14-UCA Parker Mountain New Site Build RFB v2 (1).docx

UCA Parker Mountain New Site Build Project — Request for Construction Bids

UTAH COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS

Parker Mountain New Site Build Project Piute County, Utah

All questions must be submitted through Bonfire during the question-and-answer period. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Bonfire by the Proposal Due Date listed above.

Background and Purpose Statement The Utah Communications Authority (UCA), established under Utah Code Title 63H, Chapter 7a, is the statewide entity responsible for developing, operating, and maintaining Utah's mission-critical public safety communications infrastructure. UCA oversees the statewide radio network — including the 800 MHz and P25 trunked systems, microwave backhaul, interoperability resources, and dispatch connectivity — to ensure reliable, seamless communication for law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety agencies across all jurisdictions. The Authority also administers Utah's 911 program, supports NG911 planning, and fulfills state and federal compliance obligations.

UCA operates communications sites throughout the State of Utah, many in remote mountainous terrain, high desert plateaus, and rural locations. These sites are critical infrastructure supporting public safety communications and must operate with the highest levels of reliability and performance.

UCA is issuing this Request for Construction Bids (RFB) to engage a qualified construction contractor with extensive radio site construction experience to build a new communications site on the Parker Range in Piute County, Utah. The Parker Mountain site is located on State Trust Lands, approximately 10 miles south of the Fish Lake turnoff on State Route 24. The site is accessed by dirt road; most of the route is flat and well-traveled, but the last approximately 1.5 miles are steeper and rockier.

The new site will consist of a modular two-room equipment shelter and shelter foundation, three solar sectors with combiner/junction boxes, a 1,000-gallon propane tank with fuel and sensor lines, and a 100-foot self-supporting Sabre lattice tower with ice bridge, antenna systems, and coaxial cable installations. The site location is sloped and rocky; grading and earthwork will be required, and several small to medium-sized trees must be removed.

Communications and Question-and-Answer Period Offerors are prohibited from communications regarding this solicitation with UCA staff, evaluation committee members, or other associated individuals EXCEPT the procurement officer identified on the Solicitation Summary.

The Question-and-Answer period closes on the date and time specified in the Solicitation Summary. All questions must be submitted through Bonfire during the Q&A period. Questions may include notifying UCA of any ambiguity, inconsistency, scope exception, excessively restrictive requirement, or other errors in this solicitation. Questions are encouraged.

Answers from UCA will be posted on Bonfire. Questions may be answered individually or compiled into a single document and/or answered via an addendum. An answered question or addendum may modify the specifications or requirements of this solicitation. It is the responsibility of Offerors to submit proposals as required by this solicitation, including all requirements contained in any answered questions and/or addenda.

Instructions to Offerors This solicitation is not intended to limit a proposal's content or exclude any relevant or essential data. Offerors are encouraged to expand upon the specifications to evidence construction capability.

UCA reserves the right to reopen this solicitation or to create a new solicitation if it determines there may be more competition for the procurement item than when the original solicitation was posted.

If determined to be in the best interest of UCA, interviews may be held at UCA's option. UCA will establish a date and time and will notify eligible Offerors of the procedures. Interviews will be limited to Offerors meeting the Mandatory Minimum Requirements. Representations made during interviews shall become an addendum to the Offeror's proposal and must be consistent with the original proposal. Interviews will be at the Offeror's expense.

Site Familiarization UCA strongly encourages Offerors to familiarize themselves with the Parker Mountain site conditions prior to submitting a proposal. The site photographs and access route information provided in this solicitation (see Site Photographs section and Attachment A) depict the terrain, slope, vegetation, and general construction conditions Offerors should expect. Offerors who wish to visit the site independently may do so at their own expense, risk, and coordination; UCA will not host or escort a formal pre-bid site walk for this procurement. Any questions regarding site conditions must be submitted through Bonfire during the Question-and-Answer period.

Scope of Work Project Overview UCA is seeking a contractor with extensive radio site construction experience to build a new communications site at Parker Mountain. The site will include a new modular equipment shelter on a poured concrete foundation, three solar sectors, a 1,000-gallon propane tank, and a 100-foot self-supporting Sabre lattice tower (Model S3TL) with a 10-foot section of ice bridge, antenna mounts, and coaxial cable installations.

The contractor is responsible for coordinating all concrete work with local suppliers. A geotechnical report (Attachment K) will be provided for excavation information. Photographs of all underground work — trenches, conduits, and grounding — are required prior to backfill.

Site Access and Remote Location Considerations

REMOTE SITE NOTICE — PARKER MOUNTAIN

The Parker Mountain site is located on State Trust Lands in Piute County, Utah, approximately 10 miles south of the Fish Lake turnoff on SR-24. Access is by dirt road. The majority of the route is flat and well-traveled, but the final 1.5 miles are steeper and rockier and may require high-clearance and/or four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Site coordinates: 38.324602°, -111.892773°. Drive route and terrain photographs are provided in Attachment A.

Offerors must account for all travel time, mileage, lodging, per diem, vehicle requirements, weather contingencies, and field logistics when preparing their cost proposals. UCA will not provide transportation, fuel, lodging, or per diem.

Site Photographs The photograph below depicts the Parker Mountain site terrain at the proposed build location. Offerors should consider the slope, rocky ground conditions, vegetation, and general exposure when developing their construction approach and cost proposal. Additional photographs of the drive route and approach are provided in Attachment A.

Figure 1. Parker Mountain build site — view across the construction footprint and surrounding terrain. Orange survey stakes indicate the planned site layout.

UCA-Provided Materials and Contractor-Provided Materials Materials identified in this Scope of Work and in Attachment J (List of UCA-Provided Parts) will be supplied by UCA and picked up by the contractor from the UCA warehouse. Pickup must be coordinated in advance with the UCA warehouse manager. The tower and tower components will be staged at the UDOT road shed near the Fish Lake turnoff (approximately 38.473200°, -111.832516°); the contractor is responsible for loading and transporting the tower and tower materials to the site. Any materials not appearing on the UCA-provided parts list shall be provided by the contractor.

Detailed Scope of Work

1. Tower Tower and associated parts will be located at the UDOT Road Shed near the Fish Lake turnoff. The contractor is responsible for loading, transporting, and assembling the tower at the Parker Mountain site. UCA will provide the final erection drawings to the contractor at the time of award. The geotechnical report for tower foundation excavation is available in Attachment K.

1. Install the tower foundation per the final erection drawings in Attachment D. The contractor shall provide UCA with a Comprehensive Strength of Concrete Cylinder Test. Concrete shall have a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 4,500 psi, in accordance with ACI 318-14 and per manufacturer recommendations.

1. Assemble and install the UCA-provided 100-foot, three-legged Sabre lattice tower (Model S3TL), internal climbing ladder, safe climb, waveguide ladder, lightning rod, lightning rod extension, and antenna mounts per manufacturer drawings and specifications. Leg templates and bolt templates will be provided with the tower.

1. Assemble and install the UCA-provided 6-foot ice shield at the 45-foot mark on the Northwest leg of the tower per manufacturer instructions.

1. Install one UCA-provided 20-inch ground bus bar on the tower at the vertical-to-horizontal transition, below the ice bridge, for cable ground kits and tower ring grounding.

1. Install one UCA-provided 20-inch ground bus bar at the 97-foot mark for cable ground kits, grounded directly to the tower.

1. Install one UCA-provided 20-inch ground bus bar at the 87-foot mark for cable ground kits, grounded directly to the tower.

1. Install one UCA-provided 20-inch ground bus bar at the 50-foot mark for cable ground kits, grounded directly to the tower.

1. Install one UCA-provided 20-inch ground bus bar at the 39-foot mark for microwave cable ground kits, grounded directly to the tower.

2. Communications Shelter Foundation

1. Form and pour a 23-foot-3-inch by 14-foot by 6-inch-thick concrete pad. The pad shall have an 18-inch-deep by 12-inch footing around the perimeter, with #4 rebar at 12 inches on center as shown in Attachment E.

1. Install a 1.5-inch PVC conduit through the shelter foundation to the shelter ground ring as shown in the site layout drawings. The conduit shall be centered below the RF Entry and at the edge of the shelter to accommodate four tinned #2 solid grounding leads: two from inside the shelter master bus bar and two from the shelter exterior bus bar (see shelter drawings). The conduit is required so that conductors and seal-tight will not present a tripping hazard along the front stoop.

3. Communications Shelter Installation Contractors may not use the shelter for storage. The shelter shall be clean and empty upon completion. UCA will have technicians on site installing equipment once the shelter is complete.

1. Pick up the UCA-provided 23-foot-1-inch by 11-foot-1.5-inch by 9-foot-2-inch modular palletized two-room Enviro brand communications shelter from the UCA warehouse.

1. Assemble and install the shelter on the concrete pad per manufacturer instructions (see shelter drawings in Attachment B).

1. Install the UCA-provided wall-mount ductless mini-split HVAC unit. The HVAC must be installed by qualified HVAC personnel and shall be in working condition at the time of completion. The indoor unit shall be mounted centered on the west wall, 5 feet 9 inches above finished floor. The outdoor unit shall be mounted 5 feet 10 inches above ground on the exterior west wall of the shelter as shown in the site layout drawings. UCA will provide the circuit and power for the HVAC unit.

1. Install the contractor-provided 8-position Andrew PN 252138 RF Entry port (4 × 2) as shown in the shelter drawings in Attachment B.

1. Install a contractor-provided 20-inch exterior shelter ground bus bar 4 inches below the RF Entry, properly grounded per the grounding specifications.

1. Install a contractor-provided 20-inch interior master ground bus bar below the RF Entry, properly grounded per the grounding specifications. The interior master bus bar shall have two tinned #2 ground leads cad-welded to the bar and tied to the external grounding system through the conduit.

1. Install the UCA-provided equipment rack 3 feet 3 inches from the RF Entry port wall (north) and 24 inches from the west wall as shown in the site layout drawing.

1. Provide and install a 12-inch main cable tray system from the east to west wall, from the RF Entry to the main system, and from the main system to the south wall as shown in the layout drawing. Cable tray shall be bolted and secured to walls and ceiling at all end points for seismic bracing. Cable tray must be installed prior to the roof membrane being installed.

1. Cable tray shall be installed at 86.5 inches from the bottom of the tray to the floor.

1. Assemble and install the UCA-provided intake and exhaust duct work to the shelter.

1. UCA will install all electrical inside the equipment room and generator room.

4. Generator Installation

1. Pick up the UCA-provided 35 kW Generac generator from the UCA warehouse.

1. Install the generator on UCA-provided stands as shown in Attachment G inside the generator room. Note: Installing the generator on stands before the generator room is completely built is highly recommended. UCA will secure the generator and stands to the floor and place the generator in its final location.

1. UCA will perform all electrical work associated with the generator.

5. Propane Tank Installation

1. Install the UCA-provided 1,000-gallon propane tank and the UCA-provided two prefabricated 4-foot by 4-foot concrete pads as shown in the site layout.

1. Level, tamp, and backfill the ground; install the concrete pads with the pad surface at grade. Install the propane tank on the pads as shown in the site layout drawing. The tank shall be secured to the pads with lag bolts.

6. Propane Line and Sensor Line Installation Propane fuel line and regulator shall be installed by a qualified plumber. Lines must be kept clean and free of debris.

LP line and sensor line trench shall be bedded with 4 inches of sand under the fuel line and conduits, and buried with 6 inches of sand prior to backfilling with native soils.

1. Trench at 18 inches from the propane tank to the southeast corner of the shelter as shown in the site layout drawing.

1. Install the UCA-provided primary fuel regulator on the propane tank under the tank cover. Regulator specifications: MEC Type MEGR-1622H-JGJ; Body FPOL × 3/4-inch NPT; Orifice 7/32-inch; SPG Range 8.0–12.0 PSI.

1. Install 1-inch yellow polyethylene fuel line in the trench from the primary regulator to the corner of the shelter, stubbing up 2 feet at the shelter side. Cap off and seal the end.

1. UCA will connect the fuel line to the generator.

1. Trench at 18 inches deep from the propane tank to the southwest corner of the equipment room. Run 1-inch Schedule 40 PVC from the top center of the tank into the shelter as shown in the layout drawing — 20 inches from the exterior edge and 3 feet 6 inches from ground level. Pull outdoor-rated CAT5/6 cable for the propane sensor through the conduit, leaving 10 feet coiled in the equipment building and 6 feet coiled at the center of the tank. UCA will terminate both ends. Use an outdoor-rated PVC LB fitting on the exterior of the shelter. Conduit shall be glued and watertight. Photographs are required prior to backfilling.

7. Ice Bridge Installation

1. Install the UCA-provided 24-inch by 10-foot section of ice bridge from the shelter to the center of the tower / waveguide ladder. The tower-side vertical support may be boot-mounted directly to the tower foundation; the shelter-side vertical support may be boot-mounted to the shelter foundation as shown in the site layout drawings. The contractor shall provide boots for the vertical supports.

1. Leave 8 inches between the tower and the ice bridge to allow for cable bends.

1. See ice bridge drawings in Attachment F.

8. Solar Installation

1. Install three UCA-provided solar sectors containing 12 UCA-provided panels per sector as shown in the site layout drawings. Each sector is supported by 8 vertical posts secured to concrete ballasts and bracketing as shown in Attachment C. Ballast design allows for stepping with grade, as shown in Attachment C.

1. Panels shall be properly secured to bracketing without flexing or bowing. Contractor-provided lock washers are required on all panel mounting hardware, and torque seal paint shall be applied on all panel nuts.

1. Panel wiring shall be secured to brackets with stainless steel zip ties. All panel wiring must be zipped tight to the frame assembly with no slack or loose connections.

1. Wire 12 panels per sector — 6 top "A" and 6 bottom "B" — in a series-parallel configuration. Combine wiring in a UCA-provided PV junction box on each sector. Secure the junction box to the horizontal pipe on the back side of each sector as shown in Attachment C. UCA technicians will terminate panel wiring in the PV junction boxes.

1. Each PV junction box shall be secured and sealed to 1-inch PVC conduit and trenched 18 inches underground to a contractor-provided outdoor-rated junction box at the shelter as shown in the site layout drawing. Solar conduit trenches shall be bedded with 4 inches of sand under conduits and buried with 6 inches of sand prior to backfilling with native soils.

1. Stub 2-inch PVC conduit from the exterior junction box to the interior of the building at 3 feet 10.5 inches above finished floor and 5 feet 4 inches from the exterior wall as shown in the shelter drawings. Properly seal the hole.

1. All PVC must be properly glued and waterproof. Photographs shall be taken prior to backfill.

1. Pull #8 AWG THHN red and black from each PV junction box through conduit to the shelter junction box, leaving 15 feet of red and 15 feet of black from each sector coiled in the shelter. Label wire pairs (for example, Southeast #1, South #2, Southwest #3). UCA will wire the PV conductors to the charge controllers.

1. Cad-weld and ground the four corners of each solar sector to the grounding system.

9. Antenna and Line Installation Microwave

1. Install the UCA-provided 4-foot microwave dish with pre-attached outdoor microwave radios at 40-foot centerline under the contractor-installed ice shield on the Northeast leg.

1. Antenna shall be installed at 40-foot centerline, azimuth at 327.09 degrees, and a tilt of +0.8 degrees.

1. Install the UCA-provided dual LMR 400 cables, properly terminated at radio ends, dressed down the tower using UCA-provided cushions, run through the RF entry boot, and terminated to UCA-provided poly phasers on the master bus bar inside the shelter. UCA-supplied ground kits shall be installed at the dish, at the vertical-to-horizontal transition at the tower, and at the RF entry on the external ground bus bar.

1. Microwave radios shall be properly grounded to the tower bus bar.

1. Contractor shall sweep LMR coaxial lines and antenna; sweep results shall be provided to UCA as part of the close-out package.

Radio

1. Provide and install two Polyphasers, Model DGXZ+36NMNF-A, inside the shelter near the RF Entry port and ground to the internal master bus bar for the RX line and TTA test line.

1. Provide and install one Polyphaser, Model TSX-DFM-BF, inside the shelter near the RF Entry port and ground to the internal master bus bar for the TX Line. Mark with RED tape.

1. Install the UCA-provided single-feed DB Spectra Model DS7C09P36U2D Omni RECEIVE antenna at the top of the tower (98 feet) on the Northwest leg to the UCA-provided 3-foot stand-off. The stand-off is part of the tower components.

1. Install the UCA-provided tower top amplifier near the base of the RECEIVE antenna. Install a jumper using LDF4-50 and connect the TTA to the RECEIVE antenna. Jumper shall be no more than 3 feet in length. Ground the TTA to the top bus bar.

1. Install the UCA-provided single-feed DB Spectra Model DS7C09P36U2D Omni TRANSMIT antenna at 69-foot base on the Northwest leg directly below the RECEIVE antenna (10-foot tip TX to base RX) to the UCA-provided 3-foot stand-off. The stand-off is part of the tower components.

1. Provide and install one run of 7/8-inch coax, LCF78-50, from the TX Polyphaser to the TRANSMIT antenna mount. Install a jumper using LDF4-50A to connect from the 7/8-inch line to the antenna. Jumper shall be no more than 3 feet in length. TX line shall be marked with RED tape on each end. Contractor-provided DIN connectors shall be used at the antenna port connection of the jumper.

1. Provide and install one run of LDF4-50 from the RX Polyphaser to the TTA RX port. RX line shall be marked with GREEN tape on each end.

1. Provide and install one run of LDF4-50 from the TTA Test Polyphaser to the TTA Test input. Mark the Test line with BLUE tape on each end.

1. All coax lines shall be neatly dressed down the tower and under the ice bridge using the appropriate contractor-provided three-hole cushion and cushion clamps. Snap-in style clips may not be used. A single cushion with holes for 7/8-inch and two 1/2-inch is preferred. Contractor-provided weatherproof boot shall be used at the RF entry.

1. Antenna system block diagram is shown in Attachment H.

1. Contractor shall sweep all coax lines and provide sweep results to UCA.

1. Contractor shall PIM test all coax lines and provide PIM results to UCA.

All connections on coax lines must be properly sealed and weatherproofed using layers of PVC tape over layers of butyl rubber tape. Contractor shall sweep coaxial lines and antenna and shall perform a system PIM test on the TX line; results shall be provided to UCA as part of the close-out package.

10. Site Grounding

1. UCA will install all interior grounding with the exception of the interior master bus bar. The contractor shall install the interior master ground bus bar and tie into the system ground ring.

1. The contractor shall install all exterior site grounding to meet the L3 Harris Grounding Specifications Manual T4618 Rev F, including but not limited to the grounding example in Attachment I. Meeting the grounding requirements is critical and is typically where the most contracted corrections are required. Becoming familiar with the L3 Harris grounding manual prior to bidding and construction is strongly recommended.

1. Photographs of all system grounding must be taken and provided to UCA prior to any backfill.

1. UCA will provide an electronic copy of the L3 Harris grounding guidelines on request.

11. General Construction Requirements

1. All construction, electrical, and grounding elements shall be approved by UCA.

1. Work area shall be kept clean and free of debris throughout the project.

1. Photographs of trench work, conduits, and all grounding must be taken prior to backfilling and provided to UCA.

1. Required close-out photographs are itemized in Attachment L.

1. Several small to medium-sized trees must be removed to allow room for site components. Trees will be tagged or otherwise identified by UCA prior to construction.

Required Completion Date

PROJECT COMPLETION — AUGUST 24, 2026

The project must reach substantial completion no later than August 24, 2026. Offerors must demonstrate, in their proposal schedule, the capability to mobilize and complete the work within this timeframe given the aggressive procurement schedule and remote site conditions.

Failure to propose a schedule that achieves substantial completion by August 24, 2026 may result in the proposal being scored lower or, at UCA's discretion, deemed non-responsive.

Attachments The following attachments are incorporated into this solicitation and posted in the Files section of Bonfire:

1. Attachment A — Drive Route and Site Photos

1. Attachment B — Site Layout and Shelter Design

1. Attachment C — Solar Design

1. Attachment D — Tower Foundation

1. Attachment E — Shelter Foundation

1. Attachment F — Ice Bridge

1. Attachment G — Generator Install

1. Attachment H — Antenna Design

1. Attachment I — Grounding Example

1. Attachment J — List of UCA-Provided Parts

1. Attachment K — Geotechnical Report

1. Attachment L — Required Photographs

1. Attachment M — UCA Standard Terms and Conditions for Goods and Services (UCA_Terms.docx) — incorporated by reference Mandatory Minimum Requirements To be eligible for consideration, Offerors must meet ALL of the following Mandatory Minimum Requirements. Failure to meet any single requirement will result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration:

1. The Offeror shall hold an active Utah contractor license appropriate to perform the scope of work, in good standing with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), at the time of proposal submission and continuously through final acceptance. The Offeror shall identify and provide license numbers for any specialty subcontractors required for HVAC, plumbing/propane, electrical, and any other regulated trades performed under this contract.

1. The Offeror shall demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years of experience constructing radio communications sites of comparable scope, including self-supporting lattice towers (80 feet or greater), modular communications shelters with poured concrete foundations, and ground-mounted solar arrays.

1. The Offeror shall provide a minimum of three (3) client references for comparable radio communications site builds completed within the past five (5) years. References shall include client name, contact name, telephone, email, project description, contract value, and completion date.

1. The Offeror shall demonstrate the capability to provide a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond as required under Utah Code § 63G-6a-1103, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Utah. A letter from a qualified surety confirming the Offeror's bonding capacity shall be submitted with the proposal.

1. The Offeror shall provide proof of insurance meeting or exceeding the requirements set forth in Attachment A — UCA Standard Terms and Conditions for Goods and Services, including Workers' Compensation as required by Utah law, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $3,000,000 aggregate, and Commercial Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, naming UCA and the State of Utah as additional insureds.

1. The Offeror shall affirm in writing that it has reviewed the L3 Harris Grounding Specifications Manual T4618 Revision F and is capable of constructing the site grounding system to meet that standard.

1. The Offeror shall acknowledge in writing the no-change-order provision set forth in this solicitation and shall not condition its proposal on any reservation of a right to submit change orders.

1. The Offeror shall demonstrate the capability to field personnel and equipment for remote field operations, including travel on unimproved access roads requiring high-clearance and/or four-wheel-drive vehicles.

1. The Offeror shall propose a construction schedule reaching substantial completion no later than August 24, 2026.

Technical Criteria (Including Cost) Statutory Authority for Integrated Cost Evaluation Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7) — Cost Proposal Handling (7)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), an evaluation committee member is prohibited from knowing or having access to information relating to the cost of a proposal until after the evaluation committee submits its recommendation to the procurement unit based on the scores of all criteria other than cost.

(7)(b) A procurement official may waive the prohibition of Subsection (7)(a) by signing a written statement indicating why waiving the prohibition is in the best interests of the procurement unit.

Notice of Cost Integration Waiver — Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7)(b) Pursuant to Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7)(b), the UCA Procurement Official has executed a written waiver of the cost-separation prohibition described in Subsection (7)(a). The waiver is on file with the UCA Procurement Unit.

Reason for Waiver: The Parker Mountain site is located on State Trust Lands in remote Piute County, with access requiring high-clearance vehicles over a road that becomes steep and rocky during the final 1.5 miles. Transportation, mobilization, fuel, lodging, per diem, and equipment-staging costs represent a material and highly variable component of each proposal. Evaluating cost separately from the technical proposal would prevent the evaluation committee from assessing whether an Offeror's proposed approach — including schedule realism, mobilization strategy, and field logistics — is operationally feasible given the remote-site burden, sloped/rocky terrain, fixed August 24, 2026 completion date, and the no-change-order condition of this procurement. Integration of cost into the overall evaluation is therefore in the best interests of UCA and the public safety mission it serves.

Accordingly: Cost proposals will be reviewed by the evaluation committee concurrently with the technical proposal. Offerors must include cost information in the manner specified in Appendix C. Cost will be scored as a weighted component of the overall evaluation as described below.

Scoring Matrix Proposals meeting all Mandatory Minimum Requirements will be evaluated against the following integrated criteria, which include both technical and cost components:

Total technical points: 720. Total cost points: 480. Proposals must achieve a minimum technical score of 504 of 720 points (70%) to remain eligible for award after cost integration.

Scoring Methodology — 0–5 Subjective Evaluator Scoring Each evaluator will independently score every criterion — including cost — on the following 0–5 subjective scale:

Weighted points for each criterion are calculated as: (Evaluator Score ÷ 5) × Criterion Weight. Final scores will be tallied as the average of individual evaluator scores across all criteria. The cost criterion is scored on the same 0–5 scale; evaluators will consider the total all-in fixed price submitted in Appendix C in context of value, schedule realism, mobilization burden, and scope completeness.

Price Guarantee Prices quoted in the cost proposal shall remain firm and fixed for a minimum of 180 days from the proposal submission date. Any contract resulting from this solicitation will incorporate the pricing submitted.

Evaluation Process Stage 1: Initial Review All submitted proposals will first be reviewed by the procurement officer for completeness and compliance with the Mandatory Minimum Requirements. Proposals that do not meet all Mandatory Minimum Requirements will be deemed non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration.

Stage 2: Technical Proposal Evaluation (Including Cost) Pursuant to the cost integration waiver executed under Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7)(b), responsive proposals will be evaluated by an evaluation committee appointed by UCA against all criteria — including cost — simultaneously. The evaluation committee will tally final scores using an average of individual evaluator scores.

Proposals not achieving the minimum technical threshold of 504 of 720 technical points (70%) will be eliminated from further consideration regardless of cost score.

Stage 3: Interview (Optional) UCA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to invite Offerors that meet the minimum technical threshold to an interview. Interviews are not guaranteed and will be at the Offeror's expense. Representations made during interviews shall become an addendum to the Offeror's proposal and must be consistent with the original proposal.

Bonding Requirements Utah Code § 63G-6a-1103 — Required Bonds Pursuant to Utah Code § 63G-6a-1103, when a construction contract is awarded, the contractor shall deliver to the procurement unit, becoming binding upon execution of the contract:

1. A performance bond in an amount equal to 100% of the price specified in the contract, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Utah; and

1. A payment bond in an amount equal to 100% of the price specified in the contract, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Utah, for the protection of each person supplying labor, service, equipment, or material under the contract.

No bid bond is required for this solicitation. The 100% Performance Bond and 100% Payment Bond shall be delivered to UCA prior to the execution of the contract and shall remain in force for the duration of the contract and any applicable warranty period.

A letter from a qualified surety, on the surety's letterhead, confirming the Offeror's bonding capacity at the level required by this solicitation, shall be submitted with the proposal as a condition of responsiveness.

No Change Order Provision

NO CHANGE ORDERS — FIXED-PRICE CONSTRUCTION

This is a fixed-price construction procurement. Change orders will not be accepted without prior written approval from UCA. Offerors are responsible for thoroughly reviewing the Scope of Work, all Attachments, and the site photographs and access information provided in this solicitation, and for conducting all due diligence — including any independent site familiarization — prior to submitting a proposal.

Offerors shall not condition their proposal on any reservation of a right to submit change orders. By submitting a proposal, the Offeror affirms that it has reviewed the Scope of Work in its entirety and that its proposed price reflects complete performance of the work as specified.

UCA reserves the right to negotiate exceptions and/or additions to terms and conditions in a manner resulting in expeditious resolutions. If negotiations are required, the Offeror must provide all documents in Microsoft Word format for redline editing and must also provide the name, contact information, and access to the person(s) directly involved in legal negotiations.

Any mandatorily required acceptance of an Offeror's terms and conditions may result in the proposal being determined to be non-responsive. An award resulting from this solicitation is subject to successful contract terms and conditions negotiation. UCA, at its sole discretion, will determine when contract terms and conditions negotiations become unproductive and may move to the next eligible Offeror.

Protected Information Offerors may request that part of their proposal be protected from public disclosure by submitting a Claim of Business Confidentiality pursuant to the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), Utah Code § 63G-2-309. To make such a claim, the Offeror must complete and submit the form in Appendix B at the time the proposal is submitted, including a concise statement of reasons supporting the claim and a separately marked redacted version of the proposal.

Because cost proposals are evaluated concurrently with technical proposals pursuant to the Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7)(b) waiver, pricing information is accessible to the evaluation committee and will be considered public information upon award.

An entire proposal may not be designated as "PROTECTED," "CONFIDENTIAL," or "PROPRIETARY." All materials submitted become the property of UCA.

Award To determine which proposal provides the best value, the evaluation committee will evaluate each responsive and responsible proposal that has not been disqualified. It is anticipated that this solicitation will result in a single award to the responsive and responsible Offeror with the highest total score.

After the evaluation and final scoring of proposals is completed, UCA shall award the contract as soon as practicable. UCA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities, and to make the award in the best interest of UCA.

Terms and Conditions Any contract resulting from this solicitation will incorporate by reference Attachment A — UCA Standard Terms and Conditions for Goods and Services (UCA_Terms.docx), posted in the Files section of Bonfire. Attachment A includes, but is not limited to, provisions governing insurance, indemnification, service level agreements, technical support response, intellectual property, governing law, and other standard contractual matters.

Construction-specific provisions of Attachment A apply to this solicitation in addition to the bonding requirements set forth in this document. Exceptions and additions to Attachment A are strongly discouraged. Any exceptions must be submitted with the proposal. Exceptions submitted after the proposal deadline will not be considered. Offerors may not submit requests for exceptions by reference to a vendor's website or URL.

For any proposed changes, the Offeror must provide Attachment A in Microsoft Word format with redline edits, along with contact information for legal negotiations. UCA may reject a proposal if the selected Offeror fails to sign a contract within thirty (30) days of contract award.

Appendix A: Response Questionnaire Section 1 — Mandatory Minimum Requirements (Pass/Fail) For each statement below, please answer Yes or No. Failure to answer Yes to any item will result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive.

1. Yes / No: Does the Offeror hold an active Utah contractor license in good standing with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing appropriate to perform the scope of work?

1. Yes / No: Does the Offeror have a minimum of five (5) years of experience constructing radio communications sites including self-supporting lattice towers (80 feet or greater), modular shelters with poured concrete foundations, and ground-mounted solar arrays?

1. Yes / No: Has the Offeror provided three (3) client references for comparable radio communications site builds completed within the past five (5) years?

1. Yes / No: Has the Offeror included a surety letter confirming bonding capacity for a 100% Performance Bond and 100% Payment Bond?

1. Yes / No: Does the Offeror's insurance meet or exceed the requirements set forth in Attachment A — UCA Standard Terms and Conditions for Goods and Services?

1. Yes / No: Has the Offeror reviewed the L3 Harris Grounding Specifications Manual T4618 Rev F and affirmed its capability to construct grounding to that standard?

1. Yes / No: Does the Offeror acknowledge the no-change-order provision and submit its proposal without conditioning it on a reservation of a right to submit change orders?

1. Yes / No: Does the Offeror's proposed schedule reach substantial completion no later than August 24, 2026?

1. Yes / No: Can the Offeror's personnel and equipment access remote sites requiring travel on unimproved access roads with high-clearance and/or four-wheel-drive vehicles?

Section 2 — Technical Response Provide a point-by-point response addressing in detail each evaluation criterion. Responses should be organized in the order listed below.

1. Firm Experience and Construction Qualifications: Describe the firm's history, size, relevant project portfolio, ownership structure, and overall experience with radio communications site construction. Identify any work performed for public safety, state, or federal entities.

1. Comparable Radio Site Build Experience and References: Provide a project list of comparable radio communications site builds completed within the past five (5) years, including project description, contract value, completion date, and a client reference for each. Three (3) references at minimum are required.

1. Key Personnel, Utah Contractor Licensure, and Specialty Subcontractors: Provide an organization chart for the proposed project team. Identify the project manager, site superintendent, tower crew lead, and key trade personnel. Provide license numbers and qualifications for all Utah-licensed personnel and any specialty subcontractors (HVAC, plumbing/propane, electrical, etc.).

1. Construction Approach, Schedule Realism, and Remote-Site Logistics: Provide a detailed narrative of the proposed methodology for each work element (earthwork, foundations, tower erection, shelter assembly, solar installation, propane and HVAC, antenna and line installation, grounding, close-out). Include a proposed project schedule demonstrating substantial completion by August 24, 2026. Address mobilization, equipment staging, weather contingencies, and field logistics for the remote Parker Mountain location.

1. Grounding Plan and L3 Harris T4618 Rev F Familiarity: Describe the firm's approach to constructing the site grounding system in accordance with L3 Harris T4618 Rev F. Identify any prior projects on which the firm has built grounding systems to this or comparable standards.

1. Cost Proposal (Per § 63G-6a-707(7)(b) Waiver): Cost will be evaluated concurrently. Complete and include Appendix C — Cost Proposal.

Appendix B: Claim of Business Confidentiality Company Request for Protected Record Status Name and address of the entity ("Company") making this confidentiality claim:

Company Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ City / State / ZIP: __________________________________________________ Pursuant to the Government Records Access and Management Act, Utah Code § 63G-2-309, the Company submits this written claim for business confidentiality. The Company claims that the records attached to this form and/or listed below and provided to the Utah Communications Authority ("UCA") are protected records and should be considered confidential and classified as protected records.

Description of record(s) covered by this confidentiality claim:

Basis for confidentiality claim (check all that apply):

1. The record is a trade secret as defined in Utah Code § 13-24-2(4).

1. The record is commercial or non-individual financial information, and disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in unfair competitive injury to the Company.

1. The record is commercial or non-individual information, and disclosure could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of UCA to obtain necessary information in the future.

By: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Authorized Representative Name and Title: _____________________________________________ Note: The Company will be notified if a record claimed to be protected is classified as public, or if a determination is made that the record should be disclosed because the interest favoring access outweighs the interest favoring restriction. Records claimed to be protected may not be disclosed until the appeal period expires or the end of the appeals process, including judicial appeal (Utah Code § 63G-2-309).

Appendix C: Cost Proposal Important — Cost Integration Pursuant to the Utah Code § 63G-6a-707(7)(b) waiver executed for this procurement, cost proposals are evaluated concurrently with the technical proposal. Include this completed form with your overall proposal submission. Do not submit cost information as a separate sealed document.

Offerors must provide a clearly identified Total All-In Fixed Price for the complete Parker Mountain New Site Build Project (inclusive of all labor, materials not supplied by UCA, mobilization, transportation, lodging, per diem, equipment, bonding premiums, and any other costs). This total will be used for cost scoring purposes.

Offeror Signature: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Printed Name and Title: _______________________________________________________ Firm Name: ____________________________________________________________ Utah Communications Authority | Page 1 of 1 image1.jpg