RFP 2026-16 -Utah Valley Convention Center Management

Utah County, Utah is requesting proposals for management and operation of the Utah Valley Convention Center in downtown Provo under RFP 2026-16, with proposals due November 10, 2026 and written questions due October 26. Utah County seeks firms with proven convention center management experience across communities of various sizes; no set-aside or preference program is identified.

The UVCC is a 144,500-square-foot facility with approximately 52,000 square feet of sellable convention space, including a 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 17,000-square-foot ballroom, 10,000 square feet of breakout meeting space, 5,500-square-foot rooftop terrace, 32,000 square feet of pre-function space, and a full-service kitchen. The facility is located at 220 West Center Street in downtown Provo, adjacent to the 331-room Provo Marriott hotel and 133-room Hyatt Place hotel. The scope encompasses comprehensive management, marketing, operations, financial planning, and facility maintenance. Proposers must submit two separate fee structures if interested in food service operations—one excluding food service and one including it. The selected firm must maintain $5 million in combined single-limit general liability insurance, statutory workers compensation coverage, and property insurance for replacement value.

The initial contract term is ten years, with the County retaining the right to terminate after the third full year. Extensions for an additional five-year period are available if performance expectations are met or exceeded. Contract management is anticipated to commence in January 2028.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: firm background and qualifications (35 points), facilities management approach including management, marketing, operations, and financial plans (35 points), and compensation proposal (30 points), with the lowest compensation proposal receiving full scoring points. Compensation should employ a base and incentive fee structure balancing deficit minimization, attraction of non-local economic impact events, and maintenance of service quality standards. Selected proposers may be requested to present to the Evaluation Committee during the week of November 16, 2026, with final selection anticipated by the end of November. Facility tours are available by appointment. Utah County will not entertain changes to its Standard Terms and Conditions.