REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: State Bar of Michigan Website Redesign

Release Date: December 1, 2025

The State Bar of Michigan (SBM) is seeking proposals from qualified firms to lead a comprehensive redesign of its primary public-facing website, michbar.org. This project represents a major modernization effort to improve user experience, strengthen our organizational brand, streamline navigation, and ensure the site effectively serves both of our primary audiences: Michigan attorneys and the public.

The State Bar of Michigan (SBM) is the licensing agency for all lawyers in Michigan and is a public body corporate, funded by licensing fees and revenue generated by bar activities. There are more than 47,000 members of SBM. Its mission is to promote the professionalism of lawyers; advocate for an open, fair, and accessible justice system; and provide services to members that enable them to best serve their clients.

SBM seeks a strategic partner to redesign michbar.org using current best practices in user experience, visual design, accessibility, performance, and modern content governance. The selected firm will develop a new, intuitive information architecture; create a fully responsive and user-centered design; improve search functionality; and deliver a long-lasting, flexible platform that supports content tagging, taxonomy, and future scalability.

While the project focuses on the public site, vendors should be aware that SBM’s full digital ecosystem includes additional portals and third-party integrations. Experience with APIs and web services is preferred, but not required. SBM is open to new recommended CMS and hosting options.

The projected budget is $200,000 to $500,000, with an anticipated project duration of 12–18 months.

View the SBM Website RFP here.
View the SBM Website RFP Appendixes here.

Key Dates

RFP Released: December 1, 2025
Questions Due: December 12, 2025 (8 p.m. ET)
Bidders’ Call (Zoom): December 17, 2025 (3–4:30 p.m. ET)
Intent to Bid Due: December 19, 2025 (8 p.m. ET)
Proposals Due: January 9, 2026 (8 p.m. ET)
Finalists Notified: January 23, 2026
Finalist Presentations: January 27–28, 2026
Final Selection: No later than March 2, 2026 (Contract must be approved by Board of Commissioners)
Project Kickoff: Within 30 days of contract approval

All submissions — including questions, intents to bid, and full proposals — should be sent to SBMwebsite@michbar.org.

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