RFP Postings / Texas EDC

Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation

Request for Proposals for Legal Counsel

Issued: September 3, 2025

Responses Due: September 26, 2025

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation (“PAEDC”) is seeking to engage General Legal Counsel and Services for an initial term of three (3) years. The PAEDC Attorney serves at the pleasure of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The PAEDC is seeking individuals or firms who have the requisite experience to perform the basic services themselves or in conjunction with members of their firm, and without requiring or relying upon other lawyers to provide the necessary expertise. Interested Respondents will receive a Request for Proposals (RFP) to complete and submit, in accordance with the General Instructions and Proposal Stipulations outlined in the RFP. To receive an RFP please email your request at sgarcia@paedc.org.

In accepting proposals, the PAEDC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents, and to waive any requirements in order to take the action it deems to be in the best interest of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation. The PAEDC is not obligated to accept the lowest-priced proposal.

The PAEDC Attorney shall:

· Serve as the legal advisor to the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.

· Represent the PAEDC in litigation and legal proceedings as directed by the PAEDC Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer; and

· Review and provide opinions as requested by the PAEDC Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer on contracts, legal instruments, ordinances of the City and other City and PAEDC business.

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation seeks legal services to assist the PAEDC in actively accomplishing its mission, including, but not limited to, representation in various aspects of law, such as advising, counseling, and rendering legal opinions to the PAEDC Board of Directors and assigned city staff concerning laws related to economic development. The PAEDC Attorney shall provide legal advice, counsel, consultation, and opinions to the Board of Directors and assigned staff on a variety of legal issues pertinent to the PAEDC including, but not limited to economic development, development services, zoning, creation/retention of primary jobs for economic development projects, community development initiatives, drafting and negotiation of incentive and real property contracts, drafting and negotiation of development agreements, assistance with applications for grants and loans, providing counsel regarding authorized use/oversight concerning application of Type A & B sales and use tax, public disclosure issues/notices, public hearings, open meetings, public information laws, formation of special districts and financing for same, and other legal matters associated with representation of a Type A & B economic development corporation.

· The PAEDC Attorney’s advice must include information and assistance on effectively minimizing the threat of civil litigation.

· Attend and provide legal representation, as requested, to the PAEDC Board of Directors and assigned staff at various meetings including staff meetings, economic development project meetings, PAEDC Board of Directors meetings, and other meetings. Assist and advise staff on agenda preparation for legal compliance.

· Assist with Open Meetings Act compliance and preparing public hearing notices, as requested.

· Appear before courts and administrative agencies to represent the PAEDC’s interest, as necessary.

· Prepare and review legal memorandums, orders, resolutions, contracts, and other documents for legal correctness, when requested by PAEDC Board of Directors or assigned staff.

· Work cooperatively with any special counsel retained by the PAEDC for special projects. Work cooperatively with the City of Port Arthur’s City Manager, City Attorney, City staff and any special legal counsel retained by the City of Port Arthur for special municipal projects or joint PAEDC/City projects.

· Coordinate with other special counsel, as needed, to ensure proper management of legal issues on behalf of the PAEDC, and to ensure proper coordination and transition of legal issues.

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation shall have the right to retain special counsel at any time that it may deem necessary and appropriate. The PAEDC Attorney, with approval of the PAEDC Board of Directors, may select additional attorneys to act for him/her and the PAEDC in its representation and/or litigation. The PAEDC Attorney may be removed, without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The PAEDC may supplement or further elaborate on the scope of services as necessary to carry out the business of the Board of Directors. The PAEDC Attorney will be responsible to manage all legal counsel services provided to the PAEDC, absent action by the PAEDC Board of Directors.

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation is intending to engage a specific individual, in distinction to a firm, to serve as PAEDC Attorney. Nevertheless, the PAEDC Attorney is permitted to delegate work to other attorneys and paralegals (i) within the PAEDC Attorney’s firm or (ii) if the PAEDC Attorney is not in a firm, to such other Texas lawyers as PAEDC Attorney selects, on a limited basis and only when he or she reasonably believes those individuals will support his or her performance and enhance its value to the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation. The Respondent must remain fully involved and responsible for all work performed on his or her behalf. If the Respondent is in a firm, the dissolution of that firm will not terminate this engagement; if the Respondent joins a firm, it will promptly agree to the terms of the Engagement Agreement.

Link to RFP: https://portarthuredc.org/rfp-posting/

The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation (PAEDC) is seeking proposals from experienced website design and development firms for the redesign of our organizational website. This initiative is part of our broader effort to modernize our digital presence, improve community engagement, and support our mission to attract and retain business investment in Port Arthur, Texas.

Project Overview

The selected firm will collaborate with PAEDC to design and develop a dynamic, mobile-responsive, and user-friendly website. The redesigned platform should reflect our brand, highlight our programs and economic impact, and serve as an accessible resource for business owners, stakeholders, and the public.

Project Goals

Modernize the PAEDC website to improve navigation, accessibility, and mobile responsiveness.
Present an engaging, professional image that resonates with business owners, site selectors, and community stakeholders.
Integrate economic development tools and resources for ease of use.
Improve backend management for PAEDC staff.

Scope of Work

Qualified firms should be prepared to provide the following services:

· Website strategy and user experience planning

· Modern and responsive website design

· Development and implementation of a content management system (CMS)

· Content migration and optimization

· Integration of SEO, analytics, forms, and third-party tools

· ADA accessibility compliance

· Staff training and post-launch support

Submission Requirements

A. Qualifications

Relevant EDC Experience – Evidence of successfully completed projects for other Economic Development Corporations or similar municipal/business development organizations.
Portfolio Quality – Links to live websites or screenshots of comparable projects. Look for clean, modern designs that communicate credibility and economic development expertise.
Industry Understanding – Familiarity with EDC-specific needs such as property listings, workforce data, incentive programs, and investor resources.
Team Expertise – Bios and roles of the project team (designers, developers, SEO specialists, project managers).
Past Performance – References and testimonials from past EDC or municipal clients.
Professional Credentials – Certifications, awards, or recognitions in web design, UX/UI, or municipal development work.

B. Technical Approach

CMS Platform – Proposed content management system (WordPress, Drupal, custom, etc.), including rationale and scalability.
Design & Functionality – Mockups, site map, or wireframes showing how the site will look and function.
Accessibility – Plan for ADA compliance and WCAG standards.
SEO Strategy – Built-in optimization and integration with analytics.
Security Measures – Data protection, SSL certification, and defense against cyber threats.
Third-Party Integrations – Any planned tools for GIS mapping, property search, CRM connectivity, or economic data dashboards.
Mobile Responsiveness – Design approach for full device compatibility.

C. Timeline

Project Schedule – A detailed timeline with major milestones from contract signing to launch.
Milestones & Deliverables – Design approvals, content migration, beta testing, staff training, and go-live date.
January 16, 2026 Deadline – Clear commitment to meeting the deadline.
Project Management Methodology – Agile, waterfall, or hybrid; communication and reporting methods.
Contingency Planning – How the vendor will manage delays or unforeseen issues.

D. Cost

Itemized Costs – Design, development, hosting, licensing, maintenance, and training separated out.
One-Time vs. Ongoing Fees – Identify what’s included in initial build vs. recurring costs.
Cost Justification – Explanation of how each cost contributes to value.
Maintenance & Support Pricing – Post-launch support costs, update fees, and emergency response rates.
Optional Features – Pricing for add-ons that may not be in the base contract but could be included later.

E. Contract Terms

Payment Schedule – Milestone-based or phased payments tied to deliverables.
Ownership Rights – PAEDC should retain full ownership of website content, code, and design upon completion.
Warranties – Timeframe for bug fixes and post-launch support included in the base contract.
Termination Clauses – Conditions under which either party can end the contract.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) – Guaranteed response and resolution times for support requests.
Hosting & Data Control – Where and how the site will be hosted, including control over hosting accounts.
Change Management – How scope changes will be documented and approved.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

Qualifications (30%) – Demonstrated experience developing websites for EDCs or similar organizations, with a strong portfolio of relevant work.
Technical Approach (20%) – Proposed design, functionality, and technology solutions that align with PAEDC’s goals.
Timeline (20%) – Ability to meet the January 16, 2026 completion deadline, with a clear project schedule.
Cost (15%) – Total project cost, including design, development, and post-launch support.
Contract Terms (15%) – Clarity, fairness, and flexibility of proposed contract terms, including maintenance agreements.

Submission Deadline

All submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Please send your qualifications in PDF format via email to:

Dylan Bennett
Marketing & Insights Manager
Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation
Email: DBennett@paedc.org