GJ26-149 UCA Geyser Peak Tower Construction and Equipment Shelter Installation

The Utah Communications Authority (UCA) is seeking qualified contractors to construct and install a new off-grid, solar-powered public safety communications site near Geyser Peak in Seerville County, Utah, on United States Forest Service land through solicitation GJ26-149. The multi-disciplinary construction project encompasses site preparation; concrete foundations; erection of a 100-foot self-supporting lattice tower on a concrete mat foundation; installation of a modular equipment shelter weighing approximately 12,000 pounds; propane system installation including a 1,000-gallon tank with regulator and fuel lines; solar photovoltaic arrays with 36 panels across three sectors; comprehensive antenna and transmission line systems including microwave antennas, directional panel antennas, and tower-top amplifiers; ice bridge installation; facility grounding to L3 Harris specifications; and RF testing with calibrated sweep and PIM test equipment. Mandatory minimum qualifications require demonstrated multi-discipline construction capability across all major scope areas, three comparable project references completed within the past five years, qualified tower erection crews with authorized climber training, a Utah-licensed LP gas plumber, concrete capability meeting ACI 318-14 standards with 4,500 psi minimum strength, comprehensive general liability insurance ($1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate), automobile liability ($1 million), workers' compensation per Utah law, and umbrella/excess coverage ($5 million). The RFP evaluation framework allocates 1,000 total points across six criteria: Contractor Experience and Past Performance (200 points), Project Team and Subcontractor Qualifications (100 points), Technical Approach and Work Plan (200 points), Project Schedule and ability to meet the July 31, 2026 substantial completion deadline (150 points), Safety and Quality Assurance Programs (100 points), and Cost (250 points calculated on a proportional scoring formula favoring the lowest-cost responsive proposal). Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by May 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time, with proposals due May 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time via electronic submission through the U3P portal; submissions must achieve a minimum total score of 800 points to advance to potential award consideration.

No set-asides or restrictions limiting organizational types are specified in the solicitation documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The UCA will supply certain materials and equipment for contractor pickup at the UCA Warehouse and UDOT Road Shed near Fish Lake, including the assembled tower components, microwave antenna system, directional panel antennas, shelter unit, propane tank and regulator, solar panels with mounting bracket kits, junction boxes, ground bus bars, generator ducting, and other ancillary equipment listed in Attachment I. Contractors must provide all other labor, materials, equipment, and services necessary for project completion, and cost proposals must include a clearly identified Grand Total Lump Sum Price covering 16 line-item scope areas inclusive of mobilization, per diem, and closeout deliverables, with prices remaining firm and fixed for a minimum of 180 days from proposal submission. The solicitation documents do not specify a disclosed award value or budget range; however, cost represents a significant evaluation component with the lowest-cost responsive proposal receiving the maximum 250 cost points. The contract will be executed on UCA's short-form construction contract, with payment due within sixty days of receipt of a correct invoice and subject to the Utah Prompt Payment Act, and the contractor must warrant work quality for one year following the completion date while maintaining a one-year warranty on all materials and workmanship.