State and Federal Lobbying Services

Agency:	City of Atwater
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	236220 - Commercial and Institutional Building Construction 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Posted Date:	Jan 24, 2026
Due Date:	Feb 12, 2026
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City of Atwater

Request for Qualifications for

Date Released:

January 23, 2026

Proposals due prior to: 2:00 pm on February 12, 2026

Submit Proposals to:

City of Atwater

Attn: Janell Martin, Assistant City Clerk

1160 Fifth Street

Atwater, CA 95301

Request for Qualification

State and Federal Lobbying Services

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1

II. GENERAL INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE........................................................ 1

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES.......................................................................................... 3

IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 4

V. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS........................................ 5

VI. EVALUATION AND CRITERIA .............................................................................. 6

ATTACHMENT A – SAMPLE CONTRACT AGREEMENT

Request for Qualification

State and Federal Lobbying Services

INTRODUCTION

The City of Atwater (“City”) is seeking statements of qualifications from highly qualified

firms to provide State and Federal legislative advocacy services. The selected firm will

assist the City in remaining informed, proactive, and well-represented regarding current

and future legislative and regulatory matters, advancing the City’s legislative priorities,

identifying and securing funding opportunities, and maintaining effective working

relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and State and Federal agencies.

The City is interested in firms that demonstrate strong experience and established

relationships with relevant State and Federal agencies overseeing regulatory and funding

programs that affect municipal operations. Services shall be provided in a manner that

promotes a professional and positive relationship between the City of Atwater and

legislative and agency representatives, while actively advocating for the City’s best

interests.

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is intended to identify the most qualified firm based

primarily on experience, technical expertise, staffing capacity, and demonstrated ability

to provide effective legislative advocacy services. Cost will be considered but shall not be

the sole or determinative factor in the City’s selection.

Issuance of this RFQ does not obligate the City to award a contract. The City reserves

the right to cancel this solicitation or reject any or all submittals if it is determined to be in

the City’s best interest. There is no expressed or implied obligation for the City to

reimburse respondents for any expenses incurred in preparing or submitting qualifications

in response to this RFQ.

Submission of qualifications indicates acceptance by the respondent of the conditions

contained in this RFQ unless clearly and specifically noted in the submittal and

subsequently agreed upon in a contract with the City.

BACKGROUND

The City of Atwater has a population of approximately 31,000 and is located on State

Route 99 in Merced County, within California’s Great San Joaquin Valley.

The City is a general-law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government,

governed by a five-member City Council that appoints the City Manager and City

Attorney. The City is a full-service municipality providing a comprehensive range of

services, including police, fire, public works, community development, utilities, and

administration.

Additional information regarding the City’s organization, services, operating and capital

budgets, and annual financial reports is available on the City’s website at

www.atwater.org.

Page 1

Request for Qualification

State and Federal Lobbying Services

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this RFQ is to solicit qualifications from firms capable of providing

professional State and Federal legislative advocacy services. The City seeks a firm with

demonstrated experience, proven effectiveness, and the ability to adapt services based

on City direction and evolving legislative priorities.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE

A. General

Addenda to this RFQ, if issued, will be posted on the City of Atwater website at:

http://www.atwater.org/index.html

All interested firms are required to submit statements of qualification in accordance with

the conditions and dates outlined in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

All questions or inquiries regarding this RFQ or the selection process are to be addressed,

in writing only, (e-mail is acceptable) by Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 to:

Christopher Hoem, City Manager

1160 Fifth Street

Atwater, CA 95301 or

Email: choem@atwater.org

Questions received after this time will not be answered. Questions and responses will

be posted on the website. It will be the submitter’s responsibility to periodically review

the website for responses to questions and to review any additional information that may

be provided by the City. All interested firms are required to submit Statements of

Qualifications (SOQs) in accordance with the conditions and dates outlined in this

Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

B. Submission

SOQs shall be clear, concise, and responsive to the information requested. The SOQ

shall not exceed twenty (20) pages total (8½” x 11”), minimum 12-point font, excluding

required forms and attachments. Pages shall be numbered.

Each proposer shall submit one (1) electronic copy of the SOQ in PDF format via email

(maximum file size 15 MB), labeled with the consultant’s name. A separate electronic

file containing the proposed fee schedule shall also be submitted.

SOQs must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12th, 2026. Late

submittals will not be accepted.

Page 2

Request for Qualification

State and Federal Lobbying Services

City of Atwater

Attn: Janell Martin, Assistant City Clerk

1160 Fifth Street

Atwater, CA 95301

Email: jmartin@atwater.org

All cost for preparation of the submittals shall be borne by the applicant, and submittals

received shall become the property of the City, whether accepted or rejected. Incomplete

submittals may be rejected as non-responsive. The City of Atwater reserves the right to

reject any or all proposals submitted and the City reserves the right to waive any

irregularities in the proposals.

All proposals and any other materials submitted and accepted in response to this RFQ

will become property of the City of Atwater and will not be returned to the proposer.

C. Schedule

The City’s tentative schedule for the RFQ process is as follows, subject to change,

depending on the needs of the City.

• Issuance of RFQ:

• Last day for Request for Information:

• Deadline for submittal of SOQ:

• SOQ review and evaluation:

• Cost Negotiation, Award contract:

January 23rd, 2026

February 3rd, 2026

February 12th, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Week of February 17th, 2026

February 23rd, 2026

I. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City anticipates entering into an agreement for State and Federal legislative

advocacy services. The scope of services may include, but is not limited to, the

following. The specific mix, emphasis, and level of effort devoted to State and/or

Federal services may vary based on direction provided by the City:

1. Assist the City in establishing legislative, revenue, and programmatic priorities at

the State and Federal levels.

2. Identify potential State and Federal funding opportunities aligned with the City’s

needs, including grants, earmarks, and appropriations.

3. Develop and implement advocacy strategies to advance the City’s legislative and

funding priorities.

4. Develop or update an annual legislative agenda for City Council consideration

and approval.

5. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with State legislators,

members of the California Congressional delegation, legislative staff,

committees, and State and Federal agencies.

Page 3

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Title & Document	Issued	Submissions Due
State and Federal Lobbying Services	1/23/26	2:00 P.M. PT February 12, 2026

State and Federal Lobbying Services

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