Create an Opportunity

Create an opportunity when your organization is ready to receive proposals from lobbying firms. An opportunity is a Request for Proposal (RFP) that explains the work you need, the service period, optional target billing terms, and who can see the request.

Before you begin

Gather the information that will help lobbying firms understand the assignment:

• A short, specific opportunity title.
• The policy objective, stakeholders, requested work, and desired outcome.
• One to three issue areas and at least one jurisdiction.
• The first and last calendar dates covered by the engagement.
• An optional PDF brief, target budget, billing model, and proposal expiration date.

Start a new opportunity

1. In Civalta, select Opportunities in the main navigation.
2. Select Create Opportunity.
3. Complete the three steps: Details, Service & Terms, and Visibility.

The card preview on the right updates as you work so you can see how the opportunity will appear to lobbying firms.

Step 1: Add the opportunity details

1. Opportunity title: Enter a clear title of 255 characters or fewer.
2. Detailed description: Explain the policy objectives, important stakeholders, scope of work, and desired impact. New descriptions can contain up to 250 characters.
3. Issue areas: Select between one and three relevant issue areas. Search the list or select a suggested option. Select the × on a chosen issue area to remove it.
4. Jurisdictions: Select every state or other jurisdiction where the work will take place. You need at least one jurisdiction before you can publish, but you may save a draft without one.
5. Add attachment (optional): Upload one supporting PDF, such as a policy brief or background document.

Select Continue. If a required value is missing or invalid, Civalta returns you to the field that needs attention.

Step 2: Set the service period and optional billing terms

1. Service starts: Select the first calendar day covered by the engagement. It must be today or later.
2. Service ends: Select the first calendar day not covered by the engagement. It must be after the start date and tomorrow or later.
3. To share a target budget and schedule, select Add billing terms.
4. Select Continue when the service period and any target terms are complete.

Choose a billing model

Billing terms communicate your target commercial structure. They do not prevent a lobbying firm from proposing different complete terms.

The total estimated cost must be greater than $0. Select Remove billing terms if you prefer to leave the budget and schedule open for proposals.

Step 3: Choose visibility and publish

1. Select Public or Private when the opportunity is ready to share.
2. Optionally choose a future Expiration Date. The opportunity accepts proposals through the selected date and then appears as expired.
3. Review the card preview, including the service period, issue areas, and estimated cost.
4. Select Publish opportunity. To keep the opportunity internal, select Save as draft instead.

What happens next

• Draft: The opportunity remains internal and appears in your organization’s Opportunities list so you can edit and publish it later.
• Public: Verified lobbyists can discover the opportunity and submit proposals.
• Private: Invite selected lobbyists from the Lobbyists directory or their profiles. Draft opportunities cannot be invited to.
• Proposals: Review incoming proposals from the opportunity page. When your organization accepts a proposal, Civalta creates the engagement and closes the opportunity.

Troubleshooting