Government Relations Services

CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
2026
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Request for Proposals
For
State and/or Federal
Government Relations Services
City Clerk's Office
City of Lodi
221 W. Pine Street
Lodi, CA 95240
Date Issued: September 28, 2026
Proposals Due: October 15, 2026, 12:00 PM PST

CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
2026
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Nature of Services Required
1. Background 1
2. Scope of Work to be Performed 1
B. General Terms and Conditions
1. Proposal Requirements 3
2. Contract Award and Execution 5
3. Contract Performance 7
C. Special Terms and Conditions
1. Contract Term 8
2. Proposal Content 8
3. Proposal Review and Award Schedule 10
4. Ownership of Materials 10
5. Release of Reports and Information 10
6. Copies of Reports and Information 10
D. Evaluation and Selection Criteria
1. Evaluation and Selection Criteria 10
E. Appendices 12
1. Attachment A - Professional Services Agreement
2. Attachment B - Insurance Requirements
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CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
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A. NATURE OF SERVICES REQUIRED
1. Background
The City of Lodi "CITY" is a municipality located in San Joaquin County, approximately
16 miles north of Stockton and 36 miles south of Sacramento. An estimated population
of 69,607 resides within the CITY's approximately 12 square miles. The CITY is a full-
service city providing public safety (police and fire), public works, infrastructure,
water/wastewater, recycling and waste management, community
development/planning, economic development, parks and recreation, public transit
and electric utilities.
CITY's governance follows a Council-Manager form of government with five (5) City
Council Members elected by-district along with a City Council appointed City Manager.
As we embark on this pioneering venture into government relations, we look forward
to building strategic partnerships and shaping policies that drive our mission forward.
The CITY seeks a results-driven government relations firm for state, federal or
combined state and federal government relations services. Given this is a pilot
initiative, funding is limited and we have only a modest budget available.
2. Scope of Work
The Scope of Services as set forth in this RFP, represents an outline of the services
which the CITY anticipates the successful proposer to perform, and is presented for the
primary purpose of describing the CITY's expectations for government relations
services without necessarily describing each individual task in all-inclusive detail. A
more precise scope of services in the contract for government relations services may
be negotiated between the CITY and the successful bidder. For the purposes of this
section, the term "CONSULTANT" represents the successful bidder. The CITY's Contract
Representative is the City of Lodi Government Relations Program Staff and her
designees.
Dependent upon application for state, federal, and/or a combination,
at a minimum, the anticipated CONSULTANT responsibilities include, but are not
limited to the following general scope of work:
Strategic Policy Management
The CONSULTANT shall perform:
* Policy Monitoring and Analysis
Identify, track, and analyze administrative, legislative, budgetary, and
o
regulatory matters that may impact the CITY.
Provide strategic guidance on CITY positions regarding legislation,
o
initiatives, or programs including recommended support, opposition, or
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CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
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amendments.
* Advocacy
Advocate for the CITY's policy positions with members of Government,
o
Legislature, relevant agencies and boards/commissions, and the
Administration.
Arrange and coordinate meetings between the CITY's elected officials
o
and legislators and provide a one-page briefing on relevant initiatives
that the legislator is supporting.
Draft advocacy letters and in some instances introduce and shepherd
o
legislative bills, coordinate with coalition partners, and organize
meetings between CITY staff and government stakeholders.
Funding and Grant Support
The CONSULTANT shall conduct:
* Funding Identification and Pursuit
Identify funding opportunities relevant to the CITY's priority projects,
o
including grants, state and/or federal budget funding requests, and
programs supporting CITY initiatives.
* Grant Assistance
Provide technical assistance and support for grant applications, including
o
advising on strategy, developing content, reviewing applications, and
assisting staff throughout the process.
Reporting and Compliance
The CONSULTANT shall provide:
* Regular Updates and Briefings
Provide bi-weekly (or as determined by the CITY), written and/or oral
o
updates to the Government Relations Program Staff. Provide written
and/or oral updates to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and
Program Manager as requested. CONSULTANT should anticipate at least
some of these updates to be in person in Lodi, with most being held
virtually.
Deliver regular reports on political developments, legislation, and
o
administrative activities.
* Presentations
Make in-person and/or virtual presentations to the City Council and City
o
Manager regarding legislative matters when requested.
* Compliance
Ensure full compliance with all lobbying laws and regulations, including
o
timely completion and filing of all required lobbying disclosure and
reporting documents on behalf of the CITY.
Deliverables
The CONSULTANT shall provide the following deliverables, at minimum:
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* Annual Strategy/Work Plan
A written strategy and work plan, developed and reviewed at least annually,
including schedules, timelines, and milestones. The work plan should be highly
detailed with realistic milestones and strong legislative member engagement
strategies. CONSULTANT shall also advise on the CITY's annual Legislative
Principles and Priorities Plan.
* Engagement Plan
A detailed schedule and plan outlining proposed visits and interactions with
legislators, their staff, and agency personnel. The engagement plan should
demonstrate how to cultivate relationships with government agency and
legislative staff.
* Monthly Status Reports
Monthly written or verbal reports that communicate and manage risks and
opportunities provided to the Government Relations Program Staff.
* Meeting Coordination
Arrangement of meetings and connections between government officials,
agency staff and the CITY's elected officials and staff.
* Regulatory Filings
Consistent completion and submission of all required lobbying reporting and
disclosure filings, including those required of the CITY.
B. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Proposal Requirements
a. Requirement to Meet All Provisions: Each individual or firm submitting a
proposal (bidder) will meet all of the terms and conditions of the specifications
in the Request for Proposals (RFP). By submitting a proposal, the bidder
acknowledges agreement with and accepts all provisions in the specifications of
the Request for Proposal.
b. Proposal Submittal: One signed original, one copy, and one USB Flash Drive
copy of the proposal must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by
October 15, 2026 by 12:00 PM PST. Proposal shall be submitted in a sealed
envelope clearly marked Government Relations Services and addressed to:
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY OF LODI
221 W. Pine Street
Lodi, CA 95240
In order to guard against premature opening, the proposal should be clearly
labeled with the RFP title, name of bidder, and date and time of proposal
opening. No FAX submittals will be accepted.
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CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
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As an alternative to written proposals, proposals may be submitted
electronically in PDF form, and emailed to the Lodi City Clerk at
cityclerk@lodi.gov and the Government Relations Program Staff at
mmunoz@lodi.gov, prior to the deadline stated above. Large files may be sent
using the following link https://governmentrelationsrfp.portal.massive.io/.
Bidders shall be responsible for ensuring that proposals submitted electronically
are received by the Government Relations Program Staff prior to the deadline.
Proposals that are not received prior to the deadline shall not be considered by
the CITY, even if the late submission is due to a technical or other error,
including, without limitation, the CITY's inability to open or access the electronic
file. If the proposing bidder does not receive a confirmation from Government
Relations Program Staff that the proposal has been received, bidder should
assume the transmission failed and either resubmit or arrange for another
method of delivery. Bidders are also encouraged to contact the Government
Relations Program Staff to confirm receipt of their proposal prior to the
deadline. Proposals shall not be accepted by fax.
c. Late Proposals: Proposals arriving after the specified October 15, 2026 by 12:00
PM PST shall not be considered, nor shall late proposals be opened. Each
bidder assumes responsibility for timely submission of its proposal.
d. Withdrawal or Modifications of Proposals: Any proposal may be withdrawn or
modified by a written request signed by the bidder and received by
Government Relations Program Staff prior to the final time and date for the
receipt of proposals. Once the deadline has passed, bidders are obligated to
fulfill the existing terms of their proposal.
e. Proposal Acceptance and Rejection: The CITY reserves the right to accept any
proposal, to reject any and all proposals, and to call for new proposals, or
dispense with the proposal process in accordance with the Lodi Municipal Code.
f. Vendor Questions: Questions regarding this RFP are to be directed by e-mail to:
Michelle Munoz, Management Analyst at mmunoz@lodi.gov. Such contact shall
be for clarification purposes only. The CITY must receive all questions no later
than October 9, 2026. Material changes, if any, to the scope of services or
proposal procedures shall only be transmitted by written addendum and posted
to the CITY website. Addendums and answers to submitted questions will be
available via the City of Lodi website under "Notice" for the RFP announcement.
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2. Contract Award and Execution
a. Proposal Retention and Award: The City reserves the right to retain all
proposals for a period of 60 days for examination and comparison. The City also
reserves the right to waive non-substantial irregularities in any proposal, to
reject any or all proposals, to reject or delete one part of a proposal and accept
the other, except to the extent that proposals are qualified by specific
limitations as the interest of the City may require. See the Special Terms and
Conditions for any other proposal evaluation and award criteria.
b. Competency and Responsibility of Bidder: The CITY reserves full discretion to
determine the competence and responsibility of bidders. Bidders will provide, in
a timely manner, any and all information that the CITY deems necessary to
make such a decision.
c. Contract Requirement: The bidder to whom award is made will execute a
written Professional Services Agreement furnished by the CITY within ten (10)
calendar days after notice of the award has been mailed to the address given in
its proposal.
d. Failure to Accept Agreement: The following will occur if the bidder to whom
the award is made fails to enter into the contract: The award will be annulled;
and an award may be made to the next bidder who will fulfill every stipulation
as if it were the party to whom the first award was made.
e. Register with the California Secretary of State: Unless the successful bidder is a
sole proprietorship, the successful bidder must be registered and in good
standing with the California Secretary of State within 14 days following
notification of the CITY's intent to award a contract to the successful bidder and
prior to execution of a final contract. Failure to timely register with the
Secretary of State may result in the CITY awarding the contract to another
bidder. Additional information regarding the registration process may be found
on the Secretary of State's website at: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/.
f. Disclosure of Submitted Materials: After selection and execution of the
contract(s), (or prior thereto if required by law) all information and materials
provided in each submittal received is subject to disclosure through a public
record request pursuant to the California Public Records Act, or otherwise as
may be required by law. The CITY, in its sole discretion, may release any
submitted materials, regardless of whether such materials are marked by
respondents as confidential or otherwise as protected.
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g. Validity of Pricing: Bidders are required to provide a fee structure to be
assigned to the matter, and proposed cost and expense reimbursements levels,
and total costs. No cost increases shall be passed onto the CITY after the
proposal has been submitted. No attempt shall be made to tie any item
contained in this RFP with any other business with the CITY; each proposal must
stand on its own.
h. No Guarantee of Usage: Any quantities listed in this RFP are estimated or
projected and are provided for tabulation and information purposes only. No
guarantee of quantities is given or implied by the CITY. Bidders must furnish the
CITY's needs as they arise.
i. Demonstrations: When required, the CITY may request full demonstrations
prior to award. When such demonstrations are requested, the bidder shall
respond promptly and arrange a demonstration at a convenient location.
Failure to provide a demonstration as specified by the CITY may result in
rejection of a proposal.
j. Use of Other Government Contracts: The CITY reserves the right to reject any
part or all of any proposals received and utilize other available governmental
contracts.
k. Qualification/Inspection: Proposals will only be considered from bidders
normally engaged in providing the types of services specified herein. By
responding to this RFP, the bidder consents to the CITY's right to inspect the
bidder's facilities, personnel, and organization at any time, or to take any other
action necessary to determine the bidder's ability to perform. The CITY
reserves the right to reject proposals where evidence or evaluation is
determined to indicate inability to perform. The CITY reserves the right to
interview any or all responding bidders and/or to award a contract without
conducting interviews.
l. Insurance Requirements: Bidder will provide proof of insurance in the form,
coverage, and amounts specified in these specifications within ten (10) calendar
days after notice of contract award, as a precondition to final contract
execution. (Attachment B).
m. Business License Registration: The bidder must have a valid City of Lodi
business license registration certificate prior to execution of any contract.
Additional information regarding the CITY's business license registration
program may be obtained by calling the CITY's Finance Department at (209)
333-6717.
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3. Contract Performance
a. Ability to Perform: It is the intention of the CITY to acquire services as specified
herein from a bidder that will give prompt and convenient service.
b. Payment Terms: The CITY's payment terms are 30 days from the receipt of an
original invoice.
c. Amendments: If, in the course of the performance of the contract, the
successful bidder or the CITY proposes changes to the services provided, and
informal consultation with the other party indicates that a change in the terms
and conditions of the contract may be warranted, the successful bidder or the
CITY may request a change in the contract. The parties to the contract will
meet to discuss and negotiate the required documents. Upon completion of
those negotiations, the negotiated documents will be submitted to the CITY for
approval. Upon approval by the CITY, an amendment to the contract will be
approved by all parties for the change to be implemented. An amendment shall
not render ineffective or invalidate any unaffected portions of the Contract.
Nothing in this section obligates the CITY to agree to any change order or other
amendment, and the CITY may withhold such agreement in its sole discretion.
d. Service and Support: Prospective bidders shall explain how all on-going service
and support shall be handled by the CONSULTANT and the CITY.
e. Hold Harmless and Indemnification: The CONSULTANT agrees to defend,
indemnify, protect and hold the CITY and its agents, officers and employees
harmless from and against any and all claims asserted or liability established for
damages or injuries to any person or property, including injury to the
CONSULTANT's employees, agents or officers which arise from or are connected
with or are caused or claimed to be caused by the acts or omissions of the
CONSULTANT, and its agents, officers or employees, in performing the work or
services herein, and all expenses of investigating and defending against the
same; provided, however, that the CONSULTANT's duty to indemnify and hold
harmless shall not include any claims or liability arising from the established
sole negligence or willful misconduct of the CITY, its agents, officers or
employees.
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CITY OF LODI - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SERVICES
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C. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Contract Term
An initial one (1) year term is contemplated by the Agreement with the CITY's
option to extend the terms of the Agreement for two (2) additional, one (1) year
extensions.
2. Proposal Content
To be considered, the following materials must be received at the Office of the City
Clerk by, October 15, 2026 by 12:00 PM PST., located at 221 W. Pine St, Lodi, CA
95240.
One signed original, one copy, and one USB Flash Drive copy of the Proposal to
include the following (if electronic, only one copy is needed):
a. Introductory Letter: The introductory letter should be addressed to:
Michelle Munoz
Management Analyst
City of Lodi
221 W. Pine St
Lodi, CA 95240
The letter shall include the bidder's name submitting the proposal, their mailing
address, telephone number, and contact name. The letter shall address the
bidder's understanding of the project based on this RFP and any other
information the bidder has gathered. Include a statement discussing the
bidder's interest and qualifications for this type of work. A principal of the firm
authorized to legally bind the firm shall sign the letter.
b. Table of Contents: The bidder shall insert a comprehensive table of contents
denoting sections c. through i. of the proposal as indicated below.
c. Qualifications and Experience: Describe the bidder's capability for undertaking
and performing the work, including any professional licenses and certificates
held by the bidder. List types and locations of similar work performed by the
bidder in the last five (5) years that best characterizes the quality and past
performance. Include names and current phone numbers for references on
work quality and performance. References may be contacted as part of the
selection process.
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