State Advocacy Services: Stanislaus Council of Governments

The Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) is soliciting proposals from individuals/firms with a proven track record in advocacy/lobbying at the State level to assist in developing and successfully pursuing its legislative priorities. To fulfill the requirements outlined in this RFP, StanCOG requires a well-managed and financially sound Consultant with demonstrated skills and technical ability, high levels of customer service, responsiveness, and satisfaction. The primary focus of the State Legislative Advocate is to assist StanCOG to influence legislation, advance StanCOG’s interests before the California State Legislature, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, related stakeholder groups, identify and help secure funding and apply for competitive grants, earmarks, and other discretionary funding. The successful consultant will also provide monthly reports and provide legislative and regulatory updates to the Policy Board and staff.

StanCOG has been designated and functions as: (i) the Local Transportation Authority as designated by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors; (ii) the Area-wide Planning Organization as designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; (iii) the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) as designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation; (iv) the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) as designated by the Secretary of Business and Transportation Agency of the State of California; (v) the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) as designated by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors; (vi) the Abandoned Vehicle Authority (AVA) as designated by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, amongst other state, local and federal designations.

StanCOG is a California joint powers agency created pursuant to California Government Code section 6500 et seq. StanCOG’s member agencies are the Cities of Ceres, Hughson, Modesto, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Turlock and Waterford, all municipal corporations, and the County of Stanislaus, a political subdivision of the State of California. StanCOG is a public entity separate and distinct from its member entities.

StanCOG is tasked to prepare countywide transportation and housing planning, including preparation of a Federal and Regional Transportation Improvement Program, Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), and Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The Agency is responsible for programming federal and state transportation funding for all transportation modes and administers the Measure L ½ sales tax for transportation improvements in the Stanislaus Region.