Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Public Transit Funding, Government A􀆯airs, and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Consulting Services

Issued By Kentucky Public Transit Association (KPTA)

Purpose

The Kentucky Public Transit Association (KPTA) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified consulting firms or individuals to provide professional consulting, legislative advocacy, government a􀆯airs, strategic planning, and funding support services for Kentucky's public transit agencies, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) brokers and providers, and related mobility stakeholders.

The selected consultant will assist KPTA in advancing legislative priorities, identifying and securing funding opportunities, monitoring public policy, strengthening relationships with policymakers, and representing the interests of Kentucky's public transportation community.

KPTA seeks a consultant with demonstrated experience navigating Kentucky's legislative environment and successfully advocating for transportation and healthcare mobility initiatives within a fiscally conservative policy framework.

Project Objectives

The selected consultant will assist KPTA in achieving the following objectives:

  • 1. Advance legislative and regulatory priorities that strengthen Kentucky's public transportation and NEMT systems.

  • 2. Protect and expand state and federal funding opportunities for public transit.

  • 3. Increase awareness among policymakers of transit's role in workforce development, economic competitiveness, veteran transportation, senior mobility, healthcare access, and rural connectivity.

  • 4. Build bipartisan legislative support for public transportation initiatives.

  • 5. Monitor and respond to legislation, regulations, executive actions, and budget proposals a􀆯ecting transit and NEMT.

  • 6. Position KPTA as a trusted statewide resource on transportation and mobility policy.

  • 7. Expected availability during the legislative session (for example, on-site presence in Frankfort several days each week and available for meetings, phone calls, etc.).

KPTA RFQ for Lobbyist PDF

Questions Due: August 24, 2026
Statement of Qualifications Due: September 3, 2026
Contact: Pam Shepherd pshepherd@ftsb.org

Scope of Services

The selected consultant will provide services including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Public Transit Policy and Funding

The consultant shall:

 Monitor legislation a􀆯ecting public transportation, infrastructure, workforce

development, economic development, local government, procurement, labor,

safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

  • Track bills, amendments, committee activity, executive orders, administrative regulations, and budget proposals.

  • Identify emerging policy issues a􀆯ecting transit agencies.

  • Evaluate operational, financial, and legal impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.

  • Prepare legislative summaries, policy briefs, executive summaries, and recommended positions.

  • Identify state and federal funding opportunities.

  • Assist KPTA in advocating for transportation funding initiatives.

2. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

The consultant shall:

  • Monitor Medicaid transportation and healthcare mobility policy.

  • Track legislation, regulations, and administrative actions affecting NEMT.

  • Assist with coordination among transit agencies, healthcare organizations, Medicaid brokers, transportation providers, and state agencies.

  • Recommend best practices that improve compliance, service quality, operational efficiency,, and customer access.

3. Government Relations and Legislative Advocacy

The consultant shall:

  • Represent KPTA before the Kentucky General Assembly, executive branch agencies, and other governmental entities as permitted by

  • Attend legislative committee meetings, hearings, caucus meetings, agency meetings, advisory board meetings, caucuses and other governmental proceedings related to transportation, Medicaid, healthcare mobility, appropriations, infrastructure, and local government.

  • Conduct direct advocacy supporting KPTA's legislative agenda.

  • Coordinate meetings between KPTA leadership and legislators, executive branch officials, and agency leadership.

  • Identify legislative champions and opportunities to advance KPTA priorities.

  • Develop advocacy materials and legislative briefing documents.

4. Association Representation

The consultant shall:

  • Attend KPTA Board of Directors meetings.

  • Participate in committee meetings and strategic planning sessions.

  • Represent KPTA at transportation, healthcare, and governmental conferences.

  • Build and maintain relationships with transportation agencies, healthcare organizations, policymakers, industry partners, and other stakeholders.

  • Provide strategic advice regarding political developments affecting public transportation.

  • Support annual legislative days, advocacy events, and member engagement activities.

5. Strategic Planning

The consultant shall:

  • Assist KPTA in developing long-term legislative and funding priorities.

  • Develop o􀆯-session education strategies for legislators and policymakers.

  • Recommend initiatives that strengthen statewide transportation and healthcare mobility.

  • Support member education through presentations, webinars, and written materials.

  • Recommend messaging that e􀆯ectively communicates transit's value within Kentucky's political environment.

  • Develop strategies to address legislative challenges and opposition.

Minimum Qualifications

Respondents should demonstrate:

  • Experience with public transportation funding programs and grants.

  • Knowledge of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), Medicaid transportation, and healthcare mobility.

  • Experience working with public transit agencies, transportation providers, healthcare organizations, and governmental entities.

  • Knowledge of Kentucky and federal transportation policy and legislation.

  • Experience representing organizations before legislative bodies and government agencies.

  • Demonstrated success advocating for transportation funding and policy initiatives.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Experience coordinating meetings with elected o􀆯icials and executive leadership.

  • Ability to manage multiple legislative and policy initiatives simultaneously.

  • There should not be conflict of interest with lobbying for KPTA with any other clients you represent.

  • Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission is required.

Required Deliverables

The selected consultant shall provide, at a minimum:

  • Weekly written activity reports during the Kentucky General Assembly session.

  • Monthly activity reports during the legislative interim.

  • Legislative and regulatory monitoring reports.

  • Bill summaries and policy analyses.

  • Funding opportunity reports.

  • Issue briefs and strategic recommendations as requested.

  • Attendance at Board meetings, legislative meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events.

  • Annual legislative agenda recommendations.

  • Annual strategic funding recommendations.

  • Policy position statements.

  • Legislative strategy documents suitable for sharing with coalition partners.

Statement of Qualifications

Responses shall include:

  1. Firm or consultant overview.

  2. Relevant legislative lobbying experience within Kentucky.

  3. Experience representing transportation, healthcare, infrastructure, or public-sector organizations.

  4. Description of relationships with legislative leadership, executive branch officials, key committees, and state agencies.

  5. Experience working successfully within conservative political environments.

  6. Demonstrated success securing appropriations, funding, or advancing public policy initiatives.

  7. Description of bipartisan relationship-building experience.

  8. Proposed approach to providing the requested services.

  9. Qualifications of key personnel, including resumes.

  10. References from similar clients.

  11. Proposed fee structure.

  12. Any additional information demonstrates the firm's qualifications.

Evaluation Criteria

Qualifications will be evaluated based on the following:

Criteria Weight

Strong familiarity with legislative processes, government affairs, legislative strategy, and policy advocacy, supported by established relationships with current legislators and key government stakeholders. 45%

Knowledge of Public transportation and NEMT Program 15%

Demonstrated success securing funding and advancing policy 15%

Organizational capacity and staffing 10%

References and past performance 10%

Cost and overall value 5%

KPTA reserves the right to interview selected firms before making a final selection.

Advocacy Philosophy

KPTA seeks a consultant who understands that successful advocacy in Kentucky requires framing public transportation as an investment in economic growth and community prosperity.

Successful messaging should emphasize public transportation such as:

  • Critical workforce infrastructure.

  • An economic development tool.

  • Support for employers and labor force participation.

  • A solution to workforce shortages.

  • A locally governed, fiscally responsible public service.

  • Essential infrastructure serves both rural and urban communities.

  • A mobility solution that promotes independence, self-sufficiency, healthcare access, and quality of life.

Respondents should demonstrate an understanding of communicating these priorities effectively to policymakers from across the political spectrum.

Contract Term

The anticipated contract term is one (1) year beginning on or about October 1, 2026, with the option to renew annually based upon satisfactory performance, mutual agreement, and available funding.

Procurement Schedule

Milestone Date

RFQ Issued July 30, 2026

Questions Due August 24, 2026

Responses to Questions August 27, 2026

SOQs Due September 3, 2026

Interviews Week of September 14, 2026

Selection Announcement September 23, 2026

Contract Begins October 1, 2026

Conditions

KPTA reserves the right to:

  • Reject any or all submissions.

  • Waive informalities or technicalities.

  • Request additional information from respondents.

  • Negotiate scope and fees with the selected consultant.

  • Cancel or modify this solicitation at any time.

Equal Opportunity

KPTA encourages responses from all qualified firms and consultants and is committed to

providing equal opportunity throughout the procurement process.

Contact Information

Statements of Qualifications shall be submitted electronically to:

Kentucky Public Transit Association

Attn: Pam Shepherd, KPTA President

Email: pshepherd@ftsb.org

KPTA Website: https://www.kypublictransit.org

Submission Deadline: September 23, 2026