Metrocare in partnership with The Meadows Foundation is seeking formal proposals for a lead consultant or team to design and execute a high-impact advocacy strategy that advances defined policy outcomes in support of the Texas Disability Project. This RFP is intentionally broad to reflect the outcomes of the Phase I of the Texas Disability Project. Respondents are expected to design a strategic, prioritized approach to achieve key policy and systems outcomes within the available budget.
Background
The Texas Disability Project (TDP) convened in 2025 as a first-of-its kind statewide initiative to better understand and elevate the full economic and social impact of Texans with disabilities. Phase I, initiated by The Meadows Foundation and fiscally sponsored by Dallas Metrocare, brought together quantitative data from the Perryman Group, qualitative insight from Feedback, and lived experience from the TDP Council to build a comprehensive picture of the economic impact of the disability ecosystem in Texas.
The resultant Phase I report outlines opportunities and an evidence base for Texas to become more prosperous - combining economic analysis, stakeholder input, and lived experience. See attached Phase I executive summary.
Phase II will translate this foundation into action, systems change, and sustained advocacy, aligned with the 2027 Texas Legislative Session and the Sunset Review of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and more.
Project Details
- Reference ID: 2026-07-01
- Department: Administration
- Department Head: John Burruss (Chief Executive Officer)
Important Dates
- Questions Due: 2026-07-24T19:00:00.000Z
- Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-07-16T19:00:00.000Z — TEAMS Dial In #: 929-352-1542
Dial In Conference ID: 143 329 764#
TEAMS Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/219436730295478?p=MCG3FARsNjoOEaYa4I
Meeting ID: 219 436 730 295 478
Passcode: pR2fs3v6
Evaluation Criteria
- Cost (10 pts) —
Cost will be evaluated based on a mathematical formula comparing the total cost to the other proposers' total cost.
- Qualifications and Experience (30 pts) —
Prior experience of the company with similar projects is expected and responses to the questionnaire will be evaluated.
- Approach and Strategy (25 pts) —
This shall include but is not limited to, the quality of services proposed, the staffing approach, and the implementation plan, and schedule proposed.
- Stakeholder & Grassroots Strategy (20 pts) —
Respondent shall provide a solution for meeting defined targets, including plans for engaging legislative offices, state agencies, and community partners, as well as detailed plans for engaging and mobilizing key stakeholders, including direct service providers, individuals and families, and a statewide council of advocates representing the disability community.
- Communications & Media Strategy (15 pts) —
Respondent shall provide a proposal to develop messaging and communications strategies that include outreach to stakeholders, the community, and media on a statewide scale. The use of AI and digital tools to support implementation is encouraged.
Submission Requirements
- Authorized Respondent’s Information
- Authorized Official's Contact Information (required) —
Please provide the contact Information of the authorized official submitting this response.
- Legal Name
- Title
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Response Confirmation (required) —
By clicking "Please confirm" below, hereon affixed, the respondent declares they have read this solicitation entirely and with full knowledge of the requirements, does hereby agree to furnish the services in full accordance with the requirements of this solicitation if selected.
Confirming also indicates the following:
- Person or person’s interest in this solicitation as principals are those named herein.
- I (we) have carefully examined the contents of this solicitation, and its requirements, and agree to the terms stated herein.
- The respondent acknowledges the Conflict of Interest Clause and agrees to follow the necessary requirements.
The undersigned represents that they are authorized to bind the Respondent to fully comply with the terms and conditions of this solicitation's requirements.
- Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (required) —
Please download the document below and upload the completed questionnaire.
- Company Information
- Please provide your company's most recent signed W-9 (required) —
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
- Full Legal Company Name (required)
- Principal Place of Business Address (required)
- Principal Place of Business Phone Number (required)
- Company Website URL
- Person Authorized to negotiate and sign contracts with MetroCare (if different than the Authorized Contact Provided)
- Number of years in business working on similar types of project? (required)
- State and Date of Incorporation, Partnership, or Ownership Established? (required)
- Are you a certified Small Business (SBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), or Historically Under-utilized Business (HUB)? (required)
- Cooperative Purchasing
- MetroCare has established several government entity interlocal agreements. Should any of these Government Entities desire to utilize this contract, would you offer the same terms, conditions,specifications, and pricing to that entity? * (required)
- References —
Please provide four (4) references who can verify the quality of service your company provides. Metrocare prefers references from customers/governmental entities with a scope of work similar to the project mentioned in this solicitation in which the respondent has worked in the past three years. At least 2 references with Texas legislative advocacy experience are preferred.
- Company Name Work Was Completed For:
- Company Location:
- Time Period Service was Provided:
- Contact Person and Title:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Description of Contracted Services:
- Reference 1 (required) —
MetroCare prefers references from customers/governmental entities with a scope of work similar to the project mentioned in this solicitation in which the respondent has worked in the past three years.
- Company Name Work Was Completed For:
- Company Location:
- Time Period Service was Provided:
- Contact Person and Title:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Description of Contracted Services:
- Reference 2 (required) —
MetroCare prefers references from customers/governmental entities with a scope of work similar to the project mentioned in this solicitation in which the respondent has worked in the past three years.
- Company Name Work Was Completed For:
- Company Location:
- Time Period Service was Provided:
- Contact Person and Title:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Description of Contracted Services:
- Reference 3 (required) —
MetroCare prefers references from customers/governmental entities with a scope of work similar to the project mentioned in this solicitation in which the respondent has worked in the past three years.
- Company Name Work Was Completed For:
- Company Location:
- Time Period Service was Provided:
- Contact Person and Title:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Description of Contracted Services:
- Reference 4 (required) —
MetroCare prefers references from customers/governmental entities with a scope of work similar to the project mentioned in this solicitation in which the respondent has worked in the past three years.
- Company Name Work Was Completed For:
- Company Location:
- Time Period Service was Provided:
- Contact Person and Title:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Description of Contracted Services:
- Claims and Suits
- Has your organization ever failed to complete any work awarded to your company? (required)
- Are there any judgments, claims, arbitration proceedings, or suits pending or outstanding against your organization or its officers? (required)
- Has your organization filed any lawsuits or requested arbitration regarding awarded contracts within the last five years?
- If you have answered "Yes" to any of the claim and suit questions, please provide supplemental information/documents here.
- Respondent Proposal Submission
- Please attach your proposal, line-item budget, any additional references, marketing material, or supporting documentation to justify the respondent's qualifications for this project for review with your submittal. (required)
- What type of solicitation are you requesting? (required) —
If the one-time cost or estimated annual cost of the contract is over $100,000, you will not be allowed to request quotes unless the contract will be based on co-op pricing.
- Which staff members do you anticipate will be included in the evaluation committee? (required)
- Which evaluation criteria sections will be evaluated for this project? (required)
- Select the Special Terms & Conditions needed for your project: (required)
- Will this solicitation be for a one-time project/purchase or an annual contract? (required)
- If you selected annual: Which annual contract option would best fit this contract? (required) —
Our standard contract renewal option is a one-year term, with 4 one-year renewal options so that if there are any issues with the contract, we are not locked in for multiple years.
- If "Other" was selected, please enter the annual contract option
- Project Funding
- What is the anticipated cost or annual spend for this contract? (required)
- Have the funds for this project been approved? (required)
- If you chose No: Have the funds been received or when do you anticipate receiving the funds?
- Will any of the special funds below be used for this project? (required)
- Are special requirements associated with this funding? If so, list below: (required)
- If you chose Grants: Have you attached the grant approval and grant checklist as an attachment?
- Solicitation Timeline
- What is your desired solicitation post date? (required)
- Will there be a pre-proposal meeting for this solicitation? (required)
- If you chose Yes: Will the pre-proposal meeting require mandatory attendance from the contractors?
- What is your desired contract award date? (required)
- Contractor Qualifications
- Are there minimum qualification requirements for the contractor that should be included in the solicitation? (required)
- If you chose Yes: What are the minimum qualifications required by the contractor?
- Is a Performance Bond Required? (required)
- If you chose Yes: What is the percentage of the performance bond?
- Is Maintenance Bond required? (required)
- If you chose Yes: What is the percentage of the maintenance bond?
- Will liquidated damages be included in this solicitation? (required)
- If you chose Yes: What is the cost per day for liquidated damages?
- Will this project involve software implementation or IT's services? (required)
- Contract Start Date (required) —
Answer format: Month DD, YYYY
Example: May 01, 2024
- Contract End Date (required) —
Answer format: Month DD, YYYY
Example: April 30, 2027 or "upon acceptance of final deliverables."
- Which Reporting Unit (RU), and GL Account will be used for this project? If there is a project number assigned, please also provide the project number. (required)
- Will the contractor need internal access to Metrocare facilities? (required)
- If you chose Yes: Will background checks need to be required and provided by the contractor?
- Which type of project will this solicitation be for? (required)
- If you selected Other for the type of project, describe here:
- If you selected construction, name the type of project:
- Will the contractor be required to provide a copy of certain licenses or certifications with their response? (required)
- List the licenses/certifications that the vendor is required to submit (required)
- In which Fiscal Year will these funds be available? (required)
- Is there a vendor diversity certification requirement associated with this project? (required) —
For Example:
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
• Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
• Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
• Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- If you chose Yes: What is the diversity certification program requirement and percentage required for the project?