Federal Advocacy Services

Project Description: The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) is a Special District within the State of California that owns, maintains, and operates passenger rail service in Sonoma County and Marin County. In addition to passenger rail service, SMART is a common carrier that owns and operates freight rail services within Sonoma County, Marin County, and Napa County.
SMART is seeking Proposals from qualified legislative advocacy firms to represent SMART’s legislative policy interests at the Federal level in Washington, DC. The Consultant awarded the contract is expected to assist in the development of strategies for advancing actions at the Federal level that are beneficial to SMART and its programs with the anticipated workload to be focused on passenger commuter and inter-city rail, non-motorized interests, and freight rail interests. The scope of services will include representation and advocacy on behalf of SMART in its dealing with all relevant federal agencies, departments, and related interest groups, including but not limited to and in no particular order:
White House
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Department of Transportation
a. Federal Transit Administration
b. Federal Railroad Administration
c. Federal Highway Administration
d. Build America Bureau
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
a. U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of the Interior
a. Bureau of Indian Affairs
b. National Park Service
c. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Surface Transportation Board
Railroad Retirement Board
General Services Administration
This contract has a 3-year base term with (2) one-year options to extend thereafter. The effective start date of the awarded Agreement is January 1, 2027.
This Agreement may be funded using Local Funds. Consultant shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations while performing work under the Agreement.
The deadline to submit a Proposal in response to this Request for Proposal is September 8, 2026 by 2:00pm (Pacific)