(WASHINGTON, DC) February 22, 2016 — On Friday February 19, 2016, the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a private company to be the contractor for the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) and to administer sustainable energy programs in the District. The RFP is open to all qualified bidders.
The District’s Sustainable DC Plan goals include a 50 percent reduction of citywide energy consumption and a 50 percent reduction of citywide carbon emissions by 2032. Energy consumption in buildings makes up 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the District. Energy costs are also a significant and rising expense for District residents and businesses. For these reasons, a successful DCSEU is essential for the District to reach its energy and carbon reduction goals, while increasing green job opportunities and investing in low-income communities citywide. This ten-year, $200 million RFP will allow for new investments in larger energy efficiency projects that span multiple years, a framework that often yields higher energy savings.
“This multiyear contract significantly advances the District on our path to Sustainability,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells, “and we’re excited to usher in new, innovative ways of providing sustainable energy programs citywide. The contract allows us to maximize energy savings through deeper energy retrofits and to support meaningful investments in clean and renewable sources of power for years to come. We can ensure affordability while stimulating the local economy with the creation of green jobs for our residents.”
In 2008, the Council of the District of Columbia (Council) enacted the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (CAEA), which established a Sustainable Energy Trust Fund and created the DCSEU, to be operated by a private company under contract with the Department. In 2011, DOEE awarded a performance-based contract to a team led by the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) to operate the DCSEU. In 2014, Council amended the CAEA to require that the SEU contract become a multiyear contract of at least four years. This is a significant departure from the current annual structure of the contract, and requires a new RFP.
The DCSEU is statutorily responsible for administering energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in the District to, at a minimum:
- Reduce energy consumption in the District of Columbia;
- Increase renewable energy generating capacity in the District of Columbia;
- Improve the energy efficiency and renewable energy generating capacity of low-income housing, shelters, clinics, or other buildings serving low-income residents in the District; and
- Increase the number of green jobs in the District of Columbia.
These benchmarks are included in the RFP and each has been carefully considered to balance DOEE’s suite of objectives for the DCSEU. In addition to allowing for an increase in operational flexibility, the new multiyear includes an innovation fund carve-out.
DOEE recognizes the need for innovation to drive sustainable energy in the District. In order to support the development and deployment of new and inventive energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, a portion of the contract may be allocated to one or more “innovation funds” in support of pilot programs. Innovation programs shall be subject to review and approval by DOEE, and must have proposed metrics and methodology for how an innovation program’s success will be evaluated.
Interested parties can access the RFP through any the following means:
- Download a copy
- Request a copy by sending an email to [email protected]
- Pick up a copy of the RFP by visiting the DOEE office in person.
A pre-proposal conference will be hosted on March 7, 2016, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST, at DOEE headquarters, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002. The call-in number is 1-877-730-3868, and the conference code is 7706597. Additional questions can be submitted by email to [email protected]. The deadline for questions on the RFP is March 11, 2016. All answers to questions will be posted on DOEE’s website by March 18, 2016.
All responses to the RFP must be submitted by 5:00pm EST on Monday, April 4, 2016.
CONTACT: Julia Robey Christian, PIO, (202) 741-0842 desk, (202) 450-7878 cell, [email protected]