Creation and Analysis of a Statistically Valid Survey and Focus Group Facilitation for the Renewal of Comcast’s CPG

The Vermont Department of Public Service is seeking proposals from qualified professionals and firms to conduct statistically valid and non-scientific community surveys and facilitate stakeholder focus groups supporting Comcast's petition to renew its Certificate of Public Good for cable television in Vermont, with questions due November 11, 2026 and proposals due November 30, 2026. The source names no set-aside or preference program.

Contractors must develop and administer surveys measuring community awareness and satisfaction with Public Educational Government access across eight or more PEG Access Management Organization territories. The scope also includes outreach to educational, governmental, and non-profit organizations, regional focus group facilitation, data analysis, and interim and final reports. Contractors may be required to provide written and verbal testimony before the Vermont Public Utility Commission under Commission Case No. 25-1216-PET. Listed jurisdictions are Washington County and Montpelier City. Required language access services must include documented plans, costs, and reporting for non-English speakers and for deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, and cognitively disabled individuals, meeting WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA standards.

For bids exceeding $250,000, bidders must comply with Vermont's worker classification requirements, self-report past violations, and provide subcontractor lists with workers' compensation information. All bidders must submit a Certificate of Compliance covering non-collusion, term acknowledgment, worker classification, climate change considerations under Executive Order 05-16, and lobbying certifications for federally funded contracts over $100,000.

The contract term is two years beginning January 7, 2027, with an option to renew for up to two additional twelve-month periods. Pricing must be broken out by Task I through Task V, cover statistical survey and interim report, sector survey and interim report, engagement, focus groups and interim report, final report, and testimony, and remain firm for the initial term. Submissions must be a single digitally searchable PDF under 40 MB. No bidders' conference will be held. Questions are due November 11, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. EST, and responses are due November 30, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. EST. The State may award one or more contracts and may request best and final offers or presentations from qualified bidders.