Federal Consulting Services

The vendor required to provide federal consulting services for include:
1. Strategic federal engagement
•    Develop and implement a 12-month engagement plan aligned with university research strengths and national funding opportunities primarily at the department and doe, and, to a lesser extent and related departments and agencies. 
•    Identify key programs, funding cycles, and stakeholders for targeted engagement. 
•    Provide strategic counsel on positioning university initiatives for success within the executive branch, federal research agencies, and, if necessary, congress.
2. Federal funding and appropriations strategy
•    Provide support, as needed and in coordination with university government affairs and the office of the president, for university annual congressional appropriations efforts. 
•    Provide strategic insight into federal research funding mechanisms, appropriations, cooperative agreements, and targeted programs to ensure early awareness and positioning
3. Relationship development and coordination
•    Facilitate meetings and introductions with federal officials, agency program officers, and specific managers in national laboratories. 
•    Organize university delegation visits (fly-ins) and briefings with relevant agency officials. 
•    Assist in building strategic partnerships with other universities, national labs, industry partners, and other research consortia.
4. Intelligence and reporting
•    Provide monthly written reports summarizing agency engagement and upcoming opportunities. 
•    Closely coordinate any congressional activity with office of the president before contacting any congressional officials
•    Deliver quarterly performance summaries outlining progress toward funding goals and strategic positioning. 
•    Continuously monitor and analyze federal budgets, highly relevant policy developments, and legislative actions relevant to national security, classified and applied research policy and R&D.
•    Provide an annual return on investment (ROI) report demonstrating progress in federal engagement, appropriations efforts, and funding outcomes achieved during the contract term.
5. Branding and communications
•    Assist in developing federal-facing messaging, white papers or other similar research descriptions, and one-pagers articulating university research strengths. 
•    Position university as a national defense innovation hub and trusted partner within the federal defense and R&D ecosystem.

- Contract Period/Term: 1 year
- Online Pre-Proposal Conference Date: January 5, 2026
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: January 7, 2026