Request for Proposals: Lobbyist

Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Request for Proposals: Lobbyist RFP Release Date: October 1, 2026 Proposal Deadline: November 30, 2026 Anticipated Contract Term: June 1, 2027- May 31, 2028, with the option to renew up to two years. Overview The Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is seeking a qualified individual or firm to provide registered lobbying services. The selected Consultant will serve as a strategic advisor and representative of the Texas Academy before the Texas Legislature, state agencies, coalitions, and other relevant stakeholders. The Texas Academy Board of Directors establishes organizational public policy priorities and positions; the Consultant will provide professional counsel and advocacy to support and advance those priorities. Scope of Services The Consultant will be expected to: Monitor relevant state legislation, regulatory activity, and policy developments affecting nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, public health, professional practice, and related issues. Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and issues requiring organizational awareness or action. Provide timely legislative and regulatory analysis, strategic recommendations, and guidance to Texas Academy leadership. Represent the Texas Academy before legislators, legislative staff, state agencies, coalitions, and other stakeholders as authorized. Maintain and strengthen relationships with relevant policymakers and advocacy partners. Support development of testimony, talking points, policy summaries, action alerts, legislative briefings, and other advocacy materials. Support advocacy initiatives, including legislative meetings, Nutrition Day at the Capitol, coalition engagement, and member advocacy education. Help translate relevant governmental affairs activity into timely, accessible information for Texas Academy members through established organizational communication channels. The Consultant will collaborate with designated Texas Academy leadership to establish an annual advocacy work plan identifying priority initiatives, expected work products, timelines, and responsibilities. Communication, Representation, and Accountability The Texas Academy seeks a collaborative, responsive, and transparent working relationship. The Consultant will be expected to: Maintain regular communication with designated Texas Academy leadership and promptly communicate significant legislative or regulatory developments. Attend relevant committee, Executive Committee, or Board meetings as requested. Keep leadership appropriately informed of significant advocacy activities undertaken on behalf of the organization. Coordinate anticipated testimony and significant official advocacy communications with designated leadership and share draft testimony or key talking points in advance whenever practicable. Seek appropriate direction before communicating a new organizational policy position not previously approved by the Board. Use the Texas Academy-provided email address, approved organizational signature, and a mutually agreed-upon professional title when conducting Texas Academy business. Provide regular written updates regarding legislative activity, meetings and hearings, coalition engagement, testimony, progress toward priorities, emerging issues, recommendations, and upcoming activities. The Consultant may advocate for established Texas Academy positions but does not have independent authority to establish organizational policy or commit the organization to new positions. Performance will be assessed based on responsiveness, quality of strategic guidance and representation, communication with leadership, and progress toward agreed-upon priorities and work products. Specific reporting requirements, performance benchmarks, deliverables, and review processes will be established in the final contract and annual work plan. Qualifications Respondents should demonstrate: Experience with Texas governmental affairs, lobbying, legislative strategy, or public policy consulting. Knowledge of the Texas Legislature, state agencies, and regulatory processes. Ability to meet applicable Texas lobbyist registration requirements. Experience working with nonprofit, professional, healthcare, public health, or membership organizations. Strong strategic, written, verbal, and relationship-management skills. Ability to work effectively with Boards, staff, volunteers, and committees. Commitment to ethical practice, confidentiality, transparency, and disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Experience in nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, public health, professional licensure, or related policy areas is preferred. Proposal Requirements Please include: Qualifications and Experience – Relevant governmental affairs, lobbying, legislative, and association experience. Proposed Approach – Brief description of your approach to legislative monitoring, strategic advising, representation, communication, collaboration, and reporting. Personnel – Identification and qualifications of the individual(s) who would serve the Texas Academy. Potential Conflicts – Disclosure of current clients or relationships that may create an actual or potential conflict of interest. Fee Proposal – Proposed retainer or fee structure, included services, additional fees, and anticipated reimbursable expenses. References – Contact information for THREE organizations for which comparable services have been provided. Evaluation and Selection Proposals will be evaluated based on relevant Texas governmental affairs experience, strategic advising capabilities, understanding of professional or membership organizations, communication and collaboration approach, references, potential conflicts of interest, and proposed fee and overall value. Selected respondents may be invited to participate in an interview. The Texas Academy reserves the right to request additional information, negotiate the scope or terms of services, reject any or all proposals, or discontinue the RFP process. Timeline and Submission RFP Released: October 1, 2026 Proposal Deadline: November 30, 2026 Interviews, if applicable: January 2027 Anticipated Selection: January/ February 2027 Selection through this RFP does not create a contractual relationship. Final scope, compensation, deliverables, reporting expectations, confidentiality provisions, termination terms, and other contractual requirements will be established through a mutually executed professional services agreement. #J-18808-Ljbffr Eatrighttexas