120003 Solicitation Addedum One Questions final.docx
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- Solicitation number
- 120003 O5
- Issued by
- Blaine County, Nebraska
About this file
This document is a Solicitation Addendum One containing questions and answers for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) regarding the Home Energy Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates programs. The solicitation seeks a contractor to design and implement federal energy rebate programs, with proposals due on January 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CST. The contract will run for six years, not exceeding September 30, 2031, with the contractor responsible for comprehensive program design, application development, and implementation. The addendum addresses 23 specific questions from potential bidders, covering topics such as project scope, program rollout, stakeholder strategies, and response submission requirements.
The total federal funding allocation is $8.8 billion, split between Home Efficiency Rebates ($4.3 billion) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates ($4.5 billion), with states permitted to use up to 20% of grant funds for planning, administration, and technical assistance. The program targets disadvantaged and low-income communities, focusing on households below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) and moderate-income households between 80-150% AMI. NDEE will use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) for Justice40 compliance. There are no specific subcontractor requirements, and the evaluation criteria include 25 points for Corporate Overview, 65 points for Technical Approach, and 10 points for the Cost Sheet. The contractor will be required to develop training programs for participating contractors and maintain compliance with DOE reporting and data management requirements.
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Text version
SOLICITATION ADDENDUM ONE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Date: January 14, 2025
To: All Bidders
From: Dianna Gilliland/Kelly Rowlands, Procurement Contracts Officers
SPB
RE: Addendum for 120003 O5 to be opened January 21, 2025 at 2 p.m. CST
Questions and Answers
Following are the questions submitted and answers provided for the above-mentioned solicitation. The questions and answers are to be considered as part of the solicitation. It is the responsibility of bidders to check the State Purchasing Bureau website for all addenda or amendments.
| Question Number |
| RFP Section |
Reference
| RFP Page Number |
| Question |
| State Response |
1.
| Would you consider having a webinar or other virtual meeting to discuss the project at a high level and answer questions? |
| NDEE will not be holding a webinar in addition to the solicitation. |
More information on the Home Energy Rebates Programs can be found here:
https://www.energy.gov/scep/home-energy-rebates-programs
2.
| Is this project part of the One Red initiative, or are they separate? |
| The Home Energy Rebates Programs are not part of the One Red initiative. |
3.
| Is there an anticipated value of this RFP, either in a fixed dollar amount or as a percentage of the total funding available (≈$90M)? |
| There is not a predetermined project value of this RFP. However, the Cost Sheet is a component of the evaluation criteria. |
Also, note that both Section 50121 and 50122 state that NDEE shall use not more than 20 percent of the grant amounts for planning, administration, or technical assistance.
| 4. |
| IV.A. |
| ….is there an expectation that work can be divided into sub-tasks and requirements so that payment can be received periodically during the course of the project for work completed? The total scope will require multiple months, and potentially multiple years, to execute so complete payment at the end of the total project may create challenges. |
| Yes, work can be divided into sub-tasks and requirements so that payment can be received periodically during the project for work completed. |
5.
Would Nebraska consider extending the Solicitation Opening date that is presently January 21, 2025?
Our reason for asking is that a question addendum will not be posted until January 14, leaving only three business days for edits since January 20, 2025, is a federal holiday.
NDEE will not be extending the Solicitation Opening date.
| 6. |
| C: Scope of Work & F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy |
| 25-27 |
| Given the short window between proposal submission due January 25, 2025 and the DOE application deadline of January 31, 2025 and contract award not anticipated until March 2025, has NDEE started preparing the application narratives, data, analysis, or budgets for either the HEAR or HOMES programs? |
| NDEE has submitted a program narrative and budget along with other required information to meet the January 25, 2025, application deadline. |
NDEE has not submitted Implementation Blueprint Plans to DOE which are required at least 60 days prior to program launch.
| 7. |
| C: Scope of Work & F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy |
| 25-27 |
| Does NDEE have a preferred order in which programs are rolled out? |
Are you looking for a phased approach to each?
NDEE does not have a preferred order.
A phased approach is acceptable for program rollout.
| 8. |
| F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy & Part IV Program Implementation |
| 25-28 |
| Does the State have existing programs that NDEE has identified as priorities for integration with the rebates (i.e., WAP)? |
| No existing programs have been identified as priorities for integration with rebates. |
| 9. |
| F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy & Part IV Program Implementation |
| 25-28 |
| Does NDEE have preliminary market data or assessments that can be leveraged, or should the contractor anticipate conducting all baselining work independently? |
| The contractor should anticipate conducting all baselining work independently. |
| 10. |
| F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy & Part IV Program Implementation |
| 25-28 |
| What specific metrics or tools has NDEE identified for Justice40 compliance, and does the state already have baseline data for disadvantaged communities? |
| NDEE will use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) for Justice 40 compliance and metrics. |
https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5
| 11. |
| F: Deliverables, Part I Program Desing and Stakeholder Strategy & Part IV Program Implementation |
| 25-28 |
| Does the State have existing partnerships with electric companies and/or cooperatives which they would like to have partner as part of this program |
| The State does not have any existing formal partnerships with electric companies or cooperatives. NDEE does have informal working relationships with public electric utilities who provide incentive/rebate programs for heat pumps, electric appliances, & etc. |
| 12. |
| F: Deliverables |
| 25-28 |
| Are there immediate deliverables or timelines that need to be planned for (i.e., program planning and design completed within the first 90 days of contract execution, first program rolled out within 3-6 months of planning completion, etc.)? |
| There are no specific deliverables or timelines that need to be planned for. |
However, the bidder’s ability to plan and meet key timelines will be evaluated. The bidder should provide details on their proposed goals for program implementation and delivery.
| 13. |
| IV Solicitation Response Instructions - A Solicitation Response Submission - Section 2 Technical Response and |
Attachment A
| 31 |
| Outlines the order of the response requirements for the Technical Response Section, to include Proposed Development Approach and Technical Requirements (Attachment A). The information within both sections appears to be somewhat duplicative across the 143 questions. |
Can the State confirm what the difference is between the information requested in these two sections?
For clarification on the Technical Response section:
The Technical Response section of the solicitation response should consist of the following subsections and completing Attachment A – Technical Requirements.
a. Understanding of the project requirements (Attachment A),
b. Proposed development approach (Attachment A),
c. Technical requirements (Attachment A),
d. Detailed project work plan; and
e. Deliverables and due dates.
| 14. |
| VI Solicitation Response Instructions 2. Technical Response |
| 31 |
| What's the difference between Attachment A and Proposed Development Approach, much of the information appears to be requesting the same type of information across the 143 questions in Attachment A. |
| Refer to the answer provided for Question 13. |
15.
| Are there specific subcontractor types or qualifications that NDEE prefers for this project (e.g., local firms, MWBE-certified)? |
| There are no specific subcontractor types or qualifications that NDEE requires for this project. |
16.
| Can you clarify the roles and responsibilities between NDEE staff and the contractor for program design, application development, and program implementation? |
| The contractor will be responsible to help NDEE with program design and application development. The contractor will be the program implementor. |
17.
| Will NDEE require any specific training for state staff or contractors to align with program implementation goals? |
| Yes, there will be required training for participating contractors to understand program requirements and goals. |
18.
| What risk mitigation strategies has NDEE identified for potential challenges (e.g., insufficient contractor network, delays in federal funding)? |
| No specific risk mitigation strategies have been identified by NDEE. NDEE will work with the contractor to identify any risks and develop solutions for challenges. |
| 19. |
| VI. Solicitation Response Instructions |
| 29 |
| Please confirm the State wants vendors to address every subdivision in Section V. Project Description and Scope of Work (A through F) and not just the C. Scope of Work, E. Technical Requirements, and F. Deliverables subdivisions in our response. |
| Vendors should address every subdivision that requests information from the vendor. |
Refer to the answers provided in Questions 12 & 13.
| 20. |
| III. Vendor Duties – K. Insurance Requirements |
| 18 |
| Please confirm the State wants vendors to submit a current COI with our response. |
| It is recommended, but not necessary to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) at the time the bid is submitted. |
However, the awarded bidder will need to provide COI prior to beginning work, per RFP Section III.K..3.
| 21. |
| III. Vendor Duties – K. Insurance Requirements |
| 18 |
| Please confirm the State wants vendors to submit a current COI with our response. |
| Refer to the answer provided for Question 20. |
| 22. |
| VI. Solicitation Response Instructions A.1.b – Financial Statements |
| 29 |
| Please confirm financial statements as required in the Corporate Overview section will be held confidential. |
| Company financial statements are typically considered confidential. |
Per RFP Section I.H.1.b. ELECTRONIC SOICATION RESPONSE FILE NAMES, submit a separate Confidential file for company financial statements.
| 23. |
| Attachment A. Technical Requirements |
…reference is made to "Requested Tasks" (e.g.subtasks noted in Part I #1 of Requested Task), however I do not see Requested Tasks included in your list of documents.
Can you please direct me to where we can find the list of Requested Tasks? Or is this simply a reference to the program elements listed in the Technical Requirements document?
Refer to RFP Section V.F.1. PART 1-4.
PART I. PROGRAM DESIGN AND STAKEHOLDER STRATEGY
PART II. APPLICATION SUPPORT
PART III. STATE PROCESS SUPPORT
PART IV. PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTATION
This addendum will be incorporated into the solicitation.
SPB Form 26 Effective 7-19-2024
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