Request Proposals: Lobbyist

RFP Release Date: October 1, 2026 Proposal Deadline: November 30, 2026 Anticipated Contract Term: June 1, 2027
- May 31, 2028, with the option to renew up to two years.

The Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is seeking a qualified individual or firm to provide registered lobbying services.

The selected Consultant will serve as a strategic advisor and representative of the Texas Academy before the Texas Legislature, state agencies, coalitions, and other relevant stakeholders. The Texas Academy Board of Directors establishes organizational public policy priorities and positions; the Consultant will provide professional counsel and advocacy to support and advance those priorities.

The Consultant will be expected to:

• Monitor relevant state legislation, regulatory activity, and policy developments affecting nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, public health, professional practice, and related issues.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and issues requiring organizational awareness or action.
• Provide timely legislative and regulatory analysis, strategic recommendations, and guidance to Texas Academy leadership.
• Represent the Texas Academy before legislators, legislative staff, state agencies, coalitions, and other stakeholders as authorized.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with relevant policymakers and advocacy partners.
• Support development of testimony, talking points, policy summaries, action alerts, legislative briefings, and other advocacy materials.
• Support advocacy initiatives, including legislative meetings, Nutrition Day at the Capitol, coalition engagement, and member advocacy education.
• Help translate relevant governmental affairs activity into timely, accessible information for Texas Academy members through established organizational communication channels.

The Consultant will collaborate with designated Texas Academy leadership to establish an annual advocacy work plan identifying priority initiatives, expected work products, timelines, and responsibilities.

The Texas Academy seeks a collaborative, responsive, and transparent working relationship. The Consultant will be expected to:

• Maintain regular communication with designated Texas Academy leadership and promptly communicate significant legislative or regulatory developments.
• Attend relevant committee, Executive Committee, or Board meetings as requested.
• Keep leadership appropriately informed of significant advocacy activities undertaken on behalf of the organization.
• Coordinate anticipated testimony and significant official advocacy communications with designated leadership and share draft testimony or key talking points in advance whenever practicable.
• Seek appropriate direction before communicating a new organizational policy position not previously approved by the Board.
• Use the Texas Academy-provided email address, approved organizational signature, and a mutually agreed-upon professional title when conducting Texas Academy business.
• Provide regular written updates regarding legislative activity, meetings and hearings, coalition engagement, testimony, progress toward priorities, emerging issues, recommendations, and upcoming activities.

The Consultant may advocate for established Texas Academy positions but does not have independent authority to establish organizational policy or commit the organization to new positions.

Performance will be assessed based on responsiveness, quality of strategic guidance and representation, communication with leadership, and progress toward agreed-upon priorities and work products.

Specific reporting requirements, performance benchmarks, deliverables,…