UDOT RFP- Siting Assessment and Economic Impact Analysis of a Potential Spaceport in Utah

The Utah Department of Transportation Procurement Services has issued a Request for Proposals for a qualified firm to conduct a comprehensive Siting Assessment and Economic Impact Analysis to determine the business case for establishing a spaceport within Utah. The solicitation seeks a single contract award with performance through October 2026. Respondents must conduct a two-phase analysis: Phase 1 (two to three months) will narrow seven potential geographic locations—Promontory, Wendover, Vernal, Delta, Green River, Bluff, and Kanab—to two or three finalist sites based on market demand, capital and operating costs, regulatory and environmental constraints, economic potential, and resource proximity; Phase 2 (four to five months) will deliver detailed economic and siting analyses of the selected locations. Deliverables include an executive summary, economic modeling results, return on investment estimates, funding strategies, infrastructure needs assessments, environmental overviews, airspace implications, SWOT analyses, geospatial visualizations, and interim and final presentations to the Spaceport Exploration Committee, culminating in a public presentation in October 2026. The analysis must evaluate direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts including job creation, aerospace industry growth, and revenue generation; assess use cases for vertical orbital launches, satellite launches, and space tourism; evaluate multiple industry clusters; and conduct comprehensive risk assessments across economic, environmental, operational, and airspace factors while addressing FAA licensing requirements, NEPA compliance, and Utah airspace conflicts. Contractors must demonstrate experienced key personnel, prior similar project experience, and comprehensive responsiveness to the solicitation. Proposals are evaluated in four stages: Stage 1 assesses mandatory requirements on a pass/fail basis; Stage 2 conducts detailed technical evaluation on a maximum of 105 points across Project Team Qualifications (25 points), Relevant Past Work and Studies (25 points), Proposed Approach and Methodology (40 points), and Risk Assessment (15 points), with a minimum technical score of 80 points required to advance; Stage 3 evaluates cost proposals on a maximum of 25 points using a ratio-based formula where the lowest cost receives 100 percent of available points while other offerors receive proportional points calculated as Cost Points = (2 × (Proposed Cost/Lowest Proposed Cost)), with offerors exceeding double the lowest proposed cost receiving no points; and Stage 4 determines the final award based on combined technical and cost scores. Proposals must be submitted electronically by February 13, 2026, and all pricing must be guaranteed for the project life. The state has thirty days to inspect and accept deliverables, and payment will be made within thirty days of receipt of correct invoices submitted within thirty days of delivery.

No specific set-asides or restrictions limiting response to particular types of organizations, such as disadvantaged enterprises, are identified in the solicitation documents. Contractors must comply with all applicable federal and state laws, maintain workers' compensation and general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, and satisfy E-Verify employment verification requirements. All deliverables, including custom work product, become the property of the State of Utah as work made for hire, and contractors must warrant deliverables for one year while maintaining confidentiality in compliance with the Utah Government Data Privacy Act. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the procurement materials. The solicitation documents do not specify an explicit budget range or award value; however, the contract period extends through October 2026 and encompasses two distinct project phases with comprehensive analytical deliverables, management meetings, and final presentation requirements. Contractor records must be maintained for six years after final payment, and the State retains audit rights and the ability to terminate the contract for cause with ten days' notice to cure or without cause with thirty days' written notice. Prospective vendors are required to complete and submit multiple forms including a Vendor Setup Form, Debarment or Suspension Certification, Cost Proposal in the specified format, and Business Confidentiality Claims as applicable to their submission.