I. Introduction
Columbia River Economic Development Council (referred to as “CREDC”) is a public-private nonprofit dedicated to advancing economic development, enhancing job creation, and promoting a sustainable, durable economy and business environment in Clark County, Washington. CREDC seeks a qualified and experienced firm to provide policy advocacy services at the state level to support its strategic initiatives in economic development, workforce development, trade facilitation, infrastructure investment, and related priorities.
II. Scope of Work
The selected firm will be responsible for:
- Policy Advocacy & Government Relations
- Engage with state-level legislators, executive agencies, and regulatory bodies to promote CREDC’s economic development and legislative agenda.
- Advocate in collaboration with CREDC for policies that support business growth, workforce development, foreign direct investment (FDI), and infrastructure development.
- Monitor relevant legislation and policy proposals and provide strategic advice on their potential impact on CREDC’s goals.
- Provide actionable insights on emerging policy trends and their implications.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build relationships with key state-level policymakers, including members of the legislature, state departments, and agencies.
- Facilitate opportunities for direct engagement between CREDC’s leadership and key policymakers.
- Deliver written/verbal reports (weekly) to the CREDC Policy/Executive Committees.
- Record/deliver updates to CREDC’s Board of Directors as appropriate.
- Legislative and Regulatory Tracking
- Provide ongoing monitoring and reporting of state-level legislative and regulatory developments that may impact CREDC’s mission.
- Prepare timely updates, briefings, and recommendations to inform CREDC’s decision-making.
- Communications Support
- Assist with the development of advocacy materials, including position papers, testimony, presentations, and talking points.
- Support CREDC in organizing advocacy events, including meetings, briefings, and roundtable discussions with policymakers.
III. Proposal Requirements
Interested firms should submit a proposal that includes the following:
- Firm Overview
- A brief history of the firm, including size, areas of expertise, and a description of the team that will manage the account.
- Experience & Qualifications
- Details of past work in state-level policy advocacy, especially related to economic development, business growth, or related areas.
- Examples of successful outcomes from previous policy advocacy efforts.
- Knowledge and experience with relevant state government processes and key stakeholders.
- Deliverables & Timeline
- Proposed timeline for key deliverables, including legislative tracking reports, strategy documents, and stakeholder engagement plans.
- Budget & Fee Structure
- A detailed budget outlining all costs associated with the services in support of the 2024 – 2025 legislative session.
- Explanation of the proposed fee structure (e.g., hourly rates, retainer model, or project-based fees).
- CREDC target budget for this pilot year is $4,000/mo. November – May.
- References
- Contact information for two clients for whom the firm has provided similar services.
IV. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- **Experience & Qualifications** – Relevant experience in state-level policy advocacy and a proven track record in economic development.
- **Budget & Fee Structure** – Competitiveness and transparency of the proposed fee structure.
- **References** – Positive feedback from previous clients.
V. Submission Instructions
Deadline for Submission: October 31, 2024
- Submission Format: Please submit your proposal in PDF format to info@credc.org.
- Questions: Any questions regarding this RFP can be directed to info@credc.org.
VII. Terms & Conditions
- CREDC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals.
- All materials submitted become the property of CREDC.
- This RFP does not commit CREDC to award a contract or pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal.
Thank you for your interest in partnering with the Columbia River Economic Development Council. We look forward to receiving your proposal.
* Date issued: October 18, 2024