NIGP 29080: Solar Powered Electrical Systems (for Battery Charging, etc.)

NIGP 29080 Solar Powered Electrical Systems (For Battery Charging, Etc.), an Item code, encompasses design, procurement, installation, and maintenance of rooftop photovoltaic systems, battery energy storage systems, solar-powered well pumps, and microgrid installations with integrated DC fast-charging infrastructure at state and local facilities. School districts, cities, county governments, and special-purpose districts solicit under this code to offset operating costs, support grid resilience, and enable backup power during outages. Recent opportunities show work spanning full design-build responsibility—from engineering and permitting through commissioning—as well as operations and maintenance contracts for existing solar installations on municipal buildings and utility infrastructure. Issuing bodies range from school districts (Wicomico County Public Schools in Maryland) and municipal utilities (City Colleges of Chicago, City of Dallas, Orlando Utilities Commission in Florida, Kissimmee Utility Authority in Florida) to city governments (Tybee Island and Port Wentworth, Georgia; Decatur, Georgia; Berlin, Connecticut; Tallahassee, Florida) and special-purpose districts (Jackson County Fire District #1 in Oregon, Boulder County Parks and Open Space in Colorado).

Recent solicitations cluster in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, with significant activity in Georgia (Tybee Island marine science center solar installation, RFP with sealed proposals due November 3, 2026; Decatur microgrid and DC fast charger design, proposals due October 13, 2026; Port Wentworth park renovation including electrical infrastructure evaluation), Florida (Kissimmee Utility Authority substation batteries and racks, ITB closed June 17, 2026; City of Tallahassee battery load testing at 23 substations and two generating stations, IFB with bids due June 16, 2026), Maryland (Wicomico County Public Schools rooftop PV system at Bennett Middle School, RFP with proposals due November 13, 2026), and scattered activity in Texas (Harris County), Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, and statewide vehicles such as Nevada. Evaluation criteria typically weight technical merit, experience with similar projects, and cost competitiveness; many solicitations require proof of relevant microgrid, solar design, or battery system commissioning experience within the past ten years. Pre-proposal meetings and mandatory site visits are common. Set-asides and preferences vary by jurisdiction—City Colleges of Chicago applies 25% MBE and 7% WBE goals to its electrical low-voltage job order contract; City of Tallahassee offers local vendor preference points for Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, or Jefferson County establishments—while others carry no stated preferences. Insurance, bonding, and prevailing wage compliance are standard requirements for design-build and construction work.