3-SOW Utah Film Commission Data Study.pdf

Utah Film Commission Data Study

Scope of Work

Introduction

The Utah Film Commission seeks a qualified contractor to conduct a comprehensive data study on the Rural Film Incentive Program. This incentive program is a post-performance rebate for dollars spent by film productions in Utah. This program has infused dollars into small businesses across the state and shown Utah's landscapes in international films and TV shows like Marvel's Thunderbolts*, Kevin Costner's Horizon:

An American Saga and The Chosen. The purpose of this data study is to analyze the program's economic and community impact, using existing data provided by the Commission. The Commission will provide production expenditure data from FY2023 through current available date, which will serve as the foundation for the analysis. The contractor will deliver a final report with findings and recommendations by December 1, 2025, along with interim deliverables and stakeholder presentations at key milestones.

Background

The Rural Film Incentive Program was created by the Utah State Legislature in 2023 to encourage film and television production in Utah's rural counties, support local economic development and showcase the state's diverse locations. This program allocated $12 million per year and is now up for renewal in 2026. The program is an addition to the existing Motion Picture Incentive Program, which allocates approximately $8 million annual ongoing funds.

Since its inception, the program has contributed to job creation, small business activity, and tourism visibility. However, a new study is required to quantify its impacts, evaluate program effectiveness, and inform policymakers as they consider future funding and program structure. This project aligns with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity's strategic goal to strengthen rural economies and support targeted industries.

Statement of Qualifications must include a response to each point listed below.

1. Minimum Qualifications

Submissions must clearly demonstrate that these qualifications have been satisfied. Statement of Qualifications that do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be considered for the contract.

• Review historical data on rural film incentive projects (2023-present).

• Design and conduct primary and secondary data collection (e.g., surveys of productions, interviews with local stakeholders, analysis of spending and employment).

• Assess program impact on rural communities, including direct, indirect, and induced economic effects.

• Provide recommendations for program improvement and long-term sustainability.

• Contractor must demonstrate prior experience with economic impact studies, preferably in the film/creative industries.

The work will be completed in collaboration with the Utah Film Commission and relevant state partners. Contractor is responsible for independent data collection and analysis; the agency will provide access to existing records.

2. Selected criteria Weighting Table

Statements of Qualifications will be reviewed and ranked in order from highest to lowest by the Utah Office of Tourism (Conducting Procurement Unit) based on the following qualifications and assigned weights:

Weight of Selection Criteria Organizational Experience and Expertise 60% Technical Approach and Methodology for Conducting the Study 40%

The Procurement Unit may conduct interviews or request clarification on Statement of Qualifications if necessary to complete its assessment. The Procurement Unit reserves the right to adjust the process and waive minor irregularities, or seek additional information if doing so is in the best interest of the State of Utah.

3. Selection Criteria

Please limit Statement of Qualifications to no longer than 15 pages in total. Please prepare your Statement of Qualifications in the same order as the questionnaire, listing the heading first (i.e., “Executive Summary” and Organization and Expertise”), repeating the headers, questions number, and text, followed by your answer in bold text.

A. Executive Summary (10 Points Possible)

• Provide a brief overview of your institution, including:

• The primary reasons your institution is best suited to conduct this study

• Relevant qualifications and expertise

• Any competitive advantages or differentiators

B. Organizational Expertise (30 Points Possible)

• Describe your institution’s history, ownership structure, and core expertise

• Provide the names and biographies of the key personnel who would work on the study

• Detail and past engagements or studies conducted pertaining to similar public policy issues or for government task forces, legislatures, or local governments.

• Describe your firm’s experience with economic impact assessments related to public sector financial policies.

C. Conflicts of Interest (5 Points Possible)

• Disclose any actual or perceived conflicts

D. Compliance (40 Points Possible)

• All methodologies must meet accepted economic impact standards (e.g., IMPLAN or similar input-output models).

• Deliverables must be fully sourced and replicable.

• Monthly progress updates must include current status, challenges, and preliminary findings.

• Contractor performance will be evaluated on timely delivery, accuracy of analysis, and quality of recommendations.

E. Timelines (Minimum Requirements)

Contractor must provide a project plan within 30 days of contract execution.

• Kickoff meeting and finalized research plan

• Preliminary Data Analysis Report (by Oct 15, 2025)

• Draft findings and recommendations (by Nov 15, 2025)

• Final report and presentation (by Dec 15, 2025)

F. Project Deliverables (15 points Possible)

• Research plan and methodology document

• Preliminary Data Analysis Report

• Draft final report for agency review

• Final report with executive summary

• Final presentation of findings to the Utah Film Commission and stakeholders

• Describe your project management plan, including key milestones and quality assurance process

G. Project Budget

The agency has budgeted up to $20,000 for this project. This amount must cover all labor, data acquisition, and report production costs.

100 Points Possible

Vendor Scoring Matrix Vendor Name

Criteria A Criteria B Criteria C Criteria D Criteria E Criteria F Total Score