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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAddendum 2 - RFP - 10173 Electric System StudyAddendum 2 RFP 10173 Electric System Study ADDENDUM NO. 2 Description: RFP 10173 Electric System Study To all prospective proposers under the contract documents described above, the following changes/additions are hereby made and detailed in the following sections of this addendum: Exhibit 1- Questions and Answers Please contact JD McCune, Senior Buyer, at jmccune@fcgov.com with any questions regarding this addendum. RECEIPT OF THIS ADDENDUM MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY A WRITTEN STATEMENT ENCLOSED WITH THE RFP STATING THAT THIS ADDENDUM HAS BEEN RECEIVED. nd Floor 970.221.6775 970.221.6707 fcgov.com/purchasing Exhibit 1 Questions and Answers 1. What is the schedule/period of performance for completion of this study? a. We do not have a set deadline for the project, but efficiency of getting the project completed will be taken into account when evaluating the RFP. 2. A.2- Does load forecasting include a DER forecast or just load specifically? a. DER forecasting will need to be evaluated as well 3. A.3- What level is desired for the N-1 study (substation, feeder, etc.)? a. Feeder Level 4. A.5- What is the level of accuracy of the GIS in terms of data required to build an accurate load flow model? a. Currently GIS leverages Schneider’s ArcFM and a geometric network that does model electric distribution with flow. The GIS electric distribution data is in a state of continuous improvement. Resources have not been allocated for a dedicated clean-up effort of this data for the Electric System Study. While the electric network is in a good general state, the primary network is of good quality and the secondary network is traceable but needs clean-up work. The conduit network has issues and is not traceable. 5. A.5- What level of cleanup is required for loading information data? What format will it be presented in? a. AMI data is processed through MDM system for billing (billing quality). 3 years of this data is available at the 15-minute interval level in Azure data warehouse which can be extracted in any format. No clean-up is necessary for this. There is a current task which is compiling older data (up to 10 years) into the Azure Datawarehouse. 6. A.6- If a software other than Windmill is utilized, is a general software training required as part of this deliverable or just one applicable to the development models running the analysis? a. Enough training for Light & Power personnel to run and manipulate the model as necessary. Any software outside of Millsoft will need to be vetted by our IT Department prior to selecting the Company performing the work to ensure we can use the model moving forward. 7. A.7- What level of time-series analysis is desired (576,8760, etc.)? Windmill is very limited in this functionality, to our understanding, so it may be a requirement to select a different software vendor. a. Data provided will be 15-minute level data but the analysis and results can be limited to software capabilities. Time-series analysis is not a requirement to be handled in the modeling software. The proposal can include time-series analysis reports derived from alternative data modeling systems and included in the final study report. This is not required in the scope of the project but can be included if the bidder is able to provide it. 8. A.7-Hosting capacity is mentioned in this section but not anywhere else in the scope. What is the expectation here? a. This requirement in the scope is referring to the infrastructure (hardware, software, storage, etc.) for hosting the model and any data necessary for the model to function. A planning hosting capacity study is not part of the scope of work. 9. Does the City have a current Windmill load flow model developed? a. The City of Fort Collins develops a WindMil load flow model annually. The latest is with 2024 data. 10. Can the City provide an overview of currently installed smart grid technologies such as ADMS, FLISR capabilities, etc? a. The City does not own an ADMS product nor implements FLISR. The City uses AMI for metering applications. Some distribution load control is used but is not widespread. 11. Does the City currently employ advanced analytics such as load disaggregation, predictive modeling, etc.? a. No 12. What historical data will be made available for load forecasting? a. See answer to #5 above. 13. What is the current state and format of the City’s GIS and AMI data? Are API’s available for integration? a. The GIS (electric distribution) data is in an Oracle geodatabase and the format of the data is in the Esri geometric network with the Schneider ArcFM data model. Web services are available via an internal ArcGIS Portal. b. No API exists for AMI. AMI data will be pulled from data warehouse as extracts or pipelines. 14. Can the City provide more information as to the level of detail required for the System Planning deliverable? a. We would like detail down to the feeder level, which will feed up to substation transformer level, and system level. 15. Does the City have previously completed reports that could be shared to better understand the specific expectations? a. We have an existing study that was done in 2013, but it is not a good example of what we are looking for with this RFP. That was a static model/report, and we are looking to obtain a more dynamic model we can use in the future for years to come. Also. the report did not include DERs, which is a growing need with our evolving system. 16. What is the expected timeline for completion of all deliverables in the RFP? a. Please see above (question 1). 17. Can the page limit be extended to 40 pages to incorporate screenshots of proposed deliverable format? a. Yes. 18. Are there any specific SLAs or response time expectations for post-delivery support? a. The vendor shall acknowledge receipt of the support request within three (3) business days and confirm available support scheduling. The scheduled support session shall occur no later than fifteen (15) business days from the date of acknowledgment 19. Aside from Power & Light staff, what City Staff departments should the winning bidder expect to jointly engage with during growth assumption development? a. IT Department to help set up joint platform and ensure the proposed software is allowed within the City. After that, just Light & Power, which includes our Energy Service Department. 20. Are there external stakeholders the winning bidder should expect to engage with as well during assumption development? a. Not expected, but could involve Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) if necessary. 21. Should bidders assume EV data sources include but are not limited to the City's Climate Action Future Plan, City's EV Roadmap, Larimer County EV integration, and establish load growth forecasts for EV integration? a. EV load forecast can be established by the vendor based on the guidance in the mentioned plans and roadmaps. The city can also provide the current EV registration numbers and a trend from last few years if that is desired 22. Should bidder assume building electrification from Colorado State legislature as well as progress from Efficiency Works also play into the BE load growth requirements? a. Yes. City can also provide some projected BE adoption profiles 23. Should bidders assume PV loads will be solely owned by PRPA in the future with the understanding the city owns a small PV farm presently? a. No. There are no plans for the City or PRPA to own all DER on the electric distribution system. 24. Does the City desire this study to integrate the potential for VPP integration? a. No 25. Does "System Evaluation" outlined in Scope of Work intended to focus solely on evaluation from a power system model perspective? Or is this intended to encapsulate more than a power system model analysis? a. The scope should focus on only power system model analysis. 26. Is all data to be integrated into planning model available from vendors which are currently multi-speak compliant? a. See answer to #27 27. Will there be data from non-multispeak compliant vendors? Would you be able to specify data sources to be implemented into Planning Model? a. ARCFM data source is not multispeak compliant. AMI data will be coming from datawarehouse. 28. Does the City expect data lake evaluation and data control process evaluations/recommendations to be included in proposals? a. No 29. Circuit Modeling: Will the City of Fort Collins clean up the GIS data before the planning electric system model is created? e.g., ensuring data quality in terms of: Cable type, material, size Construction (duct bank or direct buried Connectivity e.g., two circuit sections from same circuit ID are connected together Phasing (e.g., single phase lateral, service transformer) Equipment capacity, status and settings (e.g., Recloser, switches, fuses, etc.) a. The GIS electric distribution data is in a state of continuous improvement. Resources have not been allocated for a dedicated clean-up effort of this data for the Electric System Study. While the electric network is in a good general state, the primary network is of good quality and the secondary network is traceable but needs clean-up work. The conduit network has issues and is not traceable. 30. How reliable is the customer-to-service transformer-to-phasing data relationship? a. The phasing to the service is of good quality. GIS service points and transformers can be used. For additional reliability EDAR (operational distribution management system) needs to be part of the QA/QC effort. 31. For the model creation process/tools, can we offer our proprietary “Network Modeling Management System” licensing option? a. Yes. Any new systems would have to be approved through the City’s Technology Review Board prior to implementation. 32. System Study (Planning and Reliability): How much roof-top solar PV capacity is installed as net metering? a. 35.5 MW AC installed capacity of solar on our system. This includes residential and commercial solar system, the community solar facility that the city owns and some of the big standalone system across the city as well. We can provide category specific data if required. 33. For system capacity assessment, will you be open for non-wire alternatives analysis option (e.g., BESS application)? a. No, that will not be needed. 34. Are the substations configured with two or more power transformers? If not, will the N-1 contingency analysis also consider substation levels (i.e., assume the power transformer fails)? a. All substations are configured with two or more power transformers. 35. Hosting Capacity (HC): Are you aiming to evaluate the system/feeder hosting capacity for solar PV and load (i.e., electric charges)? a. Please see above (question 8). 36. Will GIS mapping interphase be created by the consultant? Will the city update the HC analysis and mapping? a. The GIS (electric distribution) data is in an Oracle geodatabase and the format of the data is in the ESRI geometric network with the Schneider ArcFM data model. Web services are available via an internal ArcGIS Portal. b. For HC question please see above (question 8). 37. “Preferred planning model is Milsoft WindMil model; if not, provide justification, cost (up front and ongoing), and additional considerations for alternative modeling software.”To help us provide a thorough and responsive proposal, we would appreciate clarification on the following points: a. Is the City requesting that justification and cost (up front and ongoing) for alternative modeling software be included in the proposal response, or is this requirement intended for the future scope of work should an alternative model be proposed during project execution? i. The justification and cost (up front and ongoing) will need to be evaluated to ensure we can use the model moving forward. b. In the event an alternative modeling software is proposed, would the City be willing to provide access to its current planning models for comparison purposes? Yes, the City can provide access to its current planning models for comparison, provided that: • A Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (MNDA) is in place limiting data use strictly to the City of Fort Collins project. • The vendor cannot use City data for any other purpose. • Access will be coordinated with adequate lead time to allow IT security to review and facilitate technical arrangements. c. If access to current planning models would be granted, are these models maintained in Milsoft WindMil format, or does the City utilize a different power flow tool? i. The current models are all within Milsoft. 38. For the electric model that is to be created, how will errors be corrected? Will Fort Collins, for example, send field personnel to open manholes to verify node-to-node connectivity, or is the expectation that the bidder will provide boots on the ground verification services and will the bidder be responsible for developing procedures to correct or true-up data? a. Fort Collins will provide all the field personnel to verify node-to-node connectivity. It will be the bidder’s responsibility to notify the City of the areas that need to checked in the field. 39. Will mapping to AMI and SCADA databases be automated by Fort Collins or will the bidders be responsible for data migration and testing with existing systems? a. SCADA data is not currently going to datawarehouse but have it in an on-prem SQL Server database (to breaker level). Substation breaker amps data is available for bidder in an on-prem SQL Server database. Alternatively, Bidder can link to Iconics Hyper Historian directly to get breaker amps data. Fort Collins will not be automating this data retrieval. 40. Will equipment and system data be provided to the successful bidder in spreadsheet already prepared or will significant time be required compiling data (i.e., nameplates, equipment databases, etc.)? a. Service transformer and switch gear equipment data is currently collected and stored in Microsoft Access applications. Extracts and/or read-only access can be provided to bidder. 41. How many departments are involved in your forecasting/master planning efforts? Is the successful bidder expected to work and coordinate with all stakeholders, or will there be a singular point of contact within Fort Collins for this effort? a. It is expected that the City will have a project team and one Project Manager that will gather information required for the model. There could be occasions where the Project Manager asks the company to work directly with a different team or department on a specific item. 42. How confident is the city with the detail and accuracy of the existing electric utility infrastructure data? a. Please see above (question 4) 43. During the existing electric utility system assessment, does the city anticipate the need for asset management tasks such as in-person field inspections, equipment verification, etc.? a. No, if field inspections/verifications are required, they will be handled by City staff. 44. How many years of historical data will the city share with the consultant? What is the granularity of the historical load data? a. 10 years for 15-minute kWh meter data and hourly breaker amps can be shared 45. How mature is the city’s AMI deployment? Is there any distribution infrastructure lacking AMI? a. AMI deployment was completed in 2013. The AMI communication infrastructure is complete for the Fort Collins Electric Service area. Raw data is processed through the MDM (see answer to #5) 46. Will the city provide data/metrics related to growth in its electric service territory (population growth, economic development, etc.)? a. The City can provide data/metrics related to growth. 47. Does the city currently capture system reliability metrics? If yes, at what level of detail are these metrics captured (meter, circuit, substation)? a. The City currently captures CAIDI, SAIDI, SAIFI and MAIFI metrics every month. 48. For N-1 contingency planning, can the city specify it the contingency plan should be for substation or circuit N-1? a. Please see above (question 3). 49. Does the city have an existing operational resiliency strategy/framework? a. The City has a Master Planning Guidelines document that addresses these topics. This will be provided to the awarded bidder. 50. What types of electrification projects are most affecting the City of Fort Collins? Electric Vehicle charging stations, gas to electric utility conversions, data centers, etc.? a. Level 2 EV charging stations, residential EV level 2 chargers, replacing gas furnaces with heat pumps, all electric buildings, some gas to electric water heater conversion 51. Has the City of Fort Collins completed any level of alternative planning model assessment to Milsoft’s WindMIL power system modeling software? a. We have had demos of other vendors software but haven’t had models built of the Fort Collins electric distribution system. 52. The scope of work does not mention Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) as a requirement. Please confirm if the city is also asking for an HCA analysis for Load and/or DER capacity. If yes, please confirm the desired cadence for the production/publishing of HCA results. a. Please see above (question 8). 53. Please confirm if it is a requirement for project engineers to be based out of the United States. a. This is not a hard requirement, however the City highly prefers project engineers to be based in the U.S., and this will be a consideration while evaluating proposals. 54. Can the city confirm what GIS software it currently uses? a. Currently we are on AcrMap 10.8.1 and our data is geospatial. GIS uses the Esri platform. For utility desktop use, Esri’s ArcMap 10.8.1 is used with Schneider’s ArcFM 10.8.1 product suite. 55. Does the city have an established equipment database with specified engineering parameters based on manufacturer data, specification sheets, etc.? a. The City does have an existing equipment database with general manufacturer data. The existing Milsoft WindMil model has an equipment database with these engineering parameters. 56. For the Hosting Capacity Analysis model, can the city clarify what it means for the model to NOT be developed as a client-side application/tool? a. Please see above (question 8). 57. If a bidder would like to submit an alternate proposal in addition to the standard proposal should that be submitted as a separate stand-alone proposal or should it be included in the standard proposal? If Fort Collins would like it incorporated into the standard proposal will additional pages be granted? a. The page limit identified in the RFP is the page limit for proposals in whole. The City is asking for a single proposal from all proposers that meets the needs outlined in the Scope of Work.