NIGP 91018: Energy Systems, Solar, Installation Services

NIGP 91018 Energy Systems, Solar, Installation Services is an Item code under which state and local governments procure design, engineering, equipment supply, and installation of solar photovoltaic systems, battery energy storage, microgrids, and associated electrical infrastructure for public facilities and municipal operations. Recent solicitations span rooftop and ground-mounted PV arrays, floating photovoltaic systems on stormwater ponds, solar canopies over parking areas, solar lighting systems, and microgrid platforms integrating generation, storage, and controls at pump stations and utility facilities. Counties, cities, transit authorities, and special-purpose districts (airport authorities, health plans, utilities) issue solicitations under this code. Repeat buyers in the recent window include Orange County and the City of Gainesville (Florida), Boulder County and the City of Winder (Colorado and Georgia), and the City of Phoenix (Arizona). Work is divided between turnkey design-build contracts, design-only or engineering RFPs, performance contracting and Energy Savings Performance Agreements (ESPAs) where an ESCO guarantees energy savings, power purchase agreements (PPAs) where a developer owns and operates systems on municipal property, and equipment procurement for inverters and optimizers. Typical solicitation types are RFP (most common), ITB, and RFQ; many procurements require performance and payment bonds, prevailing wage compliance, and proof of technical certifications such as Professional Engineer licenses or Certified Commissioning Professional credentials.

Recent activity clusters in Florida (multiple counties and municipalities), Georgia (counties and cities), Colorado (Boulder County), California (Ontario International Airport, Inland Empire Health Plan cooperative), Connecticut (municipalities), Oregon (City of Eugene), and Ohio (City of Cincinnati). Representative recent opportunities include Boulder County Parks and Open Space seeking a contractor for design, permitting, and installation of six stock water wells with solar pumps and electrical infrastructure on two agricultural properties, RFP response due September 4, 2026 with a contract value of $350,000; the City of Gainesville's Regional Transit System issuing an RFP for design and construction of a $4.3 million solar canopy covering 470 parking spaces (1,058 kW DC output) with prevailing wage and DBE set-aside requirements, responses due December 2, 2025; Orange County, Florida issuing a design-build RFP for a floating photovoltaic system on a stormwater pond at the Utilities Administration Building (450 kW AC array, estimated $3,428,000), sealed offers due February 17, 2026; and the City of Eugene, Oregon procuring design-build services for a 120 kW solar array and 440 kWh battery storage system funded through a $1,000,000 State of Oregon Community Renewable Energy Project grant, with proposals due April 15, 2026.