Cost Estimation and Financial Modeling

The contract seeks the development of detailed cost estimates for the annual operation of a state-administered Section 404 program under the Clean Water Act, with the goal of establishing a sustainable fee structure to support long-term funding. This work requires comprehensive financial modeling to account for all operational expenses including staffing, permitting processes, monitoring, compliance, reporting, and administrative overhead, ensuring that the fee system accurately reflects actual costs while remaining equitable and enforceable. The contractor must analyze current program expenditures, project future needs based on regulatory trends and expected permit volumes, and propose a fee schedule that is transparent, defensible, and capable of sustaining program functions without reliance on fluctuating state appropriations. The effort is being conducted under a subcontract for the state of Utah with a response deadline of August 25, 2026, and was posted on July 29, 2026. The work falls under NAICS code 541618 for other management consulting services, indicating that the contractor will provide specialized analytical and consulting expertise rather than implementation services. Although the agency and performance locations are not fully specified, the scope is statewide and will require close coordination with Utah’s environmental regulatory divisions. No set-aside provisions are indicated, meaning the contract is open to all eligible firms, and submissions must address both the technical rigor of cost modeling and the practical feasibility of the proposed fee structure under state law and administrative guidelines.