4-Attachment D - Technical Criteria - MH26-2 Tax Consulting for Clean Energy Tax Credits (Draft).docx

Technical Criteria Attachment D MH26-2 Tax Consulting for Clean Energy Tax Credits

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT: The purpose of this document is to assign a “Technical Score” to a Vendor’s proposal. This is accomplished by evaluating the Vendor’s responses to the questions in this document. If a Vendor fails to meet the minimum point threshold for their technical score, they will not move on to the next phase of the RFP.

EVALUATION PROCESS: An evaluation committee will evaluate each response by the Vendor, assigning a score to each section of questions. The average score of all evaluators will be used to determine the Vendor’s technical score for each section.

Possible Technical Evaluation Points: 800 Minimum Technical Evaluation Points to advance to the cost evaluation stage: 480

VENDOR INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Vendors must provide clear and concise responses to the questions below.

2. Please do not include unsolicited information such as promotional materials or executive summaries. This information will not be considered or evaluated. Internet links will also not be accepted unless they are specifically requested.

3. Do not include any pricing information in any response to these questions.

4. Vendors who have a State of Utah contract should not assume any preferential treatment. All proposals will be evaluated equally based on what is presented in the Technical Criteria.

TECHNICAL CRITERIA:

1. General Firm and Personnel Qualifications – (250 Possible Points)

1.1 Describe your firm's specific experience with advising on and implementing tax strategies for clean energy projects, particularly those related to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Provide details on the types of clients and projects you've worked on.

1.2 Detail the qualifications and professional backgrounds (e.g., CPA, attorney) of the key personnel who would be assigned to this contract. Include their relevant experience with the U.S. Tax Code sections mentioned in the Scope of Work (Sections 48, 48E, 45W, 30C).

1.3 Describe your firm's process for staying current on changes to tax legislation, including proposed bills like H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act. How would you communicate potential implications to an Eligible User?

2. Service-Specific Methodology and Experience - (250 Possible Points)

2.1 Explain your "full service" approach to tax credit implementation, as described in Section E of the Scope of Work. Provide a step-by-step overview of your process, from initial project assessment to IRS audit support.

2.2 How would your firm approach the "Elective Pay" process for a government entity? Outline the specific steps you would take to ensure a seamless and compliant process.

2.3 Provide a case study of a past project where you successfully helped a client maximize their clean energy tax credits while ensuring compliance with the federal tax code. Describe the project, the credits claimed, and the outcome.

3. Data Security and Compliance - (125 Possible Points)

3.1 Describe your firm's current status regarding the GovRAMP verification process. If you do not have a verified status, confirm your willingness and ability to comply with the requirements in Section F of the Scope of Work, including enrollment in the GovRAMP Progressing Snapshot Program.

3.2 Detail your firm's security protocols for handling sensitive information and regulated tax data. How do you ensure the confidentiality and integrity of client data, and what measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access or breaches?

4. Legal Services and Audit Defense - (175 Possible Points)

4.1 Explain how your firm would provide the legal services needed to support tax consulting efforts, as outlined in Section D of the Scope of Work. What is your approach to handling federal tax filings and providing audit defense with the IRS?

4.2 Describe your firm's experience with defending clients in IRS audits related to clean energy tax credits. Provide details on the types of issues you have defended against and the typical outcomes.