups and citizens in an effort to achieve the legislative goals of the District.
• Stay abreast of current legislative issues that affect MPS and education in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
• Provide legislative and policy research on legislative proposals and executive agencies' regulations/issues/initiatives.
• Be available, in a timely manner, in person, by telephone, by video conference or email to provide consultation and advice.

Lobbying

• Advocate the policy positions of MPS to key state-level legislators and staffers, federal-level officials and community administrators.
• Be present in Madison during key legislative periods.
• Assist departments and schools in leveraging additional policy and/or funding resources from relevant governmental entities.
• Inform MPS elected officials and staff on advocacy opportunities in Madison.

Reporting

• Throughout the year, and on a real-time basis, inform the MPS Director of Legislative Advocacy Services and the Milwaukee Board of School Directors as needed of developments coming out of the Legislative and Executive branches of the State Government and other relevant state departments that impact public education in Milwaukee
• Provide timely communication, monthly invoices, and written reports when requested to MPS that track the status of MPS legislative priorities, other legislation of interest and delineating the respondent's activities and actions for the District.
• Work with the Office of Board Governance's Legislative staff to prepare written communications that convey MPS's positions on State legislative, policy, and intergovernmental issues.

Minimum Respondent Qualifications

• Each of Respondent's staff who will perform work on the resulting contract must each have a license to lobby in the state of Wisconsin.
• Respondent must have an office site, and staff lobbying on behalf of the district that are physically located no more than 50 miles of Madison, Wisconsin.
• Respondent has prior experience working in the public education sector.

Contract Period

It is anticipated that a contract resulting from this RFP will be for a period of one year from **April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2028** with the possibility of two one-year extensions. A contractor must attain a minimum score of 90 points to be eligible for contract renewal; however, 90 points does not guarantee renewal.

Award

This RFP will result in either the award of a single contract to a single contractor or no award; there will not be multiple awards made under this RFP. Contract awards are subject to review by the MPS Administration and Board of School Directors.

Submission

The only permissible communication regarding this RFP with MPS staff, including any and all questions and requests for clarification, must be directed in writing via **Bonfire**.

Evaluation Criteria

| Criteria | % |
| --- | --- |
| Experience, Qualifications, and Financial Stability | 55% |
| Quality of Proposed Solution and Ability to Meet MPS's Needs | 20% |
| Environmental Sustainability | 5% |
| Cost | 20% |

Insurance

Minimum limits of insurance required: Workers' Compensation at Statutory Limits; Employers' Liability $100,000 per occurrence; General Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate; Auto Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence; Umbrella (excess) Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence.