The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Justice & Public Safety Cabinet is seeking qualified law firms or individual attorneys to provide comprehensive legal representation in pending and future federal litigation, specifically the Jamiahia Kennedy et al. v. Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice case. The contract will cover advice, courtroom advocacy, discovery management (including e‑discovery), and defense of civil rights claims (42 U.S.C. § 1983, ADA, state negligence). Proposals must include technical qualifications, bar standing, relevant federal court experience, conflict‑of‑interest disclosures, staffing plans, and detailed hourly rate schedules (partner $125/hr, associate $100/hr, paralegal $40/hr). The award may result in multiple contracts, each lasting from November 1 2026 through June 30 2028, with possible two‑year renewals. Submissions are electronic via Kentucky’s Vendor Self‑Service system, with a mandatory technical and cost proposal, and may be followed by oral presentations for the top three bidders.
• Scope: Federal civil litigation defense for state agencies, class‑action and §1983 claims.
• Required qualifications: Kentucky Bar good standing, extensive federal court experience, e‑discovery capability.
• Deliverables: Legal advice, court appearances, discovery production, settlement negotiations.
• Contract term: 20 months (Nov 2026 – Jun 2028) with renewal option.
• Pricing: Hourly rates specified; cost proposal required.
• Submission deadline: 2:00 pm, 15 Oct 2026 (electronic).
• Evaluation: 800 points technical, 200 points cost, optional 200 points oral presentation.