Bidders Conference Presentation_Energy Resilience Construction RFP_11-20-25.pdf

ENERGY RESILIENCE

CONSTRUCTION RFP

BIDDERS CONFERENCE

November 20, 2025

11/26/2025Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

HOUSEKEEPING

DISCLAIMER: No verbal representations preempt or otherwise alter what is written in documents. Bidders should rely upon written responses.

This meeting is being recorded and will be posted along with the slides on DEEP's website under the Energy Filings web page and on CT Source.

Please remain on "mute" when you are not speaking.

The chat will be available during the presentation for technical difficulties but please refrain from providing questions until the Q&A session at the end of this meeting.

11/26/2025Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection https://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=5&Seq=1 https://webprocure.proactiscloud.com/wp-web-public/en/#/bidboard/bid/139258?pagenumber=1&customerid=51&oid=149300&shorBy=r

PRIOR CT MICROGRID GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM:

•Since 2013, DEEP has awarded more than $22 million to 10 operational microgrids across the state. These projects support critical facilities like police stations, fire stations, municipal buildings, and hospitals during power outages. This program was the first statewide microgrid grant program in the nation.

•This RFP builds on the past successes of that grant program but broadens the scope of eligible projects to a wider range of energy resilience projects, including microgrids, to best meet community needs across state.

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/energy/microgrids/microgrid-grant-and-loan-program/microgrids-project-award-tracking-all-projects-822022.pdf?rev=dc8ca4700d21468faed9223b741e47e6&hash=72541D2E20CFF98F3EC096DC1C39B358

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

On November 12, 2025, DEEP released the final request for proposals for energy resilience construction projects. The goal of these projects is to improve the resilience of the electric grid and support resilience infrastructure deployment at critical facilities, prioritizing vulnerable communities.

• Project award range is from $10,000 up to $6 million per project

• Contract term from 1-5 years

• Up to $24.3 million in project funding available from Federal and State funding

• Awards may be made using BIL Section 40101(d), C.G.S. Section 16-243y, or SEP-BIL funding, or any combination thereof

• Approximately 5% of the funds are set aside for small utilities, per Federal BIL funding requirements

• BIL Sec 40101(d) contract awards are subject to DOE approval https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwebprocure.proactiscloud.com%2Fwp-web-public%2F%23%2Fbidboard%2Fbid%2F139043%3Fcustomerid%3D51&data=05%7C02%7CVeronica.Szczerkowski%40ct.gov%7Cc706e73a7c6a4fcb319d08de22ccbb53%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C638986459886493720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=chFcC1NLLnNr3%2BZk%2FUA%2F%2B%2FsZNNu9QoFHCeNwIaGDopw%3D&reserved=0

RFP SCHEDULE

DEEP released final Energy Resilience RFP to Bidders November 12, 2025

Bidders’ Conference (remote) November 20, 2025, 1:00 PM EPT

Deadline for the submission of written questions to DEEP December 1, 2025

DEEP releases responses to questions on DEEP’s website December 8, 2025

Bid due date May 8, 2026, by 12:00 PM (noon) EPT

DEEP announces solicitation decision Q3 2026

Start of contract negotiations Q3 2026

Start of contract Q4 2026/Q1 2027

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Bids are due no later than May 8, 2026, by 12:00 PM (noon) EPT and must be emailed to DEEP at DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov

The organization and contents of the proposal must be organized as set forth by Appendix B in RFP proposal content checklist, including the formatting checklist.

All information submitted to DEEP is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• If a Bidder believes a portion or portions of information submitted in a proposal are exempt from FOIA disclosure, the Bidder must submit:

• One complete, redacted version of the proposal for public posting, which must be clearly labeled PUBLIC, AND

• If applicable, one complete, unredacted version of the proposal for the Evaluation Team’s review, which must be clearly labeled

CONFIDENTIAL.

The Department will not redact the proposal. Anything submitted without a clear CONFIDENTIAL label will be made AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC on the Department’s Energy Filings webpage.

mailto:DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

•An electric grid operator •An electricity storage operator •An electricity generator •A transmission owner or operator •A distribution provider, like an electric distribution company or participating •municipal electric utility •A fuel supplier

•Any local or regional governmental entity •Municipal corporation •Regional council of governments •Public authority, including but not limited to quasi-public agencies •State and federally recognized tribe •Energy improvement district, and •Any nonprofit, academic and private entity *Bold denotes need for additional DOE approval for eligibility.

PROPOSER MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience successfully implementing similar and community grant projects

• Work in collaboration with municipality or community and government entities

• Be an Eligible Entity

• Obtain a federal Unique Entity ID

• Have a clear understanding of regulations in 2 CFR 200 as amended by 2 CFR 910

• Ability to separately track and report state funding, BIL 40101(d) funding and SEP BIL funding

• Assurance that the proposer will comply with all ALRD requirements

• Have no planned, actual, or apparent conflict of interest with the State

ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES

• Weatherization technologies and equipment

• Fire-resistant technologies and fire prevention systems

• Monitoring and control technologies

• The undergrounding of electrical equipment

• Utility pole management

• The relocation of power lines or the reconductoring of power lines with low-sag, advanced conductors

• Fuel-load management

• The use or construction of distributed energy resources for enhancing system adaptive capacity during disruptive events, including microgrids and energy storage subcomponents

• Adaptive protection technologies

• Advanced modeling technologies

• Hardening of power lines, facilities, substations, of other systems

• The replacement of old overhead conductors and underground cables

• Other, subject to approval by DOE

DESIRED PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Support the efficient and reliable integration of variable and distributed energy resources needed to meet the state’s zero carbon electric sector goal and avoid fossil peaking generation

• Improve system reliability and resilience in a range of weather and storm conditions and improve overall grid flexibility

• Maximize the benefits and limit the adverse impacts of grid resilience investments for Vulnerable

Communities, as defined in C.G.S. Section 16-243y

• Use strong labor standards and protections, and strategize to attract, train, and retain an appropriately skilled and local workforce, especially from vulnerable communities

ATTACHMENT A: METRICS REPORTING TEMPLATE

•DEEP will analyze project metrics upfront and over the term of the contract (for selected projects).

•Project metrics define the information that DEEP will use to evaluate project proposals against objectives and criteria, track actual performance of projects as compared to proposed performance, and report program results to DOE.

•DEEP requests proposers provide these metrics in the standardized formats provided in the Excel spreadsheet titled Attachment A.

• Instructions specific to each tab and sections are on the Instructions tab.

• The Definitions tab contains definitions of key terms.

Link to Attachment A, Metrics Reporting Template: WebProcure https://webprocure.proactiscloud.com/wp-web-public/en/#/bidboard/bid/139043?customerid=51

Bidder inputs are on the following tabs:

•Towns: Indicate which towns are benefitted by the project and identify whether these communities are vulnerable communities.

•1-GridInfrastructure: For projects with one or more grid infrastructure project types.

•2-DistributedEnergyResources: For projects with one or more distributed energy resource project types.

•3-Microgrid: For projects with one or more microgrid project types.

Tabs 1-GridInfrastructure, 2-DistributedEnergyResources, and 3-Microgrid contain the following sections:

•General Information: applicable to all projects

•Reporting Applicable to All Project Types

• Resilience Metrics

• Climate Policy Goal Metrics

• Community Benefits Metrics

• Workforce Development Metrics

• Cost-Effectiveness Metrics

•Reporting Specific to the Project Type

ATTACHMENT A: METRICS REPORTING TEMPLATE cont.

ATTACHMENT D: PROPOSED BUDGET

•This attachment includes the project budget, budget narratives, and cost schedules for planned subcontractors if available.

Link to Attachment D, Proposed Budget: WebProcure https://webprocure.proactiscloud.com/wp-web-public/en/#/bidboard/bid/139043?customerid=51

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS

Organizational Expectations

•The proposer must be an eligible entity

• Preference will be provided to Connecticut-based entities and proposers that have experience developing, financing, owning, and operating projects in Connecticut similar to those proposed.

Service Expectations

•Project must benefit local communities with priority provided to those benefitting vulnerable communities, support the State’s zero-carbon electric sector goal and avoids fossil peaking generation, and reduce the likelihood and consequences of disruptive grid events.

Managerial Expectations

•Proposer must demonstrate that they have resolved the ownership structure for the proposed project and are prepared to implement it with appropriate buy-in from all stakeholders.

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS cont.

Technical Expectations

•Proposed project must have technical merit and will provide meaningful value to communities.

Staffing Expectations

•Proposer must demonstrate that there is adequate internal staffing, existing subcontractor relationships, or the ability or plan to staff up as needed to complete the resilience project.

Community Benefits Expectations

•Include an explanation of measurable benefits and who is the recipient of those benefits, and whether those benefits go to a Vulnerable Community.

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS cont.

Information Technology Expectations

•Proposer must have sufficient information technology capacity to manage the project, report on the required metrics throughout the duration of the contract term, and maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entity's data.

Financial Expectations

•To demonstrate financial solvency, the proposer must provide three years of most recent annual audited financial statements, OR any financial statements prepared by a Certified Public Accountant for proposers whose organizations have been incorporated for less than three years.

Budget Expectations

•The proposal must include: the total project budget split by the total grant amount requested under this RFP and additional funds provided by the proposer. Indicate the source of the additional funds.

BID EVALUATION

Minimum Threshold Requirements

• Only bids that meet the minimum threshold requirements will be evaluated according to the evaluation criteria

Evaluation Criteria

• Resilience Improvement (30 points)

• Benefits to Communities (30 points)

• Workforce Development (10 points)

• Organizational Profile (10 points)

• Work Plan and Staffing (10 points)

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Narrative (20 points)

COMMUNICATIONS

All information related to this proceeding can be found on CTSource at this link.

All communication from Bidders regarding this RFP must be submitted via email to DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov with the following in the subject line: “2025 Energy Resilience Construction RFP.”

All questions from Bidders must be submitted no later than December 1, 2025

Responses will be posted on CTSource and DEEP’s Energy Filings web page no later than December 8, 2025

11/26/2025Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection https://webprocure.proactiscloud.com/wp-web-public/en/#/bidboard/bid/139258?pagenumber=1&customerid=51&oid=149300&shorBy=r mailto:DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov https://webprocure.proactiscloud.com/wp-web-public/en/#/bidboard/bid/139258?pagenumber=1&customerid=51&oid=149300&shorBy=r https://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=5&Seq=1

QUESTIONS?

• Please raise your hand and wait to be called on

• To raise your hand, locate the "Reactions" button at the bottom of the Zoom screen (smiley face). Click the button once and there will be an option to "raise hand." Click on that and then remain on mute until your name is called.

Deadline for the submission of written questions to DEEP December 1, 2025

DEEP releases responses to questions on DEEP’s website December 8, 2025

Bid due date May 8th 2026, by 12:00 PM

(noon) EPT