PRIMARY PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES

Location:	Utah
Posted:	Nov 12, 2025
Due:	Dec 5, 2025
Agency:	Grand County
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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GRAND COUNTY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

FOR

Qualification submissions are due by:

Friday, December 5th at 5:00 p.m.

MAIL OR HAND DELIVER RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO:

Clerk/Auditor’s Office

Gabriel Woytek, Clerk/Auditor

125 E. Center Street

Moab, UT 84532

ELECTRONICALLY MAIL TO:

Email: mtyner@grandcountyutah.gov

SEND TECHNICAL INQUIRIES

Mark Tyner, Grand County Commission Administrator

125 E. Center Street

Moab, UT 84532

Phone: 435-259-1347

Email: mtyner@grandcountyutah.gov

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL RESPONDENTS: Grand County reserves the right to: disqualify

incomplete solicitations, waive minor defects as it deems applicable in the written solicitations, request

additional information from any respondent, change or modify the scope of the project at any time

without penalty, negotiate terms with one or more of the respondents, reject any or all proposals without

penalty, and take any steps necessary to act in the County’s best interest. The County also reserves the

unilateral right to order, in writing, changes in the work within the scope of the contract and changes in

the time of performance of the contract that do not alter the scope of the contract work. Proposals will

not be considered for award if received by Grand County after the official closing date and time

Introduction

An indigent individual who faces criminal prosecution that carries with it any potential

deprivation of the indigent person’s liberty is entitled to the effective assistance of counsel

under the United States and Utah constitutions. This is true of the responsibility for

providing legal services (services) to persons charged with offenses arising out of Grand

County. To fulfill this mandate, Grand County is seeking a qualified and experienced

criminal defense attorney(s) or firm(s) for the Primary Public Defender contract.

The primary public defender will provide services to indigent persons charged with non-

capital felony and misdemeanor offenses committed in Grand County, Seventh District.

This contract includes services in Moab District Court, Grand County Justice Court

(including Moab City cases) and Recovery Court. The work of the main public defender

will primarily occur in Grand County. Indigent defendants may be housed anywhere in the

state, but they most often reside within Grand County or are incarcerated in Grand County

Jail.

Moab District Court is held on Tuesdays twice a month. Grand County Justice Court is

typically held on one Wednesday a month. This Justice Court assignment also includes

Moab City cases. Recovery Court is generally every Thursday and allows the attorneys to

attend remotely. While the courts provide Webex/remote options, the primary public

defender should attend all substantive hearings in-person.

Scope of Work

The Primary Public Defender (Contractor) shall serve as primary court appointed counsel

and provide indigent defense services and resources to indigent clients charged with non-

capital felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses in District Court, Justice Court, and

Recovery Court for Grand County.

1. Upon notice of assignment to a case, the Contractor will review their total

caseload to determine if effective services can be provided on an assigned case

and consider any material conflict of interest. In the event of a material conflict of

interest, Contractor shall motion the Court to assign conflict counsel.

2. If Contractor continues to maintain a private caseload, Contractor shall make this

contract the priority, commit to the established court calendar and provide

effective legal services to clients.

3. Contractor shall not accept new appointments or private clients, when those cases

would cause the caseload to exceed a number that allows the Contractor to

provide effective services to indigent clients.

4. Once Contractor enters appearance, they agree to provide effective, timely, and

continuing services for indigent clients, pursuant to obligations set forth in Utah

and Federal law and this Contract.

5. Contractors agree to provide services, including but not limited to, consultation

with clients, pursue evidence through discovery, investigate facts and

circumstances, use other defense resources as appropriate, research the law

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specific to cases, file pertinent motions, subpoena relevant documents and

witnesses, and appear in court.

6. Contractors will make reasonable efforts to visit and communicate with indigent

clients, return phone calls, and otherwise be available.

7. Travel is required for court for substantive hearings after appointment including

preliminary hearings, trial, sentencing and recovery court. Subject to grant

funding, reimbursement is available at the state rate for lodging and mileage rate.

No hourly pay for travel is permitted.

8. Contractor shall provide the full scope of services continuing up to and including

the filing of notice of appeal and docketing statement, but not any briefs on

appeal.

9. Contractors shall track their case work by using a case management system.

10. Contractors are required to comply with Indigent Defense Commission (IDC)

grant requirements including case tracking, requests for data collection from the

IDC, supervision by managing defender, and adherence to IDC Core Principals.

11. Contractors shall comply with Utah State Bar MCLE requirements including

attending at least eight (8) hours of relevant criminal defense CLE trainings per

year.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA’s)

- Knowledge of legal and court policies, procedures, practices, terminology, and

systems; state and federal laws; rules and regulations.

- Previous appellate and criminal law experience is preferred.

- Past trial experience including serving as first chair on serious felony cases.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Skilled in negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making practices

- Self-motivated

- Ability to remain flexible

- Client-oriented and customer service skills

- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients,

prosecutors, witnesses, and judges/ court personnel.

Fees/Compensation Proposal

Grand County will pay the Primary Public Defender for legal serves rendered under this

contract compensation in the amount of $113,000 annually (9,416.67 monthly).

In addition to the compensation, and upon written approval of the managing defender, the

County will pay for expenses incurred for defense resources. These defense expenses

include witness fees, transcripts, investigators, and experts.

Actual payment terms are subject to negotiation of a contract with the County.

Qualifications Submission Requirements

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Grand County will review the submitted qualifications and select a Contractor based on

the following information. Submissions must include, as a minimum, the following

information:

1. Introduction. A letter of interest respondent’s name and business location and a

statement summarizing the experience of the respondent.

2. Description of attorney or firm’s overall practice area(s) and the services they can

provide, including an explanation of how these services will meet the County’s needs

for a primary public defender capable of handling both complex felony cases to

misdemeanors.

3. Background. The respondent’s Curriculum Vitae or resume.

4. References. The respondent must provide a list of at least three (3) references that

includes contact information.

5. Other Associated Attorneys. If the respondent works as part of a law firm, the

application must also include the names and resumes of other attorneys in the firm that

may potentially provide services or assist in providing services.

6. Public Records Law Form (FORM I).

Special Requirements. Contractors shall have a Juris Doctor from an accredited law

school and maintain active an active license and good standing with the Utah State Bar at

all times during the period of this contract.

Contract Length. The term for the contract(s) is two (2) years with an option to extend

for an additional year, upon mutual agreement.

Qualifications Review and Selection Criteria

Submissions will be reviewed by a committee for qualifications, experience, and ability

to comply with the County’s obligation to provide a constitutionally adequate defense.

After reviewing submissions, the committee may elect to proceed with contract

negotiations. Alternatively, the committee may conduct interviews or require further

discussions prior to finalizing any contract.

Submission will be evaluated by a committee. Qualifications will be opened by the

selection committee in the Grand County Clerk/Auditor’s office on December 8th, 2025.

Projected RFQ Schedule

The County reserves the right to modify this schedule at its sole discretion.

Event

Target Date

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Open RFQ Process

RFQ Response Deadline

Selection Committee Review

Interviews

Contract Award & Start Date

November 15, 2025

December 5, 2025

December 8, 2023

TBD

Tentative - 16 Dec ’25 / 01 Jan ’26)

The awarded Contractor(s) will be contacted to enter into a contract the role of Primary

Public Defender for Grand County.

Submittal Instructions

Interested parties shall submit their qualifications by:

1. Electronic mail, in PDF format, to mtyner@grandcountyutah.gov with the subject

line titled “Public Defender Contract”. Qualifications submitted via email will not

be reviewed until after the submission deadline; or

2. Mail or hand delivery to the Grand County Clerk-Auditor’s Office at 125 East

Center St., Moab, Utah 84532 no later than 5:00 p.m. December 5th, 2025.

Envelope must be labeled with submitter’s contact information and labeled “Public

Defender Contract”.

Technical inquires may be sent to Mark Tyner, Commission Administrator,

mtyner@grandcountyutah.gov.

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid Title:	PRIMARY PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES
Category:	Clerk/ Auditor
Status:	Open

PRIMARY PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES

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See also