Due Diligence Notice of Intent Consulting Services assist DPU setting maximum involuntary tow rates

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is accepting responses for consulting services to conduct due diligence on involuntary tow rate revisions under a Notice of Intent process, with responses due October 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Department intends to award to Borderland Partners, LLC on best-value grounds, but the process remains open to competing vendors demonstrating comparable or superior qualification and relevant experience.

The scope requires the consultant to examine two specific departmental revisions to the involuntary tow rate formula: the management costs category and an adjustment to the maximum involuntary tow rate based on vehicle storage revenue. The consultant must assess whether revised figures are reproducible from provided data and assumptions, evaluate the reasonableness of revisions based on logical support and consistency with available evidence, and deliver written interim and draft findings memoranda followed by a final findings memorandum addressing reproducibility, reasonableness, evidentiary support, and effects on the involuntary towing rate estimate. The review methodology will employ focused quantitative and comparative methods informed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office's Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide, incorporating reproduction of departmental calculations, reanalysis of data sources, examination of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and review of involuntary towing and storage practices from comparable states.

The total fixed fee is $20,000, inclusive of professional fees and overhead. This includes up to four one-hour meetings with the Department covering kickoff discussion, emerging analytical questions, feedback on draft findings, and final findings discussion. Work outside the agreed scope requires a written change order executed by both parties prior to commencement.

The project timeline spans approximately seven weeks following contract execution, with analytical work in weeks two through four, synthesis and findings in weeks five through six, and finalization in week seven.