Consultant for Reagionally Significant Development Zone

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, conducting procurement on behalf of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, is requesting statements of qualifications from independent consultants to evaluate Regionally Significant Development Zone applications under Utah Procurement Code 63G-6a Part 15, with qualifications due October 9, 2026.

This is a two-stage technical-merit procurement with no pricing included in the initial submission. The highest-ranked vendor will be selected to negotiate a contract at fair and reasonable compensation; if negotiations fail, the state may proceed with the next highest-ranked vendor.

The consultant will analyze Regionally Significant Development Zone applications on a retainer basis, with an anticipated volume of approximately 1–5 applications annually. Each analysis carries a fixed maximum cost of $20,000 per engagement and must be completed within 45 calendar days of application receipt (extendable to 75 days). Deliverables include factual project descriptions, detailed financial audits and market analyses, statutory and policy impact assessments, and executive recommendations with formal technical determinations. The consultant must provide at least one verbal or written update at the project midpoint.

Mandatory qualifications include demonstrated expertise in real estate finance and development auditing; municipal economics and tax increment financing; and urban planning and policy alignment. The consultant must have a proven track record auditing complex commercial, residential, and mixed-use pro formas and debt/equity structures, direct experience evaluating tax increment capture mechanisms and municipal debt capacity, and demonstrated ability to assess spatial layout and statutory compliance. The consultant is strictly prohibited from advising the zone-creating entity or any party with a financial stake in the proposed development.

Proposals are evaluated against four technical criteria totaling 700 points: Vendor Qualifications (250 points), Scope of Services (250 points), Project Timeline (100 points), and Project Budget (100 points). The contract term does not exceed five years.