Addendum 3~10.pdf

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114

Maura T. Healey

GOVERNOR

Kimberley Driscoll

LIEUTENANT

GOVERNOR

Rebecca L. Tepper

SECRETARY

Tel: (617) 626-1000 Fax: (617) 626-1081 www.mass.gov/eea

Facilitation and Analysis Services for the Third Assessment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC)

PRF76 Energy, Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services Category 4: Energy and Climate Action Research, Analysis, Advisory and Consulting Services

Project # FY27ENER0011

BID # BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131720

PRF 74 – Category 1 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131707 PRF 74 – Category 2 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131715 PRF 76 – Category 2 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131718

Addendum # 3

August 13, 2026

RE: Addendum No. 3 – RFQ Solicitation Document Update

To: All Proposers/Bidders of Record:

Please be advised that the RFQ Solicitation Documents for the above-referenced project have been modified, corrected, and/or supplemented as follows. Addendum No. 3 is hereby incorporated into the Contract Documents.

Purpose of Addendum:

The purpose of this addendum is to provide responses to questions submitted by proposers. All clarifications, explanations, and additional information are now part of the Contract Documents.

https://www.mass.gov/eea

Questions Submitted Through COMMBUYS Bid Q&A:

1. For the Second EVICC Assessment, EEA engaged consultants to provide technical analysis as well as writing and facilitation support. Will the contractor selected for the Third Assessment have access to the models, datasets, assumptions, methodologies, source files, and other work products developed for the Second Assessment? Is the expectation that the selected contractor will update and build upon those existing tools and analyses, or independently develop the analytical tools and methodologies needed for the Third Assessment?

Response: The consultant will have access to the datasets and work products developed for the Second Assessment. However, the consultant should plan to independently develop or obtain any models or tools needed to complete the analysis.

For the charging hub analysis, the consultant will be able to use the LOCUS EV site selection prioritization tool developed through the Section 103 process in 2026 to assist with identifying charging hubs.

2. The RFQ references coordination with other ongoing Commonwealth efforts, including modeling supporting the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2035, DOER load-management work, and the Transportation Electrification Grid Planning Process. What models, datasets, assumptions, analyses, and/or outputs from these efforts will be available to the selected contractor, and what technical analysis is expected to be developed independently under this engagement?

Response: The Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) must be delivered on or before January 1, 2028. The CECP team is modeling various scenarios, including various combinations of EV and EV charging policies, throughout the fall 2026, with the intent to focus in on a preferred scenario in December/January. The CECP team will produce EV forecasts which can be handed to the EVICC team on an agreed-upon timeline to ensure both projects proceed as needed. The CECP team may also produce forecasts of chargers by types which the EVICC team can further refine to determine geographic distribution. The CECP team is ready to meet with the selected consultant team immediately to begin coordinating timelines. The consultant should assume full access to CECP data.

The DOER load-management study is already completed. The EVICC team should start with the same assumption as presented in this study regarding the potential of load management. To the extent that more up to date data or research supports changing an assumption, the EVICC team may revise an assumption in coordination with DOER. The technical potential and cost-benefits models are available as spreadsheets on the website.

The previous Transportation Electrification Grid Planning Process is complete and the EVICC analysis will update these analyses as required. This EVICC assessment is expected to go further in identifying potential grid investments associated with vehicle electrification and the consultant will be given access to the data sets used in the first round.

3. Can EEA clarify the expected level of technical analysis associated with identifying areas of the electric distribution grid that may require substation upgrades and evaluating load-management strategies? Will relevant grid capacity, substation, and utility planning data and analyses be https://www.mass.gov/info-details/peak-potential-load-management-for-an-affordable-net-zero-grid https://www.mass.gov/info-details/transportation-electrification-grid-planning-process provided by EEA and/or the electric distribution companies, or is the selected contractor expected to independently obtain these data and conduct distribution-system/grid modeling?

Response: Using utility capacity data, information on areas with future step load increases, and the 10-year demand forecast for EV charging that the consultant will complete, EEA expects the consultant to complete analysis to identify electric distribution feeders that will require substation upgrades to accommodate the 10-year forecasted demand. EEA will work with the consultant to obtain required data from the electric distribution companies.

4. Can EEA clarify the anticipated division of responsibility between EEA staff and the selected contractor for drafting and producing the Third Assessment? Should bidders assume that the contractor will serve as the primary author and editor of the full Assessment, or will the contractor primarily manage, integrate, and edit content and analysis developed by EEA, participating agencies, and other technical contributors?

Response: The consultant will lead the compilation and editing of the Assessment and will assist in drafting certain sections, but EEA and participating agencies will also have responsibility for drafting content. Exact division of labor will be determined after the Assessment scope is finalized.

END OF ADDENDUM

Facilitation and Analysis Services for the Third Assessment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC)

PRF74 Energy, Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services Category 2: Energy and Climate Action Research, Analysis, Advisory and Consulting Services

Project # FY27ENER0011

BID # BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131715

PRF 74 – Category 1 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131707 PRF 76 – Category 2 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131718 PRF 76 – Category 4 BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131720

Addendum # 3

August 13, 2026

RE: Addendum No. 3 – RFQ Solicitation Document Update

To: All Proposers/Bidders of Record:

Please be advised that the RFQ Solicitation Documents for the above-referenced project have been modified, corrected, and/or supplemented as follows. Addendum No. 3 is hereby incorporated into the Contract Documents.

Purpose of Addendum:

The purpose of this addendum is to provide responses to questions submitted by proposers. All clarifications, explanations, and additional information are now part of the Contract Documents.

Questions Submitted Through COMMBUYS Bid Q&A:

1. Do you want consultants to address grid implications from transit or focus more on private fleets?

Response: When developing the transportation electrification grid plans mandated by St. 2024 c.

239 § 103, EVICC identified MBTA and MassDOT sites as meeting the definition of transportation corridor and MHDV charging hubs laid out in the statute. While we envision MBTA and MassDOT sites to continue to be part of the grid analysis, stakeholders pointed to private fleets as another source of step-load increases that would be valuable to include in these plans. The degree to which these are incorporated, and how, is part of the scoping conversations we intend to have with the onboarded consultant.

2. How often does/should the EEA's EV Charging Industry Advisory Group meet?

Response: This group typically has a one hour scheduled meeting once per month.

3. The RFP makes mention of several documents that are not a part of this bid package. Can you please advise where we can find the other documents needed for submission?

Response: If the boxes are not checked off you do not have to provide any documents.

Instructions for submission of RFQ are located in page 14 section 25-26.

4. What level of granularity are you looking for the EV adoption analysis (e.g. zip code, census tract)?

Response: We are looking for EV adoption analysis at the census tract level.

5. Can you give more details about the intended public hearings? Will they be in person or virtual, and do they have specific requirements?

Response: EVICC is required by law to hold at least three public hearings in geographically diverse areas of the Commonwealth. We are currently considering holding three in-person only public hearings and a fourth remote hearing. We may decide to hold these public hearings in a hybrid format, or hold additional in-person or remote hearings. We are currently planning to hold the public hearings in January, and use them as an opportunity to both educate the public on the state’s EV charging policy and programs as well as solicit input to inform the Assessment. Interpretation services will be required, but can be arranged through EEA’s Office of Environmental Justice and Equity. Information on the public hearings held for the Second EVICC Assessment can be found on the Second Assessment webpage.

6. What is the relationship between the SDP requirements from page 9 and existing commitments under PRF74? If we are already meeting, exceeding, and reporting on commitments through PRF74, does this solicitation just get folded into the existing 1% commitment if we are using ancillary services to meet the requirement?

Response: Vendors have already established and committed to their respective SDP Plans and commitments through PRF74. The existing SDP commitment and reporting requirements established under PRF74 will continue to apply.

7. For Page 11 states: "To encourage Bidders to develop substantial supplier diversity initiatives and commitments as measures valuable to the Commonwealth, at least 25% of the total available evaluation points for this bid solicitation shall be allocated to the evaluation of the SDP Plan submissions." What are the factors going into the 25% SDO?

Response: Please refer to the vendor’s respective SDP Plan and commitment established through PRF74. The evaluation and requirements applicable to the SDP Plan are governed by the SDO requirements incorporated into PRF74.

8. Commbuys does not have the SDP plan form readily available on the bid page. Could you provide it please?

Response: Vendors have already established and submitted their respective SDP Plans through PRF74. Therefore, a new SDP Plan is not required for this solicitation. Vendors should continue to comply with the SDP commitments and reporting requirements established under PRF74.

9. Does EEA want to include or omit modeling scenarios, particularly related to slow EV adoption, that might be inconsistent with meeting the state's climate goals?

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/second-assessment-of-the-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-coordinating-council-evicc

Response: While EV adoption is a core part of the state’s strategy to meet its climate goals, it is not the only factor affecting compliance. We use modeling scenarios to present benchmarks for planning purposes, and exploring slow, medium and rapid EV deployment scenarios will allow us to understand a range of possibilities and timelines for EV and EVSE to scale.

10. Beyond the public hearings, can EEA clarify concrete deliverables under "support stakeholder engagement efforts"

Response: In addition to the public hearings, synthesis of public feedback, and support with the EV Charging Industry Advisory Group, we are seeking a partner who will help the project team

1) identify and prepare for targeted conversations with special interests groups that may not otherwise be participating, 2) help sequence and prepare for internal engagement for assessment development and review of the assessment content, and 3) assist the project team in finding creative ways to engage a wider audience in the work of EVICC.

11. Regarding the EV Charging Industry Advisory Group: is this an existing, already-convened group, and if so, who currently facilitates it? What's the expected meeting cadence and our role relative to any existing facilitator?

Response: This group has been convening typically scheduled monthly since 2024 and is facilitated by EEA staff with EVICC consultant support. The role of the consultant is to support meeting planning, preparation, guest presenter engagement and coordination, materials development and co-facilitation of meetings. Far less of the consultant’s time is needed for these meetings than for the EVICC convenings.

12. For monthly invoicing under this rate-based contract, what documentation is required to support labor charges? Are detailed employee timesheets required, or will invoices showing hours by staff and task be sufficient?

Response: Invoices showing hours by staff and task are sufficient.

13. What are examples of Artificial Intelligence tools that should be disclosed in the development of the response and work (pg. 15)?

Response: Artificial Intelligence tools that should be disclosed include AI-enabled tools used to draft, edit, summarize, analyze, or otherwise materially contribute to the RFQ response or work completed under the contract. These tools include, but are not limited to, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, or similar technologies.

14. Could you please provide more detail regarding the timeframe in which the 2035 CECP process will develop the EV and EV charging assumptions, and how and when those assumptions will feed into the EVICC process?

Response: The CECP team is modeling various scenarios, including various combinations of EV and EV charging policies, throughout the fall 2026, with the intent to focus in on a preferred scenario in December/January. The CECP team will produce EV forecasts which can be handed to the EVICC team on an agreed upon timeline to ensure both projects proceed as needed. The

CECP team may also produce forecasts of chargers by types which the EVICC team can further refine to determine geographic distribution. The CECP team is ready to meet with the selected consultant team immediately to begin coordinating timelines.

15. Should the consultant team budget for an additional weekly meeting outside of the EVICC staff meeting to share project updates, or does EEA plan to cover these updates in the staff meeting?

Response: Project updates are appropriately covered in the weekly EVICC staff meeting, as these meetings are focused on production of the Assessment and monthly convenings. If the consultant team finds that those meetings aren’t sufficient to address analytic progress, the consultant is expected to identify and organize those as needed, and the internal project team will be available.

16. At the weekly EVICC staff meetings, does "assist with strategy" mean notetaking and logistics support, or does EEA expect substantive input on agenda-setting and Assessment strategy?

Response: Both. EEA expects the consultant team to provide substantive input on agenda-setting and Assessment strategy while also keeping track of items that need to be discussed in weekly staff meetings, adjusting meeting times if necessary, circulating notes on key points discussed, and helping manage the team toward completion of the assessment.

17. For the three required public hearings, does EEA have an existing target list of entities/stakeholders (e.g. communities, municipalities, fleet operators, EDCs), or is the consultant expected to develop that list as part of this task?

Response: The consultant will be expected to help EEA develop that list, but EEA already has contacts through its work to date.

18. What format is envisioned for the public hearings: in-person, virtual, or hybrid, and who is responsible for venue/platform logistics and costs, EEA or the consultant?

Response: We are currently considering holding three in-person only public hearings and a fourth remote hearing. However, we may decide to hold these meetings in a hybrid format. The consultant would be responsible for venue/platform logistics, and EEA would be responsible for costs.

19. For compiling and analyzing public feedback, does EEA already have an intake system/template (survey tool, comment portal) in place, or is the consultant expected to design that process?

Response: EEA does not have an intake system in place and would like the consultant to assist in developing one. For the Second Assessment, public comments were accepted through a survey developed by our consultant, as well as through email.

20. What is the expected length of weekly and monthly staff meetings, and does EEA anticipate any ad hoc/special sessions beyond the stated cadence?

Response: The weekly staff meetings are one hour long. EEA will defer to the consultant to identify the need for additional time to review the technical analysis or other project components.

21. Would EEA allow the use of AI-assisted tools for meeting notetaking/transcription at weekly staff meetings, monthly EVICC meetings or public hearings?

Response: Under current state policy, consultants are not permitted to use AI recording tools to record EEA meetings. State staff are permitted to use Microsoft Teams’ recording and transcription services for notetaking.

22. For meeting minutes, what's the expected turnaround (e.g., draft within X business days) and who holds final review/approval before they're considered complete?

Response: The meeting minutes are expected to be drafted 10 days after the EVICC meeting to allow time for the team to review and finalize the minutes. The consultant will be expected to then send the draft meeting minutes to the EVICC members and distribution list a week ahead of the next monthly meeting. Meeting minutes are finalized by member vote at the subsequent EVICC meeting. Weekly staff EVICC meetings do not require formal meeting minutes, but it is important that the consultant team keep track of topics discussed and next steps.

END OF ADDENDUM