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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRFI - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - 8210 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA) #DE-FOA-0001385 CONSULTING SERVICES (3)ADDENDUM NO. 2 SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS Description of Request for Information (RFI) No. 8210: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA) #DE-FOA-0001385 CONSULTING SERVICES OPENING DATE: 3:00 PM (Our Clock) December 18, 2015 To all interested firms under the RFI specifications and contract documents described above, the following changes/additions are hereby made and detailed as follows: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS See attached questions and answers Please contact Gerry Paul, Purchasing Director at (970) 221-6779 or gspaul@fcgov.com with any questions regarding this addendum. RECEIPT OF THIS ADDENDUM MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY A WRITTEN STATEMENT ENCLOSED WITH THE RFI STATING THAT THIS ADDENDUM HAS BEEN RECEIVED. Financial Services Purchasing Division 215 N. Mason St. 2nd Floor 1. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6775 970.221.6707 fcgov.com/purchasing QUESTIONS & ANSWERS RFI 8210 1. Just to be clear the City is using “SMB” as Small and Medium size buildings? Yes, that is correct. 2. How are you defining SMB (i.e., revenue, amount of people that work for the company, etc.)? We are applying the same definition as DE-FOA-0001385. 3. Please elaborate on the ultimate goal/objective of the grant? The intent of the grant is to develop a robust understanding of how small and medium business owners, and property managers make decisions regarding investments in energy efficiency (EE). Respondents to the RFI should have substantial background in applying behavioral economics to energy efficiency programs. The insights garnered will be used to hone both outreach efforts and the structure of financial incentives. 4. Please elaborate what the City is anticipating as the deliverables from the consultant? The City will expect significant research data, both quantitative and qualitative, on how SMBs make EE investment decisions. The consultant should also be able to compile that data into specific recommendations on the structuring of outreach, marketing, and incentives that specifically address those obstacles. 5. Do you have any data energy consumption data on SMB located in the City? If so, will the consultant have access to that data to help formulate a qualitative approach? Yes, the City has extensive data on electricity use and more limited data on natural gas use. The extent to which we can share data is still being determined, but we are assuming we will do so to the extent possible in furtherance of the grant project. 6. Did the city implement any energy efficiency programs in the past (i.e., energy audits, energy studies, etc.)? Yes, the City has a wide range of EE programs, both commercial and residential. As with many programs, however, obtaining significantly higher participation among SMBs, particularly in the context of deep retrofits has proven difficult. Please see the City website for more information on our programs. 7. Will the City Utility be involved in this grant? Yes, the City will be the lead on the grant and have primary responsibility for administration, management, and reporting. We will be working in close coordination with all the program partners, however, including Colorado State University and the Colorado Clean Energy Cluster. 8. Do you anticipate a strategy that includes interviewing SMB to understand their : a. Knowledge gaps regarding energy efficiency and b. SMB needs c. Other pertinent data can be useful for providing outreach We anticipate that the behavioral consultant will need to engage in a range of activities to develop a deep understanding of the primary motivations, cognitive biases, and decision heuristics that affect EE investment decisions. The RFI is intended, in part, to explore the varying approaches that would be taken by responding firms. In regards to the green financing consultant, we anticipate more basic research of the SMB market in Fort Collins, along with coordination with the behavioral consultant. However, the green financing consultant will be primarily focused on turning the data into effective education and outreach programs on the non-energy savings benefits of EE upgrades. 9. What is your timeline schedule for the services? The period of the grant is three years, and we expect to have the consultant involved for the entire term. 10. Do you have any schedule restrictions? Scheduling of services must adhere to both DOE’s requirements and the City’s obligations under the grant. 11. Do you have a budget for this project? Or does you have budget “cap” for this project? We are still determining the amount of funding required for each aspect of the grant. To a degree, responses to the RFI are intended to help us is developing an accurate cost projection. 12. I understand this is a federally funded grant. Does the City have business diversity goals (women/minority-owned businesses) for participating – which in parallel helps the Department of Energy meet their (women/minority-owned businesses) goals? The DBE goal for this project will be consistent with DOE’s requirements and the City’s obligations under the grant. The DBE goal, if applicable, will be stated in the Request for Proposal (RFP). 13. When do you anticipate the DOE to award the Grant? DOE plans to announce grant awardees in June or July of 2016. 14. When do you anticipate awarding the project to the consultant? We are still working on some timing issues, but hope to select the consultant we would use prior to the grant being awarded. Of course, a contract would be dependent on the City being an award recipient.