Prison site commission is looking for development proposals

The state commission working to determine the future of the Utah State Prison site in Draper has approved a request for proposal (RFP) for a project consultant.

The state commission working to determine the future of the Utah State Prison site in Draper has approved a request for proposal (RFP) for a project consultant.

The RFP process will close Aug. 19.

The Point of the Mountain Development Commission is “seeking a consultant well-versed in strategic collaboration, public outreach, insightful analysis and effective project management,” said House Majority Assistant Whip Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville and commission co-chair. “The development of this area is pivotal to Utah’s success, and a strong partnership is key to our process.”

The Legislature voted last summer for a new $550 million prison to be built at a site near Salt Lake City International Airport — a location unanimously recommended by the Prison Relocation Commission. The Draper facility opened in 1951 and is expensive to maintain. It has about 1,000 workers overseeing about 4,000 inmates and has about 1,500 people who do volunteer work there.

The first phase of the consultancy primarily will be focused on research, looking to similar projects in other locations, identifying best practices and examining all relevant demographic, employment, real estate and infrastructure data. The second and third phases cover collaborative planning and detailing financial options and resources the development.

The consultant will be paid no more than $500,000 under an initial agreement.

The 700-acre Draper property is seen by some people as a valuable hub for innovative technology companies, augmenting an already tech-heavy area called “Silicon Slopes.” 

“The economic development opportunities surrounding the Point of the Mountain area represents a multi-generational, international opportunity,” said Christopher M. Conabee, commission co-chair and member of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board. “The combined talents of the legislative research staff and our commission have been tasked with finding partners in the planning and consulting arena worthy of the fastest-growing and best-performing state in the country.”

The commission, created by HB318 earlier this year, consists of local officials, private sector representatives and state level officials from both the legislative and executive branches. The legislation calls for the commission to evaluate, study, develop a plan, prepare reports and make recommendations for the future planning and development of the Draper site, with a report due to the Legislature and Gov. Gary Herbert by Dec. 1.

The commission’s agendas, meeting materials and meeting recordings are available at le.utah.gov. Details about the RFP are at http://le.utah.gov/Documents/RFPpomDevCom.pdf.