RFP - 2023000020 - DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT - UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has partnered with Colorado Institutions of Higher Education to provide Colorado communities with preliminary assistance in design, planning, economic and community development strategies for over 40 years through the University Technical Assistance (UTA) program. DOLA intends to continue providing these services through the UTA program, which is funded through the DOLA Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance grant program. The DOLA grant, funds staff and operating costs for management of the program, at the university or college selected under this RFP. The grant funds are used to pay a portion of the salary/benefits of three university supervisors, student stipends, travel and operating expenses, and production costs for project reporting.  

The most recent agreement with the University of Colorado at Denver expires as of December 20, 2022.   

The University Technical Assistance (UTA) program provides primarily small and rural local governments with information for strong project development.  The UTA program facilitates the involvement of university students in the development of individual local government projects. The preliminary studies and designs give local government’s vital information on whether to pursue a particular project or direction, and are critical in assisting Colorado local governments in leveraging additional resources for implementation of the student and community developed concepts.  The conceptual drawings, planning support, economic and community development strategies and cost estimates provided by the program help empower community members to better understand and support the local projects.  Projects include, but are not limited to, library or community theatre operation plans, town hall or community building conceptual designs, conceptual park and trail plans, land use plans, feasibility studies, hazard inventories, branding support, Main Street revitalization, affordable housing development conceptual plans, and renewable and clean energy projects.