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City of Valdez
Request for Qualifications
Date: 12/2/2025
Project: Federal Lobbying Request for Qualifications
Project Number: N/A
A. Overview
The purpose of this document is to solicit qualifications from qualified firms to provide federal
lobbying services.
The City reserves the right to select the qualified firm and/or firms deemed most beneficial to the
City. The Consultant will report to the City Manager or their designee and will be responsible for
assisting the City achieve articulated federal priorities and goals.
Background Information
The City of Valdez, Alaska is a remote coastal city located in Prince Wiliam Sound with a land
area of approximately 220 square miles. The year-round population of Valdez is approximately
3800, with summertime increases of up to 10,000 working residents.
Valdez is the home of a diverse port industry including the terminus of the Trans Alaska Pipeline
System and one of the largest Pink Salmon fisheries in the world. Valdez is a designated Coast
Guard City and works closely with the lobbyist to advocate for a continued and increased Coast
Guard presence in Valdez and Prince Willaim Sound to protect critical national infrastructure.
The community hosts approximately 125,000 visitors annually including RV travelers and cruise
ship passengers. Valdez and Thompson Pass also host world class backcountry skiing and
snowmachining for winter recreation and tourism.
Other significant local industries include transportation, healthcare, public services, and retail.
The 2026 Council priorities for the City are:
• Housing: Increase housing stock by Fall 2027, utilizing the housing needs assessment
• Childcare: Complete an operating, active, licensed childcare facility by Fall 2026
• Maintenance: Annually appropriate funds toward deferred maintenance on critical
infrastructure
• Expanding & Modernizing: Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, Maritime and Community
Budget & Timeline
The anticipated engagement for this contract is five (5) years. The terms of the agreement will
be negotiated with a preference for stable and consistent contract value.
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B. Scope of Work & Tasks
Consultant will be responsible for the tasks identified below (not an all-inclusive list):
1. Federal Appropriations & Strategy
a. Track federal appropriation cycles, discretionary or community project funding
opportunities, and major grant programs relevant to municipal priorities
(infrastructure, public safety, housing, transportation, energy, resilience, etc.)
b. Work with the City Manager and City Council to develop a funding strategy to
address Council goals.
c. Assist in drafting congressional request forms and supporting documentation
and submitting requests on behalf of the municipality.
d. The firm will be an active partner and engage in strategy and goal
development.
2. Advocacy & Legislative Engagement
a. Identify federal legislative or regulatory actions that impact municipal
operations, revenue, or strategic initiatives.
b. Advocate directly with congressional delegations, key committees, and federal
agencies on behalf of the municipality.
c. Arrange and support meetings between municipal leaders and federal
policymakers.
d. Prepare talking points, issue briefs, and testimony when needed.
3. Travel & Meeting Coordination
Organize annual or semiannual trips (twice per year preferred) for municipal officials
to Washington, D.C., including:
a. Meetings with congressional delegation and committee staff
b. Visits with federal agencies
c. Participation in federal conferences
d. Provide briefing books and meeting preparation
4. Washington, D.C. Representation
a. Serve as the municipality’s voice in Washington when staff cannot be present.
b. Participate in relevant congressional hearings, agency briefings, and
stakeholder roundtables.
c. Represent the municipality in coalitions or national organizations when
appropriate (e.g., NACO, NLC, sector-specific coalitions).
5. Meetings & Reports
a. Facilitate biweekly update meetings with the City Manager.
b. Provide written semiannual reports to the City Council for quarters not including
fly-ins.
c. Provide annual report to the City Council, in person preferred, but virtual when
necessary.
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C. Selection Process
Submissions will be rated using the scoring information provided below. Applicants may
be contacted with clarifying questions following receipt of submission.
1. Responses will be received by the City Manager’s office and will be reviewed by a
panel of city representatives. Representatives selected to participate in the scoring
process may include City Council Members and city staff. Ranking considerations
are outlined in section E.
2. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed and ranked for selection depending on
necessity. If interviews occur, results of interview rankings supersede initial
scoring.
The City reserves the right to divide the project scope, or otherwise award to firms however
it deems to be most advantageous in accordance with City procurement policy.
E. Requirements for Statement of Qualifications
1. The firm or individual that submits a statement of qualifications must be qualified
to do business in the State of Alaska, and must have appropriate business licenses
and be appropriately registered to conduct the tasks identified in the proposal. The
City of Valdez assumes no obligation by accepting a proposal.
2. Reponses will be limited to page requirements below:
a. Cover Letter
1 page maximum
b. Response to Criteria
8 page maximum
c. Resumes
1 page each maximum
One page is defined as one side of a standard 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper. Submittal shall be
presented in 8 ½” x 11” format. A limited number of larger sheets may be included if folded
to 8 ½” x11” format. Larger sheets will count as two pages. Tabs and/or divider pages do not
count against the maximums. Font may be no smaller than 10 point.
3. The following criteria will be considered during evaluation of responses.
a. Firm Experience
i. Identify current or past clients or initiatives that represent similar
lobbying interests to the City of Valdez
ii. Identify specific municipal lobbying experience including past
successful lobbying efforts
b. Key Personnel
i. Identify the primary point(s) of contact and identify their role,
experience, and qualifications
ii. Identify experience of individuals in relevant fields of interest
common to the City of Valdez
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c. Fly-In Coordination
i. Outline a typical fly-in and what the City can expect from your firm
including:
1. Typical dates/windows
2. Types of meetings to be arranged
3. Level of preparation and on-site coordination
d. Overall Proposal
i. Evaluators will consider the overall submission for completeness,
accuracy, and understanding of response criteria
ii. Demonstrate an understanding of Valdez specific needs and
situations and articulate how you will work with the City to meet
needs, goals, and confront challenges.
F. Submissions and Inquiries
Valdez encourages disadvantaged, minority and women-owned consultant firms to respond.
Any questions regarding this project should be directed to Nathan Duval City Manager,
nduval@valdezak.gov. Questions will be received until 4:00pm December 16, 2025. All
questions will be answered formally in writing. Submission of a response to the RFQ implies
acknowledgement of all addenda.
Submissions should meet criteria identified in section E and file names should be clearly
identified as a response to the City of Valdez Federal Lobbying Request for Qualifications.
Submit (1) electronic copy of your Statement of Qualifications via email to Nathan Duval,
City Manager with a cc to Brianne Skilbred, Executive Assistant at nduval@valdezak.gov
and cc bskilbred@valdezak.gov
Proposals will be accepted until 4:00pm local time, December 23, 2025. The City of Valdez
has a 10MB file limit on all incoming emails. To submit a file greater than 10MB email above
requesting a dropbox location. Requests for dropbox must be received one business day in
advance. Submissions made outside the RFQ parameters may or may not be considered.
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
