MH26-2 Tax Consulting for Clean Energy Tax Credits

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing has issued RFP MH26-2 to secure tax consulting services specifically focused on clean energy tax credits, including provisions related to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and relevant tax codes such as 26 U.S. Tax Code sections. This solicitation contemplates multiple awards, with vendors required to meet a minimum technical score of 480 points and a combined technical plus cost score of at least 550 points to qualify for award. The contract term is fixed at 12 years, with vendors obligated to guarantee their pricing for one year and an administrative fee of 0.5 percent applied. The consulting services encompass full-service tax credit implementation, legislative and legal consultation, compliance with GovRAMP security standards, and audit defense related to tax credits. Vendors must submit blended hourly rates covering all labor and profit for evaluation, which will form part of the contractual terms. Proposals are evaluated through a structured two-step process assessing technical merit—including firm qualifications, methodology, data security, and legal services—and cost competitiveness, applying a formula that awards cost points relative to the lowest bid to ensure a balanced trade-off between price and technical quality. The contract includes a series of standard and specific terms and conditions tailored to state procurement, with Attachment A establishing statewide IT terms and conditions addressing data privacy, intellectual property rights, security incident reporting, and compliance with state technology policies. Security and compliance requirements are stringent, mandating GovRAMP adherence and continuous monitoring, with provisions for remediation of identified vulnerabilities. Insurance requirements include commercial automobile liability, cyber security coverage with a $5 million aggregate for SaaS items, and professional liability consistent with solicitation stipulations. The contract strictly controls subcontracting and assignment, requiring prior approval from the Division of Purchasing, and emphasizes timely delivery and performance under a “time is of the essence” clause. Deliverables must meet detailed inspection and acceptance criteria at destination locations, aligned with NIST 800-53 standards and GovRAMP protocols to protect sensitive information. Proposal submissions must be carefully segregated into technical and cost volumes via Utah’s electronic portal, U3P, adhering to confidentiality claims under Utah’s GRAMA statutes. Overall, this solicitation enforces rigorous technical, legal, financial, and security parameters to ensure that chosen vendors provide high-quality, compliant tax consulting services over an extended contract period.