Limited legal services to inmates under the jurisdiction of the Utah Department of Corrections - IFB

The State of Utah, through its Division of Purchasing and conducted by the Department of Corrections, is seeking to award a single five-year contract for limited legal services to inmates incarcerated at the Uintah and Duchesne County Jails. The total budget for this contract is $70,000, with payment structured as a fee-for-service model based on documented hours rendered, including direct contact, research, pleadings, and hearing time, all recorded in tenth-hour increments. Vendors must guarantee their pricing for one year, and all invoicing must occur monthly by the 10th of each month, submitted electronically to the Utah Department of Corrections with detailed supporting documentation, including inmate names, offender numbers, dates of service, and hours logged in an Excel format. The scope of work includes drafting and filing non-frivolous legal pleadings related to incarceration legality, conditions of confinement, and parole violations, primarily under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and habeas corpus statutes, with initial client contact conducted via confidential telephone interviews followed by in-person jail visits. Contractors must employ at least one attorney with five years of active licensure in Utah and fully comply with the Utah State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable federal and state court rules. Performance is measured by response time, legitimate inmate grievances regarding legal access, accuracy of reporting and invoicing, and full adherence to all contractual terms in Attachments A through E. Contractors are required to maintain comprehensive records for audit purposes, carry commercial auto liability insurance with a minimum of $1 million per occurrence, and secure workers’ compensation coverage for all employees and subcontractors. All personnel must be cleared through UDC’s criminal record check process, and contractor employees must be listed with names, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and social security numbers for county and state vetting. No one under the age of 18 is permitted on correctional property, and all individuals are subject to personal and equipment searches. The contract prohibits vendor terms and conditions and mandates strict adherence to state procurement ethics, with violations leading to disqualification. Vendors must certify in writing that they are not debarred, are not providing forced labor products under Utah Code 63G-6a-121, are not using restricted foreign entities for technology services, and are enrolled in E-Verify for all Utah-based employees. The contract’s governing law is Utah’s, with venue specified in Salt Lake City’s Third Judicial District Court, and termination may occur with thirty