Conflict Public Defender Services

Location:	Utah
Posted:	Feb 5, 2026
Due:	Mar 15, 2026
Agency:	Grand County
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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GRAND COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FOR

CONFLICT PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES

Proposals are due by:

March 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

SUBMISSIONS:

Proposals shall be submitted through the Utah Public Procurement Portal (Bonfire)

Posting can be found at the following link:

https://utah.bonfirehub.com/projects/221114/details

For technical inquires contact: Mark Tyner, Grand County Commission Administrator,

mtyner@grandcountyutah.gov, (435) 259-1347.

Grand County is also accepting resumes for a secondary conflict attorney

roster in each: criminal defense, parental defense and juvenile delinquency

defense. Please contact Mark Tyner for details including required

information and compensation.

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

Grand County is seeking to award a contract for a Primary Conflict Public Defender to

serve both the Justice and District courts. The Primary Conflict Public Defender

Contractor will provide legal representation for indigent defendants charged with crimes

ranging from misdemeanors to first degree (non-capital) offenses that are filed in Grand

County Justice Court and Moab District Court, when the Primary Public Defender is

determined to have a conflict.

On average, 25-30 cases are assigned to this position annually, though this volume is

subject to change. While the Primary Conflict Attorney may maintain other public

defense or private contracts, they must prioritize this contract and attend all required

court hearings.

Grand County Justice Court generally convenes one Wednesday per month, while

Moab District Court is held biweekly on Tuesdays. Although attorneys are permitted

to appear via Webex for some proceedings, the Primary Conflict Public Defender is

required to attend all substantive hearings and trials in person. Pending grant funding,

mileage at the state rate and lodging may be reimbursed for these in-person court

proceedings.

Scope of Work

The Primary Conflict Public Defender will be the primary appointment to provide indigent

defense services to individuals charged with crimes in justice and district court when the

Primary Public Defender is determined to have a conflict.

Legal service and representation duties include but are not limited to the following:

1. Serves as court-appointed counsel for indigent criminal defendants and other persons

in cases who are entitled by law to assistance of counsel as defined in the Indigent

Defense Act further defined in Utah Code Annotated 78B-22;

2. Conducts internal conflict checks, files notice of appearances and requests for

discovery in a timely manner;

3. Prepares and appears with clients at all pre-trial and trial proceedings and hearings;

including appearing in-person at substantive hearings and trials.

4. Legal services include but are not limited to: Conducts investigations; obtains formal

and informal discovery; interviews clients to evaluate evidence and assess strength of

case; develops a theory of the case; research legal issues, prepares, files, analyzes

charging documents, police reports and discovery material and evidence for assigned

criminal cases; argues appropriate motions; and negotiates settlements or changes of

plea.

5. Develops overall defense strategies and prepares trial briefs and conducts all phases of

bench and jury trials.

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6. Recommends bond and participates in bond hearings after appointment, reviews

petitions for probation revocations, conducts evidentiary hearings and participates in

sentencing hearings; prepares motions for a new trial or notice of appeal, if necessary;

7. Maintains adequate and proper records of the representation for each assigned indigent

defendant; and

8. Keeps current with the statutes, rules, and cases regarding both procedural and

substantive legal issues.

9. Engages in effective communication with each assigned indigent defendant by

maintaining hours indigent defendant can call, meeting (in-person or remotely) with

indigent defendants to go over discovery and plea deals in advance of court, returning

calls, and visiting with indigent defendants who are incarcerated.

10. Attends regular CLE trainings specializing in criminal defense.

Application Requirements

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

following information. The application should include the following items:

1. Letter of Interest. Include the respondent’s name and business location and a statement

summarizing the legal experience of the respondent.

2. Background. The education, qualifications, and experience of the respondent. A resume is

preferred.

3. References. The respondent must provide a list of references that includes contact

information.

4. 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.

5. Cost/Fee Breakdown. Submit a fee proposal with a monthly fee for which all service will

be provided. In addition to a monthly fee, respondents may submit an alternative fee

proposal with an hourly rate and/or per case rate though this is not required. Actual

payment terms are subject to negotiation.

6. Form I. Public Records Law (attached).

Contract Length. The term for the contract(s) is one year with an option to extend for an

additional year, upon mutual agreement.

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Submittal Instructions

Proposals shall be submitted via the Utah Public Procurement Website (Bonfire) via the

following link:

https://utah.bonfirehub.com/projects/221114/details

Selection Criteria

The successful respondents will be selected based upon qualifications, experience, and ability

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

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FORM I Public Records Law

THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED WITH YOUR PROPOSAL

Upon selection of the award, submittals become “public records” and shall be subject to

public disclosure consistent with the Governmental Records Management Act. Those who

submit must invoke the exemptions to disclosure provided by law in the response to the

solicitation, and must identify the data or other materials to be protected, and must state the

reasons why such exclusion from public disclosure is necessary.

If you submit information exempt from public disclosure, you must identify with specificity

which page(s)/paragraph(s) of your proposal package is (are) exempt from the Governmental

Records Management Act and identify the specific exemption section that applies to each. The

protected information must be submitted to the County in a separate envelope marked

accordingly. By submitting an offer in response to this solicitation, you specifically agree to

defend and indemnify Grand County, County Commission, and its officers, employees and

agents, and hold them harmless from any claim or liability and defend any action brought

against them for their refusal to disclose copyrighted material, trade secrets or other

proprietary information to any person making a request therefore.

Company Name: _______________________________________________________

Authorized representative (printed): ________________________________________

Authorized representative (signature): ______________________________________

Date: ______________________________

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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:	Conflict Public Defender Services
Category:	Clerk/ Auditor
Status:	Open

Conflict Public Defender Services

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See also