1-EE Commercial Energy Specialist RFP final.pdf

Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Commercial Energy Specialist

Cheyenne Malison

Community Development Director/Planner P.O. Box 249

4698 US Hwy 45 Watersmeet, MI 49969

Cheyenne.malison@lvd-nsn.gov

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Electrical Engineering & Commercial Energy Specialist

Date Released: Friday, July 24, 2026

Due Date and Time: Friday, August 14, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CST mailto:Cheyenne.malison@lvd-nsn.gov

I. INTRODUCTION

The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (“Tribe” or “LVD”) is seeking proposals from qualified contractors (“Contractor”) to provide Electrical Engineering and Commercial Energy Specialist services in support of the Tribe’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (“CPRG”) implementation efforts. The selected Contractor will provide technical expertise, analysis, and project development services to support energy efficiency, electrification, decarbonization, and renewable energy projects within the Tribe’s commercial facility, LVD Plaza.

These services will support the Tribe’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, improving energy performance and advancing long-term sustainability and resilience.

The Contractor will work closely with Tribal staff and project partners to evaluate building systems, develop prioritized energy measures, support implementation, and quantify energy savings and GHG reductions in alignment with the Tribe’s goals.

The Tribe LVD is a federally recognized Indian Tribe whose reservation is in Watersmeet, Michigan. Bordering Wisconsin, LVD is in the far southwest region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While geographically isolated, Watersmeet is home to a vast watershed comprised of the Ontonagon River flowing North into Lake Superior, the Wisconsin River flowing South into the Mississippi River, and the Paint River flowing East into Lake Michigan. Watersmeet also hosts the Cisco Chain of Lakes with 15 interconnected lakes comprising over 270 miles of scenic shoreline. This is “where the waters meet.”

While isolated, this area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula boasts immense forests of spruce, balsam, maple, birch, and aspen. The 4,200-acre boundary lake Lac Vieux Desert is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River, nestled between the Ottawa and Nicolet National Forests and furnishing a solitary landscape of spring-fed lakes, streams, rivers, and waterfalls. Watersmeet’s healthy watersheds reduce flood risk, support crops, filter pollutants, mitigate effects of climate change, and boost human wellbeing. Human actions upstream have consequences downstream, cementing Watersmeet as an area imploring environmental preservation and protection.

LVD owns and operates various businesses which contribute to the fabric of the Watersmeet and LVD community by employing 469 individuals while providing resources, innovation and the education necessary to address community needs.

LVD’s diverse revenue streams provide funding to operate essential government services including a wide array of housing ranging from low-income rentals to homeownership. LVD’s businesses include the Lac Vieux Desert Northern Waters Casino and Resort (“Northern Waters”) providing the following area amenities:

• Northern Waters Casino – 25,000 sq. feet of Vegas style gaming floor home to over 500 gaming machines, table games, and more.

• Dancing Eagles Hotel – 132 rooms with an indoor pool connected to Northern Waters Casino.

• Sugar Bush Restaurant – A Northwoods themed sit-down restaurant.

• Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course – 18-hole course covering 200 acres of the

Ottawa National Forest with ponds and woodlands throughout with two of the ponds producing area restocking programs for trout and walleye.

• Lac Vieux Desert Fanatics Sportsbook – A full-service retail sport betting lounge

• Lac Vieux Desert Citgo – A gas station/convenience store located within the Northern Waters Casino Resort footprint

Additional LVD business enterprises include:

• Tribal Economic Development Holdings, LLC with subsidiaries Big Picture

Loans, LLC and Ascension Technologies, LLC; two businesses which establish the Tribe as a leader in the consumer financial services space, providing management and consulting services to a vast array of Tribal and non-Tribal businesses throughout the country

• Wiiyaas Miinawaa Gitigaanens, LLC dba LVD Plaza and LVD Bar and Grill – A local grocery store, gas station, bar and grill, car wash, and laundromat.

Goals The goal of this Project is to engage a qualified Contractor to support the Tribe’s CPRG implementation by identifying, developing, and advancing high-impact, cost-effective energy improvements in one (1) tribally owned commercial facility that result in measurable reductions in GHG.

Through this work, the Contractor will support the Tribe in achieving the following outcomes:

• Identify and develop projects that contribute to at least a 10% reduction in GHG emissions at targeted facilities

• Evaluate and recommend energy efficiency and electrification improvements across building systems, including HVAC, lighting, refridgerations, and building envelope

• Support the transition to low- and non-fossil fuel technologies, including air-source heat pumps and advanced HVAC systems

• Develop technical approaches for replacing high Global Warming Potential (“GWP”) refrigeration systems with natural refrigerant alternatives

• Assess and support integration of on-site renewable energy systems, including solar installations

• Quantify projected energy savings and GHG reductions associated with recommended measures

Funding Funding for this work has been acquired through the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. The grant award contract has been executed and funding is fully secured.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The proposal submitted for this Project must include all the items identified in the accompanying project specifications for Contractor services to complete the Project.

See Attachment A – Scope of Work.

III. DESCRIPTION OF AREA

The Project area is focused on the LVD Plaza, located at the intersection of US Highway 2 and US Highway 45 in Watersmeet, Michigan. LVD Plaza is a multi-use commercial facility owned and operated by the Tribe and serves as a central hub for essential goods and services within the community. The site includes a full-service grocery store, convenience store, gas station, bar and grill, laundromat, and USPS Postal Service.

The facility operates extended daily hours and provides critical services to Tribal members, local residents, and regional visitors. Due to its role as a primary commercial center in a rural and geographically isolated area, the performance, reliability, and efficiency of building systems are essential to maintaining uninterrupted operations.

The buildings at LVD Plaza include a range of energy-using systems typical of commercial facilities, including HVAC systems, commercial refrigeration, lighting, and building envelope components. The grocery store contains refrigeration equipment that represents a significant portion of the site’s energy use and GHG emissions.

The site is well-suited for evaluation of energy efficiency, electrification, refrigeration system upgrades, and potential integration of on-site renewable energy systems. As such, it has been identified as a priority facility under the Tribe’s CPRG program.

All proposed work under this RFP shall be performed with consideration for ongoing operations, ensuring minimal disruption to essential services provided at LVD Plaza.

IV. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

Contractors should carefully examine Request for Proposal documents to familiarize themselves with applicable requirements prior to submitting a proposal. All questions during the proposal period should be forwarded, in writing, Cheyenne Malison, Community Development Director/Planner at Cheyenne.malison@lvd-nsn.gov.

V. PRE-QUALIFICATIONS

All Contractors submitting proposals must be licensed to do business in the State of Michigan and have the experience, licenses, certifications, and necessary resources to provide services for LVD’s current and future operations.

VI. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Key Dates The following table outlines LVD’s key dates and events in this RFP process.

Activity Date RFP Distribution Friday, July 24, 2026 Proposal Submission Deadline Friday, August 14, 2026 Proposal Review Friday, August 21, 2026 Selection of Contractor To be determined by Tribal Council

LVD reserves the right to extend the submission deadline, or any other deadline or date indicated in the RFP if the extension is in the best interest of LVD.

Submission of a proposal will be construed to imply agreement in advance to the services outlined in the enclosed materials. Brochures, photos, figures, annual reports, or any other appropriate printed material may be included in your proposal.

Required Proposal Information

a) Cover Letter (1-2 page) Provide a summary of your organization’s qualifications and understanding of the project.

b) Organizational Profile (1-2 pages) Provide an overview of your organization, including:

Relevant experience with commercial energy projects, energy efficiency, building decarbonization Relevant experience with refrigeration systems, and renewable energy integration Relevant experience with Tribal governments Core organizational values, other relevant information, and comments on the stability of your organization.

c) Project Team and Key Personnel (1-2 pages) Identify key staff who will be responsible for overseeing the work including:

Roles and responsibilities mailto:Cheyenne.malison@lvd-nsn.gov

Relevant technical experience (energy analysis, refrigeration, renewable energy, etc.)

Experience on similar projects Designated primary point of contact.

d) Technical Approach and Methodology

Provide a detailed description of your approach to completing the Scope of Work including:

Energy assessment and analysis methods Approach to identifying and prioritizing energy efficiency, electrification measures, and renewable energy evaluation and integration Methodology for evaluating refrigeration system upgrades and natural refrigerants and for estimating energy savings and GHG reductions.

e) Relevant Project Experience Provide examples of at least three (3) similar projects completed by your company within the last 5 years.

f) Cost Proposal.

Provide a detailed cost proposal that includes a breakdown of costs by task or phase and total proposed cost.

Note: When preparing the bid, the following items should be taken into account: The Tribe is exempt from State of Michigan sales tax; therefore, all materials purchased within Michigan for the project will not be subject to sales tax.

g) Project Schedule Provide a proposed schedule outlining key phases and milestones, including:

Energy Analysis and assessment Measure development and prioritization Project development and procurement support Reporting and documentation

h) Legal Proceedings

Identify any ongoing, pending, or resolved legal proceedings, i.e. arbitration, complaint (or other court action) filed against your organization for all projects or any individual related to the work of your organization within the last five (5) years.

i)

j) Appendix A –Professional References Provide at least three (3) professional references who can speak about your companies’ qualifications and previous work on similar projects.

k) Appendix B – Project Approach Summary (Optional Enhancement) Provide any additional materials that demonstrate your technical capabilities, such as sample energy analysis reports, GHG calculation methodologies, example deliverables from similar projects.

The content of all proposals will remain confidential throughout the selection process and afterward. Copies of any proposals will not be shared with other respondents.

VII. PROPOSAL STANDARDS

Respondents are required to submit an original proposal electronically through EUNA Bonfire. Each page of the proposal must clearly identify what company the proposal is from. Proposals will be accepted Friday, July 24, 2026 until Friday, August 14, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CST) in the following forms:

1. Electronically through the EUNA Bonfire link.

2. Email Submission:

RFPResponse@lvd-nsn.gov

Proposals received after the deadline will not be accepted and will be returned to the respondent unopened. Final selection will be made based on our evaluation of the criteria outlined in Section XI of this RFP.

Preparation Costs LVD shall not be responsible for proposal preparation costs, nor for the cost, including attorney fees associated with any administrative, judicial, or other type of challenge to the determination of the selected proposer and/or award of the contract and/or rejection of the proposal. By submitting a proposal, each respondent agrees to be bound in this respect and waives all claims to such costs and fees.

VIII. TERMS OF CONTRACT

Proposals will be accepted from non-Indian as well as Indian-owned economic enterprises, organizations, or individuals. In accordance with applicable law, the Tribe will provide preference to all qualified Indians and Indian-owned economic enterprises, organizations, or individuals.

Any bidder seeking Indian Preference in this award must provide evidence satisfactory to the Tribe that it is not less than fifty-one percent (51%) Indian owned, operated and controlled.

mailto:RFPResponse@lvd-nsn.gov

The Tribe reserves the right, in its own discretion, to accept or reject any/all responses, to waive any irregularity and/or informality in any response and to request and receive additional information from any supplier when such acceptance, rejection, waiver or request is in the best interest of the Tribe.

The Tribe will enter into a contract with the Contractor that best preserves the sovereign immunity of the Tribe.

Any bidder must commit to consistently maintaining and allocating sufficient staffing resources to provide timely service for the project’s needs.

Any bidder must maintain staff that are qualified and available to provide specialized technical expertise in various disciplines, as necessary.

The Tribe reserves the right, despite the application of Indian Preference as noted above, to select the contractor with the proposal that the Tribe believes, in its sole and absolute discretion, provides the greater benefit in light of the estimated cost.

The Tribe reserves the right to decline to select a Contractor for this Project.

The contract will not create an employment relationship. Neither the Contractor, nor any of the employees thereof, who perform work under the contract will be in any way considered employees of the Tribe.

The costs of travel to and from the Tribe, if required, and other related travel expenses will be borne by the Contractor and will not be reimbursed separately from the fee to be awarded under the Contract.

IX. DOCUMENTATION

Failure to provide sufficient information for the evaluation criteria will result in the loss of points or being deemed unresponsive. The Tribe reserves the right to verify the validity of all information provided.

X. RANKING CRITERIA

Award of the contract resulting from this RFP will be based upon the most responsive and responsible Contractor whose bid and Project approach will be the most advantageous to the Tribe in terms of cost, functionality, and other factors as specified below. This evaluation will be calculated in accordance with the following evaluation criteria and the respective point values assigned. Consideration of the award will be determined based on the accumulation of points.

Evaluation Criteria Points

1. EXPERIENCE 25

The company’s principal and key personnel have at least fifteen (15) years’ experience 25

The company’s principal has ten years’ experience, and the key personnel have more than ten (10) years’ experience but less than 15 years.

The company’s principal and key personnel have at least ten (10) years’ experience. 15

The company’s principle and key personnel have less than ten (10) years’ experience. 10

2. PRICING 20

The company is the lowest responsive bidder. 20

The company is the second lowest responsive bidder. 16

The company is the third lowest responsive bidder. 12

All others. 8

3. TECHNICAL APPROACH 25

The Technical Approach is clear, detailed, and project specific, demonstrating a strong methodology for energy analysis, measure development, GHG quantification, and implementation support.

The Technical Approach addresses required elements but lacks detail or project specific clarity in one or more areas.

The Technical Approach is limited, generic, or does not clearly demonstrate how services will be performed or outcomes achieved.

No Technical Approach was provided. 0

4. REFERENCES 10

LVD will randomly choose a select number of references from each company’s proposal and contact the selected references and ask the same pre-determined questions. Based upon the scoring of the responses, an average will be determined and the appropriate points awarded to the respondent’s proposal.

Contractor’s receiving an average of 5 points will receive ten (10) points. 10

Contractor’s receiving an average of 3 points will receive six (6) points. 6

Contractor’s receiving an average of 2 points will receive zero (0) points. 0

Attachment A

Scope of Work

The Contractor shall provide technical, analytical, and project development support services to advance energy efficiency, electrification, refrigeration upgrades, and renewable energy projects across Tribal commercial facilities.

1. Energy Assessment and Baseline Analysis

• Review existing audits, assessments, and prior analyses

• Analyze utility data, building systems, and operations

• Conduct site visits as needed

• Establish baseline energy use and GHG emissions

2. Energy Efficiency and Electrification

• Identify and refine measures including:

o Lighting upgrades o Air sealing and insulation o Controls optimization

• Fans and motors

• Evaluate HVAC electrification (air source heat pumps, VRF systems)

• Identify needed electrical service upgrades and design engineering plans to implement the identified electrical service upgrades

• Prioritize measures by cost-effectiveness and GHG reduction

3. Commercial Refrigeration Modernization (LVD Plaza)

• Support design of natural refrigerant systems

• Coordinate with refrigeration contractors

• Evaluate new cases, walk-ins, and system components

• Assess heat recovery for domestic hot water

4. Renewable Energy Integration

• Evaluate feasibility of solar installations

• Support system sizing and energy modeling

• Coordinate efficiency improvements to maximize performance

5. Project Development & Implementation Support

• Develop scopes of work and technical specifications

• Support procurement of contractors and vendors

• Review designs, equipment selections, and submittals

• Support implementation, commissioning, and verification

6. GHG Quantification & Reporting

• Quantify energy savings and emissions reductions

• Document assumptions and methodologies

• Support CPRG reporting requirements

• Align work with QAPP and EPA requirements

7. Coordination & Communication

• Coordinate with Tribal staff and project partners

• Attend meetings and provide regular updates

• Support informed decision-making through technical analysis

Please confirm that the above requirements are within your scope of services and provide a sample of your full scope of services, as Appendix A, with the addition of the names and expertise of individuals within your company who would perform these tasks. Please see Section V and VI for more details related to proposal submittal.