Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRFI - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - 8210 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA) #DE-FOA-0001385 CONSULTING SERVICESPage 1 of 5 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 8210 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUCEMENT (FOA) #DE-FOA-0001385 CONSULTING SERVICES Executive Summary The City of Fort Collins (City) is preparing to apply to the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0001385. The FOA, titled “Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Small and Medium Commercial Buildings”, focuses on developing viable market solutions to energy efficiency upgrades in that sector. The City concludes that a critical obstacle to wider adoption of energy efficiency and green upgrades is a dearth of knowledge among many small and medium business owners, property managers, and builders regarding the financial and market benefits of energy efficiency and green building. This lack of knowledge results in a chronic private sector underinvestment in these areas. Benefits of energy efficiency and green construction do not arise only from energy savings, but also from improved maintenance, employee productivity, tenant retention, resale value, etc. In fact, these benefits often result in substantially higher financial return than the energy performance itself. The intent of the project is to use insights garnered from behavioral science, behavioral economics and finance education to develop and implement outreach programs that address how SMB owners, property managers and efficiency service providers make decisions in energy efficiency and green building. We are specifically interested in stimulating SMB investment in energy efficiency and green building by improving owner and property manager understanding of the financial benefits, and facilitating the decision process. In essence, we seek to find the “sweet spot” where businesses and property owners understand the value of participating in energy efficiency and green building programs without being overwhelmed by technical information or participation requirements. The City also wishes to use the research conducted under the grant in conjunction with a market segmentation study recently completed for Fort Collins Utilities. We hope to identify precise marketing, communications and program platforms that facilitate investment and green building decisions in all small and medium commercial market segments. The City of Fort Collins is requesting information from qualified firms who are interested in providing consulting services to the City. Two areas of expertise are sought: significant experience in applying behavioral science and behavioral economics to energy efficiency programs, and experience in educating the small and medium commercial sector on the market and financial value of green building and green construction. Detailed knowledge of addressing issues related to green building valuation, split incentives, and other common obstacles to green building programs is also beneficial. The combination of expertise may be provided by a single firm or two firms with the respective expertise. Financial Services Purchasing Division 215 N. Mason St. 2nd Floor PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6775 970.221.6707 fcgov.com/purchasing Page 2 of 5 From the information collected through this Request for Information (RFI) process, the City will review all information and options, assess its needs and refine its requirements in order to create a more thorough and complete FOA application. The concept paper for the FOA is due December 16, 2015 and the full application is due February 1, 2016. Through the RFI process, the City desires to gain knowledge of the capability of firms interested in providing the City consulting services. It is also the City’s hope that this process will assist the firms responding to the forthcoming RFP in providing a more thorough submittal showing their understanding of the needs of the City. Consulting firms are strongly encouraged to respond to the RFI in order to have the opportunity to be invited to a one-on-one discussion with the project management team. The one-on-one discussion during the RFI phase will be the only opportunity for vendors to meet with the City to discuss its requirements for consulting design services. Once vendors have responded to the RFI document, if needed the City may invite firms to meet with the project management team per the schedule below. The meetings will be held at 215 North Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80522. The length of the meeting is up to the vendor firm, but will be held to a maximum of 2 hours. Prospective consultants may also conduct the meetings via conference call. Questions are to be asked and answered by both parties to assist each in getting to know the other, their capabilities, their needs and more about their business. At the end of the RFI discussion period, the City intends to launch an RFP on www.rockymountainbidsystem.com. All vendors may respond to the RFP, responses will not be limited to those who take part in the RFI process. Questions during the RFP process will be received via email and answered via addendum issued to all. There will be no RFP pre-proposal meeting. After vendor submittals are received, the City will evaluate the proposals individually and as a team. Information to be considered during these evaluations will be that which is submitted in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) only. A short list of firms may be developed from the written evaluation and those firms may be interviewed by the City team. The City intends to contract with 1-2 firms for consulting services on the grant project. The overall schedule for the process is estimated as follows: • Issuance of RFI December 4, 2015 • Accepting Vendor Questions deadline December 11, 2015 • RFI response due December 18, 2015 • RFI discussion Period December 28 – December 31, 2015 The City requests that all responders submit replies that are short, clear, concise and complete. It is not necessary to submit a marketing document in response to the RFI and 15 pages is the maximum allowed. All information packages will be public record and firms shall include no confidential or proprietary information. Page 3 of 5 As part of the City’s commitment to Sustainable Purchasing, the RFI submission via email is preferred. Proposals shall be submitted in a single Microsoft Word or PDF file under 20MB and e-mailed to: purchasing@fcgov.com. If electing to submit hard copy proposals instead, five (5) copies, will be received at the City of Fort Collins' Purchasing Division, 215 North Mason St., 2nd floor, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524. Information submittals must be received before 3:00 p.m. (our clock), December 18, 2015 and referenced as RFI No. 8210. If delivered, they are to be sent to 215 North Mason Street, 2nd Floor, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524. If mailed, the address is P.O. Box 580, Fort Collins, 80522-0580. Please note, additional time is required for bids mailed to the PO Box to be received at the Purchasing Office. Questions concerning the scope of the RFI should be directed to Tony Raeker, Green Built Environment Program Coordinator at (970) 416-4238 or traeker@fcgov.com. Questions regarding RFI submittal or process should be directed to Gerry Paul, Director of Purchasing at 970-221-6779 or gspaul@fcgov.com. All questions must be submitted in writing via email to Tony Raeker or Gerry Paul, as directed above, no later than 5:00 PM our clock on December 11, 2015. Questions received after this deadline will not be answered. A copy of the RFI may be obtained at www.rockymountainbidsystem.com. This is ONLY a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) and should not be construed as intent, commitment or promise to acquire the products and services presented by vendors. The City of Fort Collins will not be obligated to any vendor as a result of this RFI. The City is not obligated for any cost incurred whatsoever by vendors in the preparation of the Request for Information. Sincerely, Gerry S. Paul Purchasing Director Page 4 of 5 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 8210 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUCEMENT (FOA) #DE-FOA-0001385 CONSULTING SERVICES I. PURPOSE The City of Fort Collins (City) goal in issuing this Request for Information (RFI) is to give behavioral science and green finance consultants who are interested in entering into a contractual arrangement for the consulting services with the City an opportunity to exchange information with the City prior to the issuance of the Request for Proposal (RFP). This RFI is intended to provide both the City and consulting firms an opportunity to learn more about how each conducts business. The City is interested in gaining knowledge about services and capabilities from consulting firms who can provide expertise in the grant project. Specifically, the City is interested in applying behavioral science and behavioral economics to energy efficiency and green building outreach programs intended to inform the decisions of the small and medium commercial sector. The City also desires expertise in educating this sector on the market and financial value of green building and green construction. Firms that possess expertise in either or both categories may respond. The City will answer questions and explain projects that may be related to current program goals and structure, market conditions in Fort Collins, goals of the grant application, proposed structure of the grant teams, and post-grant goals. II. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES REQUIRED The City is requesting information from consulting firms who are capable of providing the following services for the development and implementation of energy efficiency outreach and education programs based on insights from behavioral sciences and green finance.  Rapidly come up to speed on small and medium business market characteristics and conditions in Fort Collins  Develop models of small and medium business decision-making in regards to energy efficiency and green construction, with an emphasis on behavioral economics and investment decisions  Identify gaps in understanding of behavioral science components of current program activities  Propose new program elements that better target small and medium business owners, increases investment in green building, and address any gaps  Aid in the development of performance metrics to determine the effectiveness of new or revamped outreach programs  Provide quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the effectiveness of program elements under the FOA project and recommend any modifications, deletions, or additions of program elements to the City  Provides a basis for City of Fort Collins’ staff to continue implementing and honing programs after completion of the grant project  Provide support, as necessary, in addressing grant reporting requirements Page 5 of 5 The consultant will be part of a project team consisting of City of Fort Collins staff, local nonprofits, and academic institutions. This team will work together from day one of award of the grant through the completion of final grant reporting. Each team member will have significant involvement in all stages of the grant project and will be expected to participate through the full three-year (36 month) grant period. Participation by all team members throughout the project is expected to encourage innovation and enhance project quality and value. III. INFORMATION REQUESTED Qualified consulting service providers who may have an interest in entering into a consulting contract for a term of up to three years, are requested to submit relevant information about their qualifications and offerings. RFI respondents are strongly encouraged to attend a one-on-one discussion with the project management team during the RFI discussion period to fully discuss their qualifications and staffing and the grant proposal. Responses should contain the following information at a minimum: 1. Company Name, address, website. Include the name and contact information (email, phone) of the company representative responsible for providing further information. 2. Type of services available, with specializations indicated. 3. Short explanation of experience dealing with behavioral science and behavioral economics as applied to energy efficiency programs and/or educating small and medium business on the market and financial benefits of green building. 4. List similar projects completed over the past 5 years. Include the utility or program sponsor, program name, title of project and a brief description of the work. 5. Submit the management and technical staff that you would propose and assign to be the normal and chief contacts for this Project. The commitment of key staff is critical to the City of Fort Collins and the success of this project. It is the City’s expectation that staff assigned to the project will remain throughout the project and act as the City’s key resources. 6. Some functions of this project may require the use of subconsultants. If you intend to utilize subconsultants you must list each and provide their key personnel. Provide examples of at least two projects where you’ve worked with your sub-consultants. 7. The City also welcomes responders to submit any pertinent information that the City should consider, including topics that the City has not included in its RFI.