1-4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer.pdf

CITY OF NORWALK

PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

SEALED RFQS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT, 125 EAST AVENUE NORWALK, CT 06851

BY THE DATE AND TIME OF RFQ OPENING

PROJECT NUMBER: 4465

REQUESTING DEPARTMENT: Other

DATE OF RFQ ISSUANCE: 08/12/2025

TITLE OF RFQ:

Preferred Residential Solar Installer

RFI/QUESTION DEADLINE: 2:00 PM 08/22/2025

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 2:00 PM 09/04/2025

HARD COPY SUBMISSION DEADLINE: N/A

MANDATORY WALKTHROUGH:

DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF WALKTHROUGH

YES ( ) NO (X )

TIME/DATE OF RFQ OPENING: 2:00 PM 09/04/2025

RFQ DEPOSIT REQUIRED:

IF YES, AMOUNT REQUIRED

YES ( ) NO (X )

SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS ONLY:

PERFORMANCE & PAYMENT BOND REQUIRED:

IF YES, AMOUNT REQUIRED

YES ( ) NO (X )

SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS ONLY:

MAINTENANCE BOND REQUIRED:

YES ( ) NO ( X)

ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SPECIFICATIONS AND BID FORMS ARE ATTACHED HERETO.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR A BID TO BE COMPLIANT

1. BIDDER’S INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

2. RFQ FORMS, INCLUDING PRICING SHEETS AND ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGMENT

3. EXCEPTIONS (IF ANY)

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS

1. ALL RFQS WILL BE OPENED PROMPTLY AT THE ADVERTISED TIME OF OPENING. THERE WILL BE NO DELAYS OR

POSTPONEMENTS WHICH ARE NOT PUBLICLY ADVERTISED. ANY RFQ RECEIVED AFTER THE ADVERTISED TIME

OF OPENING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

2. OBLIGATION OF BIDDERS:

a. AT THE TIME OF OPENING RFQS, EACH BIDDER SHALL BE PRESUMED TO HAVE INSPECTED THE SITES

AND TO HAVE MADE HIM/HERSELF THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANS AND CONTRACT

DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ALL ADDENDA. THE FAILURE OR OMISSION OF ANY BIDDER TO RECEIVE OR

EXAMINE ANY FORM, INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT SHALL IN NO WAY RELIEVE ANY BIDDER FROM

ANY OBLIGATION IN RESPECT TO THEIR RFQ.

b. EACH BIDDER MUST FULLY INFORM HIM/HERSELF OF THE CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE WORK

WHICH WILL BE PERFORMED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL NOT RELIEVE THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER OF

HIS/HER OBLIGATION TO FURNISH ALL LABOR AND MATERIALS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE

PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND TO COMPLETE THE CONTEMPLATED WORK. IN AS

MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE CONTRACTOR MUST, IN CARRYING OUT HIS/HER WORK, EMPLOY SUCH

MEANS AND METHODS AS WILL NOT CAUSE ANY INTERRUPTIONS OR INTERFERENCE WITH THE WORK

OF ANY OTHER CONTRACTOR.

3. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE (IF APPLICABLE):

a. IF THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED BY THE DATE SPECIFIED AS THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE

IN THE CONTRACT ENTERED INTO BY THE CITY AND THE CONTRACTOR, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE

SUBJECT TO CONSEQUENTIAL AND/OR LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

1. INTRODUCTION

The City of Norwalk is seeking a qualified residential solar installer to serve as the preferred provider for a community-wide solar campaign. This campaign will offer residents tiered pricing discounts based on the number of homes that go solar, making clean energy more accessible and cost-effective. The goal of the campaign is to reduce homeowner energy costs, increase community resilience, help Norwalk meet its sustainability objectives, and promote widespread adoption of solar technology through trusted partnerships. The requirements of this project are outlined in greater detail under Section 2 Scope of Work/Project Specifications.

2. RFQ DOCUMENTS

All RFQ documents for this invitation are available over the internet at http://www.norwalkct.gov. Adobe

Acrobat reader is required to view this document. If you do not have this software you may download it for free from Adobe.

3. ADDENDA

All addenda, if issued will be available over the internet at http://www.norwalkct.gov. We strongly suggest that you check for any addenda a minimum of forty-eight hours in advance of the RFQ deadline. It is the responsibility of the bidder to check for issuance of any addenda.

4. BIDDER’S LIST

Bidder’s list for this solicitation will not be published.

5. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS RFQ

All questions concerning this solicitation must be directed, via e-mail, to Chris McCauley, Purchasing Officer at cmccauley@norwalkct.gov. Please include the Project Number and Project Title in the subject line. The deadline for the submission of questions is 2:00 pm, August 22, 2025.

6. SUBMISSION OF RFQ

The City of Norwalk requires electronic sealed submission for this project in the City of Norwalk’s BONFIRE portal (https://norwalkct.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities).

All sealed electronic submissions must be submitted in Bonfire no later than September 04, 2025, at

2:00PM.

7. SUMMARIES

A list of the proposing firms will be available any time after 5:00 pm on the day of the RFQ opening at Purchasing-Bid Postings. RFQ results will not be provided over the phone.

Page 3 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer http://www.norwalkct.gov/ http://www.norwalkct.gov/ mailto:cmccauley@norwalkct.gov https://www.norwalkct.gov/Bids.aspx?CatID=All&txtSort=Date&showAllBids=on&Status=

SPECIAL NOTES:

1. IMPORTANT Submission Information: As of 08/10/2020, a new interior Customer Service window opened inside City Hall that will help serve the public during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The window is staffed by

Customer Service representatives Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If you are planning to use the

Customer Service window to drop off your submission, it is recommended to drop off the submission as early as possible since the team will be serving other customers.

It is still recommended to use a courier service (i.e. FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.) to deliver the submission to the above address by the due date and time.

2. Public Opening: Per the City of Norwalk Purchasing Guidelines , Bids shall be opened publicly by the Purchasing

Agent or his designee, in the presence of one or more witnesses at the time and place designated in the

Invitation for Bids. Receipt of Proposals. Proposals shall be opened so as to avoid disclosure of contents to competing proposers during the process of negotiation. A Register of Proposals shall be prepared in accordance with these Procurement Guidelines, and shall be open for public inspection after contract award. If you wish to hear the bid/RFQ/RFP opening, please join us through a teleconference.

Access Number: (866) 640-4044 or (678) 302-3554

Participant Code: 968 704

Page 4 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer https://www.norwalkct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/334/City-Procurement-Guidelines?bidId=

SECTION 1 – RESPONSE FORMS

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PROPOSER’S INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

Proposer’s Name

Street Address

City State Zip

Business Telephone:

Email Address:

Printed Name and Title of Individual Submitting Proposal

The undersigned acknowledges that the terms, conditions and specifications of this RFQ are understood and unconditionally accepted.

Signature Date

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Exceptions: Note any vendor(s) responding to this proposal shall indicate any/all exceptions (if any) taken to language in this proposal. BIDDERS MAY NOT TAKE EXCEPTION TO SUBSTANTIVE TERMS OF STANDARD

CONTRACT FORMS PROVIDED IN THE RFP/RFQ/ITB. Exceptions must be declared below in order to be considered by the City:

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1.1 PROPOSAL RESPONSE FORM

Firm Name -

Address -

Phone - Fax - Email -

Manager - Fed ID#

In submitting this submittal the undersigned declares that this submission is made without any connection with any persons making another bid or the same contract; that the proposed fees are in all respects fair and without collusion, fraud or mental reservation;

and that no official of the City, or any person in the employ of the City is directly or indirectly interested in said proposal or in the supplies or work to which it relates, or in any portion of the profits thereof.

The undersigned also hereby declares that they have carefully considered objectives of each task of this project, professional services, requirements and deliverables required, and are satisfied and understood that in signing this proposal all right to plead any misunderstanding regarding the same is waived.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that he/she on behalf of the submitting firm will furnish and provide all the necessary staffing, sub-consultant services, office support, and other items of whatever nature, and to do and perform all design services necessary under the aforesaid conditions, to carry out the contract and to accept in full compensation therefore the amount of the contract as agreed to by the Firm and the City.

A. CERTIFICATION

Submitted By: Signature:

Authorized Agent of Company (name and title) Date:

B. The above signatory acknowledges receipt of the following addenda issued during the request for qualification solicitation period and understands that they are a part of the solicitation documents (if applicable):

Addendum # Dated Addendum # Dated

Addendum # Dated Addendum # Dated

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1.2 STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

Please answer the following questions regarding your company's past performance. Failure to reply to this instruction may be regarded as justification for rejecting a bid.

1. Number of years in business:

2. Number of personnel employed: Part Time Full Time

3. List six contracts of this type/size your firm has completed within the last four years:

Project Date Contact Person Phone No.

4. SUBCONTRACTORS: If subcontractors are to be used, please list firm name, address, name of principal, and phone number below or on a separate sheet. Also indicate portion or section of work subcontractor will be performing.

COMPANY NAME ADDRESS PRINCIPAL PHONE PORTION/SECTION

OF WORK

5. ORGANIZATIONAL general partnership

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STRUCTURE OF

BIDDER (check which applies) limited partnership limited liability corporation limited liability partnership corporation doing business under a trade name individual doing business under a trade name other (specify)

6. STATUS OF THE

BUSINESS AND ITS

CURRENT STANDING

WITH THE SECRETARY

OF STATE'S OFFICE; e.g., are all required filings current and in good standing or has the entity been withdrawn or canceled

Connecticut corporations - Will the

Secretary of State be able to issue a

Certificate of Good Standing within 30 days of the bid opening?

Yes No

Out-of -State corporations - Do you have a valid license to do business in the State of

Connecticut? (Evidence in the form of a

Certificate of Authority from the

Connecticut Secretary of State will be required within 30 days of the bid opening.)

Yes No

7. CT eLICENSE (https://www.elicense.ct.gov ) / Business Registration (https://business.ct.gov/?language=en_US) :

8. Is your local organization an affiliate of a parent company? If so, Indicate the principal place of business of your company and the name of the agent for service if different from what has been indicated on the response form:

Business

Name

Address

City. State

& Zip

Name of

Agent

NOTE: In the case of a Limited Liability Corporation or a Limited Liability Partnership a certified copy of the Articles of

Organization certified as valid and in effect as of the date of the bid opening will be required within 30 days of the bid opening. A listing of the corporate officers, in the case of a corporation; the general or managing partners, in the case

Page 10 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer https://www.elicense.ct.gov/ https://business.ct.gov/?language=en_US of a partnership; or the managers and members in the case of either a limited liability partnership or company will be required within 30 days of the bid opening.

9. Your company may be asked to submit the following information relative to your company's financial statements prior to receiving an award. This information will not be part of the public bidding record and will remain confidential.

All information should be supported with appropriate audited financials

a. Book Value (Total Assets (-) Total Liabilities)

b. Working Capital (Current Assets (-) Current Liabilities

c. Current Ratio (Current Assets/Current Liabilities)

d. Debt to Equity Ratio (Long Term Debt/Shareholder's Equity)

e. Return on Assets (Net Income/Total Assets)

f. Return on Equity (Net Income/Shareholder's Equity)

g. Return on Invested Capital (Net Income/Long Term Debt = Shareholders' Equity)

All responses to this questionnaire are understood to be proprietary to the vendor, and will be considered confidential.

Additional information may be requested subsequent to your responding to this bid request.

1.3 CITY OF NORWALK VENDOR RECORDS

If you have not done business with the City of Norwalk as a vendor, your business information needs updating or your

City of Norwalk vendor record has not been updated over three (3) years. Please complete and include the latest version of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) W-9 Form with your submission. Here is the URL to the IRS website:

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9

1.4 INSURANCE

Insurance Agency Name: Tel:

Agency Address: Email:

1.5 CITY OF NORWALK VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE – IT INFORMATION SECURITY

Page 11 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9

SECTION 2 – SCOPE OF WORK / PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

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2.1 Introduction

The City of Norwalk is seeking a qualified residential solar installer to serve as the preferred provider for a community-wide solar campaign. This campaign will offer residents tiered pricing discounts based on the number of homes that go solar, making clean energy more accessible and cost-effective. The goal of the campaign is to reduce homeowner energy costs, help Norwalk meet its sustainability objectives, and promote widespread adoption of solar technology through trusted partnerships

2.2 Background

The City of Norwalk is seeking to partner with one (1) or more solar energy system installers to provide consulting and other services for the design and installation of solar energy systems to launch a Solarize Norwalk campaign to replicate the successes of similar solar energy system efforts and initiatives throughout Connecticut and the United States. The intent of this campaign is to educate Norwalk residents and business owners on the many benefits of solar electricity, help residents save money, generate clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, create local jobs, support local economic opportunities and increase community resilience.

The purpose of this project is to install solar energy systems in Norwalk, at lower cost than the typical installation.

Through the Solarize Norwalk effort The City will coordinate the outreach and educational components of the project in collaboration with the selected system installers.

The program shall be marketed to Norwalk residents and businesses. Norwalk residents and business owners will participate in their own individual and business capacities with no endorsement, explicit or implicit, from the City of

Norwalk.

The goals of the program include:

• Increased education and awareness of the advantages of solar energy systems;

• Reduced hard and soft costs associated with solar energy systems

• Increase local adoption of solar energy systems.

Through the Solarize Norwalk effort the objective is to retain one or more certified and Connecticut eligible installers to provide the site assessment, system design, equipment procurement, and installation services for the Norwalk residents and business owners that elect to participate in the program. The selected firms shall provide a single pricing structure for all participants, based upon the size of the installed system [ex. cost in energy in kilowatts for solar PV system] for the Solarize Norwalk program.

The Program will begin September 2025 with the initial launch of outreach by the City and shall remain open through

December 1st as long as Federal tax benefits for Residential Energy Credits are available. The limited duration of this pilot program is intended to motivate participation. The final program timeline may be changed or extended if agreed upon by the CITY and the selected installer (s).

2.3 Scope of Services

The number of participants and total capacity of the energy systems project is unknown. The intent is to open the

Solarize Norwalk program up to all homeowners and business owners located in Norwalk. Since there are three (3) distinct utility service territories in Norwalk, CT the selected solar energy system installers must be able to provide multiple options to all residents and business owners in each of these three utility service areas.

The goal of the Solarize Norwalk program is to have a total of fifty (50) solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy systems installations completed by January 31, 2026. Proposals should include community wide marketing strategies to promote

Page 13 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer the Solarize Norwalk campaign, but specific marketing strategies and outreach ideas should also be included to target and appeal to Norwalk residents and businesses.

The selected firm shall be required to have sufficient staff available to answer questions and provide an interface to the community at a series of informational meetings and various workshops (4-6 meetings) to be conducted by the CITY and the successful installers throughout the City.

The selected firm shall be expected to provide, at no charge, site assessments and system design proposals for each interested participant on the list to establish each site’s suitability for solar, identify the selected system size, and finalize the installation cost for each participant. Such site assessments shall include an analysis of the impact of shading, tilt and orientation on annual energy production, and note any electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural considerations that may incur costs above and beyond the base pricing schedule for the project. Individual system designs should be aesthetically pleasing, taking into consideration the preferences of a given customer, while minimizing project costs and maximizing solar energy production.

The installations shall be carried out by the selected firm in conformance with all applicable laws and codes, interconnection requirements for net-metered installations, Connecticut Installation Requirements, and existing rules and timelines. For each participating structure, the selected firm shall be responsible for securing all required permits, completing and submitting applicable government incentive applications, and scheduling and passing all jurisdictional inspections. The selected firm shall provide guidance and assistance to each participant with completing a net-metering agreement with their utility. The firm shall provide each participant with the information and documentation required to complete all relevant and required forms, applications, etc. The selected installers will also provide each participant appropriate documentation for applying for the Federal Energy Tax Credit.

The CITY shall promote the installer(s) as having been selected to perform turnkey solar energy services. However, the

CITY shall not endorse any installer over another and shall not endorse the selected installer(s). The CITY is not responsible for the agreements that are entered into by the selected installer(s) and the Home or Business Owner. And the selected installer will waive and release the CITY from any and all claims and cause of actions arising out of this program and shall expressly hold the CITY harmless from any liability associated with the installer’s services or representations to the Home or Business owners.

The selected installer will work collaboratively with City representatives and community organizations to:

• Offer multiple residential solar financing options, including cash, loan, and PPA

• Provide high-quality equipment and long-term warranties (30 years product/labor,35 year panel life)

• Utilize local staff and permitting knowledge to streamline project timelines and customer experience

• Offer optional energy storage and EV charging upgrades for residents seeking full-home clean energy solutions

• Demonstrate strong commercial and residential project experience with a proven record of performance in

Connecticut

2.4 Services to be Provided by Installers

In order to participate in the Program, Installers shall provide a competitive dollar per watt ($/W) “Purchase Price” for solar energy systems as well as financial or alternative volume rebates based on total contracted capacity of solar energy systems (ex. 200 kilowatts of contracted capacity goal achieved results in an additional rebate of $XXX for each

Homeowner who completes an installation). For Lease or Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) projects, if offered, the

Installer must provide a base dollar per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh, if possible) Lease/PPA Price, as well as financial volume rebates for Homeowners who sign a Lease or PPA for solar energy systems as total installation goals are reached. As

Page 14 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer such, proposals will not only be evaluated on the Installer’s ability to provide the highest quality design and installation services, but also on the ability to deliver competitively discounted pricing with volume rebates for the purchase and financing of systems.

The selected Installer(s) will provide no cost / no obligation site assessments (with site visits or desktop analysis, as appropriate, different ownership (or financing) models, and installation services to Home or business owners. Home or business owners with sites that are deemed feasible for a solar energy systems project will have the option to contract with the selected Installer(s) before the Program contract deadline of December 1, 2025. The Installer(s) will be the technical expert responsible for assessing individual sites, working with interested Home or business owners to design appropriate systems, and contracting with Home or business owners for installation of solar PV systems.

The CITY recognizes that this discount purchase model may generate a great deal of demand. In order to meet this potential demand, the RFP encourages Installers to co-apply as needed and submit one joint proposal based on this partnership with an agreed upon price and service delivery model. Installers may determine their preferred method of allocating or sharing program leads, whether via geographic distribution, alternating allocation, etc.

2.5 Services to be Provided by CITY

The CITY shall provide support of the program to the successful installers through The Office of Sustainability and

Resilience. The CITY shall provide coordination between the selected Firm(s) and the selected participants, including timely response to any inquiries concerning the program. The CITY will be reasonably available for meetings between the successful installers and the program participants. The selected installers shall deliver informational meetings and educational workshops ranging from solar energy basics to the technical nuts & bolts, incentives & tax credits, and financing options. These workshops shall provide residents and business owners with answers to basic questions about solar and help those in attendance understand: their energy consumption, site suitability for solar, eligibility for incentives and tax credits, how solar will impact their bill, and other energy improvements to consider. The selected firm will be responsible for managing marketing and coordinating with the CITY on community outreach efforts.

2.6 Format Of Proposals

Proposals should put forth full, accurate, and complete but concise information as required by this request. The City shall not be liable for costs incurred in the preparation of the response to this RFP or in connection with any presentation before a Selection Committee.

Firms should create their submissions in 8½” x 11” document size using a minimum 12-point font size, double sided, include page numbers and any blank pages must be watermarked “Intentionally Left Blank”. Proposals should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of the applicant's ability to meet the requirements of the RFP. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of content.

The City reserves the right to reject proposals/parts thereof or to solicit new proposal and award contracts as it deems tin its best interest. All proposals will remain property of the City. It is further understood and agreed that all information included in, attached to, or required by the Request for Proposal shall be public record upon delivery to the

City.

To enable the City to compare the proposals received we ask that your proposal include the information specified below, the sequence listed, with each section of your proposal numbered to correspond to the numbers sequenced below.

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Section One

Cover Letter (Letter of Introduction): Section One shall be a signed cover letter (letter of introduction) stating the highlights, key features and distinguishing points of the Organization’s proposal submission. Such document shall include the name and address of the organization submitting the proposal, together with the name, address and telephone numbers of the contact person who will be authorized to make representations for the organization, the organization’s federal tax identification number, its energy installation certification information and a list of local subcontractors, if any. The cover letter shall include a statement that the proposal submission is valid for a period of ninety (90) calendar days after receipt by the City.

Section Two

Table of Contents: Section Two shall be a detailed Table of contents and shall include a detailed outline of the proposal submission document identified by sequential page numbers and by section reference number and section title information as described herein.

Section Three

Proposing Organization’s Profile: Section Three shall include:

• Description of the Organization(s), including company size, financial stability, location, capacity for work, and access to various supply chains. Highlight relevant experience, skills and capabilities necessary to undertake this

Program, including, but not limited to, demonstrated experience.

• Provide references for at least ten (10) of its equivalent projects.

• Describe Organization’s ratio of part time to full time employees.

• Describe Organization’s employment practices (including apprenticeship and mentoring) as well as corporate sustainability activities.

• Provide a description of Organization’s health and safety record and practices

• Please describe the demonstrated experience of your Organization’s in the development, designing and installation of residential (and commercial) solar energy systems. Please describe how your experience on previous projects relates to this Program.

• Capacity: Firms must demonstrate that they have the capacity to complete the program within the allotted timeframe and have conducted a minimum of twenty (25) successful installations of Solar PV systems in the

State of Connecticut, as either a prime or subcontractor within the last three (3) years.

• Licensing: Please describe the licensing and certifications held by your Organization in general and specifically those licenses or certificates held by your proposed key project team members .

• Provide name, contact information, and contractor license numbers for all subcontractors that your

Organization intends to employ using existing business relationships for the Program. (Ex. solar-installation, roofing, or electrical subcontractors). Any other licenses or certifications required by the State of Connecticut

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• Please include the total number of residential and business solar installations that your Organization has successfully completed over the past three (3) years, along with the average residential and business

(commercial) system size (kW) installed.

• Please provide details regarding average number of systems per week that Installer or subcontractors have installed over the past three (3) years, for standard installations (ex. those with no additional roofing work / panel upgrades / structural reinforcement / tree trimming / etc.)

Section Four

Qualifications of the project team: Section four shall identify the key project team members by name and position, and provide a detailed overview of their qualifications and experience. And if applicable, provide the names, addresses, contact information, and contract or license numbers for all specified subcontractors the firm intends to employ for the project.

Provide a detailed overview of your firm’s marketing strategy as it relates to providing assistance to promote the

Solarize Norwalk campaign and to educate the residents and business owners at the proposed informational meetings, workshops, events and any additional marketing and other community outreach opportunities. Include any ideas or suggestions for community outreach and marketing directed specifically towards residents and business owners.

Section Five

A. Sustainability Practices: Provide documentation listing the city and state of participants, including: manufacturers, installers, and any other partners in the project. Describe the major sustainable attributes of proposer’s business practices, as well as that of other partners.

B. Local Providers: Provide documentation of Connecticut-based employees, consultants, or subcontractors. Provide information about your firm or your subcontractor’s involvement with the Connecticut area, including professional or volunteer organization memberships and past work in the area.

Section Six

Section Employment Practices: Section Six shall provide information about employment practices, including wages, benefits, apprenticeships and mentoring programs

Solarize Norwalk values quality training programs. Provide information about your firm’s participation in training and certification programs, as well as any innovative training models that you have deployed, or intend to implement for this program. Provide information of how your firm can generate clean jobs locally and to help keep labor costs minimal

Section Seven

Scope of Services and Proposed Schedule: Section Seven provides a detailed scope of service addressing the requirements set forth in this RFP document. Address all necessary work tasks in narrative form and prepare a project schedule showing the timeline for completion of the work. Begin your proposed schedule with the receipt of the list of participants.

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Describe in detail how the proposing firm will handle the influx of enrollees and maintain quality control early in the program, as well as the process for initial contact with participants. Provide details outlining the process and number of site assessments to be performed each week and customer service control measures that will be taken throughout the duration of the program. Include an overview of how you intend to provide regular updates to the Solarize Norwalk team.

Describe in detail your customer service control measures after the installation. Of specific concern is how your firm handles issues once a system has been installed. Include an overview of how you intend to provide regular updates to the Solarize Norwalk team.

Describe how the proposing firm will establish and maintain quality control through the project work, as well as process for permitting and inspections. Provide details outlining the number and system size per week that your firm or subcontractors are capable of installing, and what factors are accounted for in these estimates. Provide information about the minimum and maximum system size for solar energy systems to be installed. Include the manufacturer and/or models of modules, inverters, racking equipment, and various mounting options, and BOS equipment. Include details about manufacturer’s equipment warranties, applicable labor and roof penetration warranties, as well as the system monitoring capability provided by the firm or by equipment manufacturers.

Describe any educational opportunities available or access to online real-time data available that could be added to the

Solarize Norwalk project website. For the solar energy system installations, we are interested in hearing how and what data might be collected to build a dataset on the impact of these systems on energy production, carbon emission reduction and cost savings.

Describe any program enhancements your firm is offering, as a component of your Solarize Norwalk proposal submission, that will directly benefit the residents or business owners of Norwalk

Section Eight

Pricing Overview: Section Eight provide a proposed pricing schedule based on the anticipated total capacity of participation in the project. Pricing schedules should conform to the format outlined in Exhibit A. Pricing must include site assessment, all materials, equipment (manufacturer spec sheets), labor, transportation, permits, warranties

(manufacturer or in-house), and services required to assess the proposed site and design and install the systems in accordance with applicable laws and codes, interconnection requirements, State, and utility installation requirements.

Additional services and features not stipulated by these requirements, such as extended warrantees, maintenance contracts or ancillary monitoring equipment, may be listed and priced separately.

Please describe all financing options Installer will offer Homeowners and Business Owners. Include details on credit score requirements, interest rates, terms, and conditions for the various financing product options. Please add a statement confirming that Homeowner and Businesses are not required to use Installers financing options and may opt to pursue loans with other financial institutions for a direct purchase

Outline what Installers current average installation cost for direct purchased residential and commercial systems in the

Program Area. Please provide cost information for both Purchased PV systems ($/W) and Lease/PPA ($/kWh) systems as applicable.

Outline the discounted Purchase Price, the discounted Lease/PPA Price (if offered), and the additional financial incentive based on Program installation capacity milestones that you will provide for the Program on the Pricing Proposal.

Financial incentive for Program installation capacity milestones can include, though is not limited to, a rebate, gift card, Page 18 of 43 4465 Preferred Residential Solar Installer or other financial incentive not limited to, a rebate, gift card, or other financial incentive. If offered, the Lease/PPA price should assume the Homeowner or Business owner is putting no money down for a system that will produce 90 percent of optimal production, and should be presented on a $/kWh basis if possible. For third-party ownership offerings that are a fixed monthly payment (ex. $/month), the payment should be translated into a $/kWh price for means of comparison. Please include the Lease/PPA term (in years), and any annual rate escalator (%), if applicable.

Price Contingencies (Adders): It is understood that features of certain installations will result in higher costs. Installers must outline specific electrical, mechanical, structural, equipment, site, or labor features that will result in greater costs on the Pricing Form . If installation pricing will vary by system size, please include small system adder (suggested at

<3kW) and large system reduction (suggested at >10kW). Installers must also identify all adders as an itemized summary on Homeowner and Business owner proposals throughout the Program. In addition, Installers must identify a maximum

Purchase Price or Lease/PPA Price associated with more complicated installations and understand that an individual project price cannot exceed the base price plus the additional price. Adders should be listed as a $/watt cost for

Purchased projects, and a $/kWh cost (if possible) for Leased/PPA projects. If applicable, Installers may also list an adder as a flat cost for purchased projects. Installers will be responsible for identifying individual projects that trigger additional pricing and will itemize adders on a Home or business owner’s proposal for transparency

System Specifications: The Program is interested in high quality as well as cost competitive equipment. Identify system specifications for equipment that will be used for projects going through the Program, including equipment manufacturers, models (ex. module wattages, efficiencies), and warranties for modules, inverters, racking, meters, and data acquisition systems, if applicable. Please include details in your proposal about applicable labor and roof penetration warranties as well. Production guarantees in addition to product warranties are encouraged.

Maintenance and Repair: Provide information regarding ongoing maintenance and repair throughout the life of the system, including who the provider(s) will be and provisions for continuation if the provider ceases operations

Home and Business Owner Proposals: All proposals provided to Home and Business owners shall itemize the cost of each technology option if more than one is offered (example: mid-efficiency vs. high efficiency modules or central inverter vs. micro-inverters) and any adders that may be needed to complete a participant’s project. Levelized costs of electricity (LCOEs) in $/kWh shall be provided for each equipment & finance combination, to allow for directly comparable evaluation of options by each Home and Business Owner. Applicable state and federal incentives should also be included on individual Home and Business owner’s quotes.

Proposal for sites that are not feasible for solar PV: Outline the process by which your Organization will handle leads that do not have feasible sites for solar energy System.

Sample Proposals: Please provide a sample proposal for two (2) homes system installations . For each sample home, please provide a system proposal for each financing method being offered (cash purchase, loan, Lease/PPA), that reflects turnkey system pricing. For each proposal, please include a sample customer contract tailored to the Program including a description of Installers terms of payment, process and timeline, from initial deposit to final payment. The

EFTC evaluation committee will review the Sample Proposals and may use these proposal prices to determine the scoring for the pricing criteria

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Pricing should be presented as price per-kilowatt of installed capacity, before any eligible Connecticut incentives or state and federal tax credits. Final pricing for the program will be determined once installers selection is made. The proposer should include any financing options that the firm can make available to participants

Section Nine

Appendix, Supporting Information: Section Nine should contain include any supporting information, such as resumes, references or other data that will support your firm as the best proposer for the project

It is Solarize Norwalk’s goal to support the local solar industry. Therefore bonus points may be awarded for proposals that use and promote American-made or manufactured equipment

(Additional System Offerings) requests other optional offerings that the Installer can provide alongside the solar PV system. These can include services from sub-contractors and could include electrical services, roof repair, battery storage, or energy efficiency. Providing these services is not mandatory for proposals but will be viewed favorably and scored as described in 2.8: Evaluation Criteria.

2.7 Selection Process

Submissions will be initially reviewed by a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee may select the two or three firms that best meet the City’s requirements. These firms will then be invited to represent their submissions to and respond to questions from the Selection Committee.

Following this selection process, if required, the Selection Committee will make a recommendation to the

Common Council Committee. Approval to enter into a contract has to be authorized by the Norwalk

Common Council.

The City of Norwalk reserves the right to reject any and all submissions submitted, to request additional information from all proposers and to negotiate with one or more of the finalists regarding the terms of this engagement. The City of Norwalk also reserves the right to retain the submissions, use any ideas contained in the submissions and is not obligated in any manner to reimburse the proposers for the costs incurred in connection with responding to this Request for Submissions.

The Selection Committee intends to recommend the firm that, in its opinion, best meets the City’s needs, not necessarily the firm with the lowest fees.

The anticipated selection schedule is as follows:

RFQ Interviews September 2025

Common Council Committee Review September 2025

Common Council Review September 2025

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2.8 Criteria for Evaluating Proposal Submissions

The City of Norwalk shall be responsible for reviewing the submissions received and will further evaluate them, using the following criteria. The City reserves its rights to examine any other criteria and take the same under consideration and to reject any firm or submissions despite its compliance with these criteria if it determines that to do so would be in its best interests.

Criteria Weight

Qualifications and Experience:

Local Presence & Permitting Experience Customer Service & Project Management Financing Program Options

25%

Overall Impression of Proposal Proposed Quality of Hardware, Warranty, and Service 25%

Additional Considerations

• Installer’s Community Benefits and Additional Offerings

10%

Cost Proposal:

Total System Cost & Tiered Discounting

40%

Total Possible Points 100

2.9 Prime Proposer Responsibility

Firm’s submitting submissions to this RFQ may utilize the services of subcontractors. If subcontractors are planned to be used, this should be clearly explained in the proposal. The prime proposer will be responsible for the entire contract performance whether or not subcontractor is to perform.

All corporate information required in this RFQ must be included for each proposed subcontractor. The proposal must also include copies of any agreements to be executed between the prime proposer and any subcontractors in the event of contract award. Under this RFQ, the City of Norwalk retains the right to approve all subcontractors.

2.10 Key Personnel

The personnel and commitments identified on any proposer’s proposal will be considered essential to the work to be performed under this RFQ. Prior to diverting any of the specified individuals to other programs or changing the level of effort of the specified individuals, the proposer must notify the City of Norwalk fourteen (14) days in advance and will be required to submit justification, including proposed substitutions, in sufficient detail, to permit evaluation of the impact on the project. The proposer will make no deviation without the prior written consent of the City of Norwalk.

Replacement of personnel will be with personnel or equal ability and qualifications.

Any employee of the proposer, who in the sole opinion of the City of Norwalk is unacceptable, shall be removed from the project pursuant to the request of City of Norwalk. The proposer will have Fourteen (14) Days to fill the vacancy with another employee of acceptable technical experience and skills subject to the written approval of the City of

Norwalk.

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2.11 Availability of Funds

The contract award under this RFQ is contingent upon the availability of funds to the City of Norwalk for this project. In the event that funds are not available, any contract resulting from this RFQ will become void and of no force and effect.

2.12 Payment & Invoices

The proposer will bill the City of Norwalk based on the submission of monthly invoices in a format to be determined by the City.

2.13 Termination for Default or for the Convenience of the Contracting Agency Performance under this contract resulting from this RFQ may be terminated by the City of Norwalk whenever;

The proposer, in the sole opinion of the City, is in default in the performance of the contract and shall fail to correct such default within the period specified by the contracting officer in a notice specifying default; or the contracting officer shall determine that termination is the best interest of the City of Norwalk.

Termination will be effected by delivery to the proposer of a notice to terminate, stating the date upon which the termination becomes effective. Upon receipt of the notice to terminate, the proposer shall:

• Stop all work

• Assign to the City of Norwalk all rights, title and interest in the work being developed;

• Deliver forthwith to the City of Norwalk all completed work and work in progress;

• Preserve and protect, until delivery to the City, all material plans, and documents related to this contract which, if the contract had been completed, would have been furnished to the City of Norwalk or necessary to the completion of the work

2.14 Negotiated changes

In the event negotiated changes occur after the awarding of the contract, the same pricing policies called for in the original contract will remain in effect

2.15 Contract Agreement(s) and Contract Period(s)

The selected proposer will be required to agree to and sign a formal written contract between the City of Norwalk and the proposer, prepared by the Law Department of the City of Norwalk. A sample of the contract, is provided in a separate section to illustrate the type of contract the City will use to contract for this project.

2.16 Right of Set-Off

The undersigned bidder hereby authorizes the City to set off against monies payable hereunder by the City to the bidder, an amount equal to any unpaid real and personal property taxes and assessments (the collection of which is not barred by the State of Limitations), owing by the bidder to the City, including all interest and lien charges in connection with such paid taxes.

2.17 Duration of Submissions

Submissions will remain in effect for a period of ninety (90) days from the deadline for submission of the proposal.

2.18 Acceptance of RFQ Content

Provisions of this RFQ and the contents of the successful response will be used to establish final contractual obligations.

The City retains the option of canceling the award if the successful Respondent fails to accept such obligations. The City and the successful Respondent shall enter into a written contract for the work to be performed.

It is understood that this RFQ and the Respondent’s proposal shall be attached and included by reference in a contract signed by the City and the successful Respondent.

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This RFQ is not an offer: Neither this RFQ nor any subsequent discussions shall give rise to any commitment on the part of the City of Norwalk or confer any rights on any proposer unless and until a contract is fully executed by the necessary parties. The fully executed contract document will represent the entire agreement between the proposer and the

Department and will supersede all prior negotiations, representations or agreements, alleged or made, between the parties. The City shall assume no liability for costs incurred by the proposer or for payment of services under the terms of the contract until the contract has been accepted and approved by the City’s Corporation Counsel and fully executed by all parties.

2.19Insurance Coverage Requirements

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INSURANCE RIDER

As a provider of Professional Services, the Consultant shall provide and maintain insurance coverage related to its services in connection with the Project in compliance with the following requirements.

The insurance required shall be written for not less than the scope and limits of insurance specified hereunder, or required by applicable federal, state and/or municipal law, regulation or requirement, whichever coverage requirement is greater. It is agreed and understood that the scope and limits of insurance specified hereunder are minimum requirements and shall in no way limit or preclude the City from requiring additional limits and coverage to be provided under the Consultant's policies.

The insurance obligations under this agreement shall be (1) all the insurance coverage and/or limits carried by or available to the Consultant; or (2) the minimum insurance coverage requirements and/or limits shown in this agreement, whichever is greater.

Minimum Scope and Limits of Insurance:

Workers' Compensation: With respect to all operations the Consultant performs, it shall carry workers' compensation insurance in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Connecticut, and Employer's Liability limits of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) coverage for each accident, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) coverage for each employee by disease, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) policy limit coverage for disease.

Commercial General Liability: With respect to all operations the Consultant performs it shall carry Commercial General Liability insurance providing for a total limit of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) coverage per occurrence for all damages arising out of bodily injury, personal injury, property damage, products/completed operations, and contractual liability coverage for the indemnification obligations arising under this Agreement. The Annual Aggregate limit shall not be less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000).

Automobile Liability: With respect to each owned, non-owned, or hired vehicles the Consultant shall carry Automobile Liability insurance providing One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) coverage per…