REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LEGAL SERVICES
RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LEGAL SERVICESA. PURPOSE The purpose of this request for proposals (RFP) is to retain the services of a law firm or lawyer to serve as outside counsel to Rails to Trails Conservancy to support RTC’s legal program. The retained firm or lawyer will work with RTC’s general counsel to both learn about RTC’s legal program and eventually participate in a succession planning process for the transition of RTC’s legal program to said firm/lawyer. Led by RTC’s longtime general counsel, Andrea Ferster, RTC’s legal program is the only nonprofit program in the country that regularly goes to court to support and defend rail-trails and multiuse trails against legal threats. The primary focus of RTC’s legal program is to support and defend the legal and policy framework relating to the preservation of unused railroad corridors as multiuse trails, including representing RTC before courts and administrative agencies. RTC’s general counsel also advises the organization on nonprofit corporate and governance matters. We understand this is a highly specialized area of law. Our goal is to engage with a firm or lawyer that will initially serve in a mentee role with RTC’s general counsel and ultimately transition to consistent long-term general counsel services supporting the organization’s work. We seek to retain a firm or lawyer committed to ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge to ensure the continuity and expand the reach and impact of RTC’s legal program to support the development of an extensive network of trails, greenways and other walking and biking infrastructure across the United States and meet future challenges in trail development and active transportation. Additional information about RTC’s legal program can be found on our website at railstotrails.org/legalprogram. B. ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION RTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985. RTC’s mission is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. RTC is incorporated in the District of Columbia and is headquartered at 2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20037. RTC currently has a staff of 54, who are located at the national headquarters and in regional and home offices across several states. Our annual report, most recent audit and 990 are available on our website at Finances - Rails to Trails Conservancy | Rails to Trails ConservancyC. SCOPE OF WORK AND QUALIFICATIONSThe selected firm or attorney shall provide the following range of legal services to RTC: - With the assistance of RTC staff, identify and monitor legal proceedings in the courts and administrative agencies that potentially affect the legal and policy framework for rail-trail conversions. - Selectively participate in litigation that holds the potential to set significant precedent relevant to rail-trail conversions or that otherwise impacts RTC’s core priorities. - Develop and oversee a network of pro-bono lawyers who assist RTC’s participation in litigation, including drafting legal briefs and presenting arguments in court. - Advise and support RTC policy staff in responding to proposed actions in Congress, state legislatures and federal agencies that potentially affect railbanking and other RTC policy priorities. - Selectively advocate before the Surface Transportation Board and other federal agencies to ensure that administrative decisions and proposed rules encourage and protect rail-trail conversions, and advise and support RTC’s trail development and policy staff on administrative matters. - File “friend of the court” briefs in cases that raise issues involving the interpretation and application of laws facilitating rail-trail conversions including, but not limited to, the federal railbanking law, conversion of federally granted rights-of-way, and environmental and historic preservation laws and regulations. - Provide technical assistance to RTC program and policy staff, trail activists, trail managers and their legal counsel in response to legal questions on the implementation of railbanking, rail-trail conversions, compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements, as well as legal issues relating to trail conservancy projects, liability and policy. - Provide training to RTC program staff and its partners and develop resource materials and other trailrelated content. - Provide corporate general counsel services, including review of contracts and advice on nonprofit corporate, tax and personnel matters.Qualifications Knowledge of federal regulations governing railroads and legal issues relating to rail-trail conversions is desirable but not required. The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of relevant legal experience in the practice of law, which should include litigation and/or administrative advocacy before federal courts and administrative agencies. The applicant should be authorized to practice law in the District of Columbia. D. ANTICIPATED TIMELINE May 11 RFP issued June 1 Q&A session (attendance optional)* July 3 Proposals due July and August Panel interviews scheduled with selected firms and law offices Sept. 1 Selection decision Oct. 1 Execution of representation agreement and contract effective date *Email rchao@raisltotrails.org to request an invitation to attend this session. E. TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT This RFP is for legal services with an expected start date of Oct. 1, 2026. The retained firm/lawyer will be an independent contractor and not an RTC employee. The firm/attorney should expect to provide five hours per week on average. F. PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS The proposal must be submitted in an electronic format by close of business on July 3, 2026. Proposals should be addressed as follows: Ryan Chao, President Rails to Trails Conservancy 2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20037