UDOT RFP- Utah Broadband BEAD Consultant - IN LIEU

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is issuing a Request for Proposal to procure consulting services for the Utah Broadband Center (UBC) to administer the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The procurement seeks a single qualified consultant or team to provide expert guidance on federal grant administration under 2 CFR 200, compliance monitoring, subgrantee contracting, and telecommunications/broadband industry regulatory issues. Key deliverables and objectives include developing and administering subgrantee form agreements, ensuring compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 and NTIA guidance, drafting contractual language for financial assurances and clawback provisions, designing monitoring and audit-readiness frameworks, developing desk audit protocols and risk-based site visit methodologies, supporting permit application processing to meet NTIA's 90-day requirement timelines, and providing telecommunications regulatory expertise to support the UBC in its roles as both the Eligible Entity and Pass-Through Entity. Mandatory minimum qualifications require respondents to demonstrate a minimum of ten years of administrative compliance experience within the telecommunications industry, prior experience working with state broadband offices, expert understanding of 2 CFR 200 and the BEAD program, and expertise in telecommunications infrastructure contracting. The evaluation process consists of a responsiveness determination stage assessing four mandatory minimum requirements, followed by a detailed technical evaluation scoring proposals on five criteria: administrative compliance expertise within the telecommunications industry (30 points), BEAD program conditions and compliance (25 points), federal grant compliance and asset management for federally-funded projects (20 points), experience working with Tribal Nations (5 points), and comprehensive compliance strategy description (20 points), with proposals requiring a minimum score of 75 out of 100 possible technical points to advance to an interview stage. Pricing proposals will be evaluated using a formula where the lowest-cost proposal receives maximum cost points and other proposals receive points proportionally based on their ratio to the lowest proposed cost, with proposals exceeding double the lowest price receiving zero points; offerors must submit a blended hourly rate and separate labor rates for three position categories (Senior Manager/Executive, Mid-Level Staff, and Support Staff). The RFP was posted on February 27, 2026, with proposals due on March 20, 2026; questions must be submitted through UDOT's online bidding system during the designated Question and Answer period, and all proposals must be submitted electronically through this system with late submissions deemed ineligible.

The RFP documentation does not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond, nor does it reference disadvantaged enterprise preferences or incumbent vendors currently serving in this capacity. The contract will be awarded to a single supplier for an initial five-year term with the possibility of five one-year extensions, creating a potential maximum contract length of ten years, with an annual budget not to exceed $1,000,000. Respondents must provide an executive summary, detailed technical approach emphasizing accelerated deployment timelines, project team identification with relevant experience and certifications, evidence of successful telecommunications or utility infrastructure project experience, a comprehensive cost estimate with hourly rates for all personnel and key deliverable breakdowns, and three to five client references. All successful contractors must comply with the State of Utah Agency Standard Terms and Conditions, including maintenance of commercial general liability insurance of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate, commercial automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence if vehicles are used, and workers' compensation insurance. The consultant will serve as a supplemental compliance resource while working in coordination with the Utah Attorney General's Office, which provides legal representation for the Utah Broadband Center; travel costs will be reimbursed at the State of Utah's current per diem rate according to state travel policy. All intellectual property developed under the contract, including custom deliverables and work product, becomes the property of the State Entity unless specifically designated otherwise in writing, and the State reserves the right to terminate the contract without cause upon thirty days' written notice or for convenience if federal or state legislation materially affects performance or available funds change.