City_of_Tucson_Solar_Empowerment_Program_(Addendum_#1_Revision).pdf

CITY OF TUCSON

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

240128

CITY OF TUCSON SOLAR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

Due Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2024

City of Tucson

255 W Alameda St

Tucson, AZ 85701

Procurement portal https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/tucson-az

Public Portal https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/tucson-az/projects/75266

PUBLISH DATE: April 2, 2024 https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7Bproject.government.code%7D https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7Bproject.government.code%7D/projects/%7Bproject.id%7D https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7Bproject.government.code%7D/projects/%7Bproject.id%7D

CITY OF TUCSON REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 240128

BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT Page 2 of 44 SHARED SERVICES PROCUREMENT DIVISION RESPONSIBLE CONTRACT OFFICER: Olga Culp

255 W. ALAMEDA, 6TH FLOOR, TUCSON, AZ 85701 PH: (520) 837-3801

Attachments:

A - Offer and Acceptance B - Price Page Fee Summary D - ARPA Terms and Conditions E - 5369-B

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A. NOTICE

A.1. CITY OF TUCSON

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO 240128

TITLE: City of Tucson Solar Empowerment Program

SUBMITTAL DUE DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 AT 2:00 P.M. LOCAL AZ TIME

PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 2024

TIME: 1:00 pm LOCAL AZ TIME

LOCATION: MICROSOFT TEAMS VIRTUAL MEETING

Meeting ID: 260 249 627 458 Passcode: eQaNWh QUESTIONS SHALL BE DIRECTED TO: Olga Culp

(520) 837-3801 olga.culp@tucsonaz.gov

Posted Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Competitive sealed offers for the material or service specified in this solicitation must be submitted through the City’s online bidding system. No late submitted offer will be accepted or considered.

Reponses submitted in physical form or by facsimile or email will not be considered. Offerors are cautioned to commence the submittal process sufficiently ahead of time to allow for unanticipated delays resulting from things like a slow internet connection, internet outage, difficulty uploading large documents, differing system requirements, etc.

Questions about this solicitation must be addressed to the responsible Contract Officer listed herein.

https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_MjA0ZDU2ZjktMGFlMi00NDQwLTljYWEtZGU4MGI0OTMyMGNl%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522d21e59ec-c208-43eb-aaf1-cf06d9a196e0%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%2522add2f19c-51c5-40c6-a494-1e7e841652ba%2522%257d%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=e6eaf688-34fa-4bea-a18e-9ba636d91bf7&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true

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B. INTRODUCTION

B.1. Summary

Last year, the Mayor and Council authorized the creation of three pilot solar programs using ARPA funds allocated to climate resilience. The first two pilot projects are well-under way, and this Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks to develop the third: “Create a city-operated solar empowerment program for low-income homeowners”.

Pilot Programs

A. Fund existing solar empowerment programs in partnership with TFS and

SERI

B. Install solar at city-owned housing units

C. Create a City-operated solar empowerment program for low-income homeowners

In general, the City of Tucson aims to increase the adoption of solar energy among low-income households, contributing to the City’s sustainability and climate action goals and reducing energy costs for vulnerable communities within the city.

B.2. Background

Since 1999, the City of Tucson has been promoting solar in the community through installations on city-owned buildings, including community centers, the Tucson Convention Center, police substations, water facilities, park shade structures, parking lots, and more. In 2007, Tucson was designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as a Solar America City. Today, about 25% of City of Tucson facilities are solar powered.

Early this year, City of Tucson Mayor and Council adopted the city’s climate action plan, Tucson Resilient Together, committing the city to pursue carbon neutrality for city operations by 2030 and by 2045 community wide. Solar Energy has been and continues to be a key aspect in advancing the City’s climate goals.

Overall RFP Goals

In this Request for Proposals (RFP), the City of Tucson is soliciting proposals from qualified and experienced consulting firms to:

• Develop a City Solar Empowerment Program that assists low-income single-family homeowners install rooftop solar panels and accompanying technology to reduce energy costs.

https://tucsonaz.onbaseonline.com/1801AgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/MAYOR%20AND%20COUNCIL%20MEMORANDUM%20SS_OCT05-22-185.pdf?meetingId=1643&documentType=Agenda&itemId=65870&publishId=108732&isSection=false https://climateaction.tucsonaz.gov/pages/caap https://climateaction.tucsonaz.gov/pages/caap

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• Develop a City Solar Empowerment Program that is in complete alignment with the Solar for All program1 and ready to apply and successfully receive Solar for All funding.

• Develop a City Solar Empowerment Program that advances the Tucson Resilient Together (TRT) plan by transitioning homes to renewable solar energy thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including TRT actions:

• E-3 Procure zero-emission electricity and decarbonize City and community power supply.

• E-4 Install and promote distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar to provide local renewable energy and enhance energy resilience.

City objectives

This RFP will help the City of Tucson advance the following objectives:

• Supporting the equitable financing and deployment of rooftop solar technologies in Tucson.

• Deliver benefits to Tucsonans, particularly low-income and disadvantaged communities by:

o Achieving higher penetration of solar in disadvantaged communities and for low-income households to ensure a more equitable distribution of the benefits of going solar;

o Maximize the benefits offered by existing efficiency programs;

o Exploring financing for “solar plus” offerings, which may include solar + energy efficiency;

o Provide opportunities for workforce development;

Program impact metrics

The City of Tucson will assess City Solar Empowerment Program designs based maximum impact, as determined by the following:

Energy cost savings:

• Average percentage reduction in participants' monthly energy bills.

Number of participants:

• Total number of low-income households enrolled in the solar program.

Energy production and consumption:

• Annual kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy produced by solar installations.

• Average pre-program and post-program monthly energy consumption in kWh.

Carbon emissions reduction:

• Metric tons of CO2 emissions reduced annually from use of solar energy.

Community education and engagement:

• Number of participants attending educational workshops.

• Outreach campaign reach, measured by the distribution of informational materials.

Collaboration

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• Number of collaborative partnerships established with other programs (e.g. home repairs, weatherization programs) to enhance impact.

Job creation:

• Number of direct jobs created in solar installation and maintenance.

• Number of indirect jobs created in related industries.

Equity and inclusivity:

• Demographic breakdown of program participants (income levels, ethnicity, etc.).

• Equity index reflecting the proportional representation of historically marginalized groups in the program.

Program cost and funding sources:

• Total program cost.

• Percentage breakdown of funding from federal and state sources, highlighting the diversity of funding streams.

• Percentage of competitive grant applications that result in successful funding.

Maintenance and upkeep:

• Average frequency of maintenance visits per solar installation.

Quality of installations:

• Compliance with industry standards (certifications, safety standards, etc.).

Customer satisfaction:

• Participant satisfaction scores based on surveys.

Financial assistance utilization:

• Percentage of eligible participants utilizing financial assistance programs.

Policy and regulatory compliance:

• Results of regular audits for compliance with local, state, and federal policies.

• Timely application for and receipt of available incentives and rebates.

Scalability:

• Ease of replicability and expansion to additional households.

• Cost-effectiveness of scaling the program.

B.3. Contact Information

Olga Culp Contract Officer Email: olga.culp@tucsonaz.gov Phone: (520) 837-3801 mailto:olga.culp@tucsonaz.gov tel:(520)837-3801

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Department:

City Manager's Office

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C. SCOPE OF WORK

C.1. Scope of Work

The selected firm will design a solar program that addresses the unique needs and challenges of low-income households in Tucson. The program design will include a narrative detailing the program vision, impact assessment, meaningful benefits plan, as well as a program administration narrative.

Specifically, the selected firm will be responsible for the following tasks: assess local solar market;

assess regulatory compliance; propose program eligibility criteria; propose program approach; propose incentive structure; conduct financial analysis; community and stakeholder engagement; monitor and evaluation.

C.2. Task 1: Assess local solar market o Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the local solar market, evaluating its current state and growth potential. Utilize solar resource maps to identify areas with high solar potential for low-income, single-family households in Tucson.

o Identify and profile major local players in the solar industry, including solar installation companies, equipment suppliers, and relevant service providers. Assess their market share, capabilities, areas of expertise, and consistency with product eligibility under Solar for All requirements.

o Create a system to vet solar installers and vendors that can prevent predatory practices, including considering:

▪ Tenure of a Local Office: Preference for companies with a history of local operations, suggesting a minimum of five years to indicate commitment to the area.

▪ NABCEP Certification: Although the usefulness of NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification is debated in the document, it's recommended to prioritize installers with current or former NABCEP-certified staff, specifically for installation. https://www.nabcep.org/certifications/

▪ ROC Complaints: Utilize the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) complaints as a metric. A high bar, such as zero or minimal verified complaints in a certain period (like five years), is suggested. roc.az.gov

▪ Self-Performing Companies: Emphasis on working with companies that directly perform installations, rather than those subcontracting the work, to ensure accountability and quality.

▪ Performance Guarantee: Requirement of a performance guarantee for solar installations, particularly for low-income households. This guarantee should cover operational assurance and remedy for lost production issues for a significant duration (e.g., 10 years).

▪ Insurance and Licensing Requirements: Ensure contractors provide proof of necessary business insurance, workman's comp, and appropriate state certifications and licenses.

https://www.nabcep.org/certifications/ https://roc.az.gov/

BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT Page 9 of 44 o Identify and document best practices within the region that can be leveraged for the city solar program.

o Explore regulatory, financial, and technological challenges that may impede solar expansion in the local market.

o Analyze TEP's strategies, partnerships, and contributions to the local solar landscape.

C.3. Task 2: Assess regulatory compliance

• Investigate state and local policies and programs promoting solar energy, including Renewable Portfolio Standards, Renewable Energy standards, net energy metering or feed-in tariffs, green banks, grants, incentives, tax exemptions, and others.

• Conduct a detailed analysis to ensure compliance with Arizona state laws and regulations governing solar energy initiatives.

• Propose a streamlined process to navigate local permitting and zoning requirements, ensuring efficiency and compliance.

C.4. Task 3: Propose program eligibility criteria

• Evaluate Solar for All program eligibility criteria as well as Tucson’s geographical, housing types/homeownership, and income distributions. Based on analysis recommend which residents should be served with this program for greatest impact.

• Define customer eligibility criteria considering geographical and income eligibility EPA considerations:

o Geographic eligibility – Define eligibility criteria for the municipal solar program, based on areas designated by EPA as “low-income and disadvantaged communities”, which together they are the GGRG DAC Areas (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund - Disadvantaged Communities), including:

▪ Areas identified through the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (“CEJST”), the publicly available mapping tool developed by the White House Council on Environmental Quality; or

▪ Areas included in the limited supplemental set of census block groups that are at or above the 90th percentile for any of EJ Screen’s Supplemental Indexes when compared to the nation or state;

▪ Areas within Tribal lands as included in EJScreen;

o Develop a verification process for determining if a project is located within a GGRF DAC Area.

o Income eligibility – Define criteria for income eligibility, including:

▪ Income-Qualified Customers based on Area Median Income (AMI)

▪ For metropolitan areas at or below the greater of:

• 80% AMI; and https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/ej-and-supplemental-indexes-ejscreen https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/download-ejscreen-data

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• 200% of the Federal Poverty Level

▪ For non-metropolitan areas at or below the greater of:

• 80% AMI;

• 80% statewide non-metropolitan area AMI; and

• 200% of the Federal Poverty Level;

▪ Program-Qualified Customers based on participation in income-verified federal assistance programs, including:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”)’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”);

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”)’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”);

• U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (“WAP”);

• Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications (“Lifeline”);

• USDA’s National School Lunch Program;

• U.S. Social Security Administration’s Supplemental Security Income; or

• Any other verified government or non-profit program serving Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (“ALICE”) individuals or households designated by the EPA Administrator;

▪ Develop a customer-sensitive income verification process.

o Define product eligibility based on market state, existing regulations and federal conditions for Solar for All funding eligibility, including;

▪ Ownership

▪ Minimum product requirements

▪ Preferred product requirements

▪ Eligible technology o Define and address other program rules based on above analysis of regulatory environment, Solar For All program, state programs, and any other existing conditions, including guaranteeing a minimum 20% total electricity bill savings for households benefiting from the Solar for All program

C.5. Task 4: Propose program approach

• Based on target eligibility criteria, propose program approaches to support the identified eligible residents that should be served for greatest impact, including:

o Single family and small multifamily residents https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program https://www.energy.gov/scep/wap/weatherization-assistance-program https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/

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▪ Direct ownership (rooftop solar installation)

▪ Lease model with path to ownership (rooftop solar installation) o Multifamily

▪ Public housing

▪ Privately owned affordable housing o Community Solar (can be for homeowners, renters, or community-based organizations)

▪ Traditional subscription model

• Offer low-income homeowners a percentage of cost to participate in a community solar program.

▪ Cooperative / community owned model

▪ Local government, churches, social welfare organizations, and other agencies that serve the LMI population o Supporting initiatives

▪ Workforce development

▪ Partnerships with other programs (e.g. home repairs, weatherization programs) to enhance impact o Ownership options or models

▪ Direct purchase

▪ Loan or lease

▪ Power Purchase Agreement

▪ Third-party

▪ Other public – private partnership

▪ Other non-listed options

C.6. Task 5: Propose incentive structure

• Evaluate the program loan-to-grant structure, including a Tier approach wherein participants receive support with a grant-to-loan ratio determined by their income level.

• Ensure the program’s financial structure considers the long-term program sustainability, rooftop solar maintenance, and is fully align with the Solar for All requirements.

C.7. Task 6: Conduct a financial analysis

• Create a business plan for the program to be successful in the long-term.

• Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis to evaluate pros and cons for the program to be city-operated, compared to third-party operated, including FTEs required if city-operated.

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• Identify additional funding sources, incentives, and subsidies available for low-income solar installations in Arizona, including the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program.

C.8. Task 7: Community and stakeholder engagement

• Coordinate with local utility to ensure grid integration and compliance.

• Develop a community outreach strategy to raise awareness and encourage participation in the program.

C.9. Task 8: Monitoring and evaluation

• Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the performance and impact of the solar program, considering the listed impact metrics.

• Create a template for program progress reports.

• Create a standardized maintenance plan for homeowners to care for their rooftop solar.

https://energycommunities.gov/funding-opportunity/low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program/#:~:text=Overview,have%20historically%20been%20left%20behind

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D. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

D.1. DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS USED IN THE SOLICITATION

For purposes of this solicitation and any subsequent contract, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

City:The City of Tucson, Arizona

Contract:The legal agreement(s) executed between City and the Successful Offeror(s). The Contract will be deemed to include all the conditions and requirements set forth in this solicitation and any Addenda to the solicitation, all the Special Terms and Conditions and Standard Terms and Conditions, and all the terms of the Offer submitted by Offeror as finally negotiated and accepted by the City.

Contractor/Consultant:A Successful Offeror that enters into a Contract with the City.

Contract Representative:The City employee or employees who have been designated to act as the City contact for this solicitation process and who are responsible for monitoring and overseeing the Contractor's performance under the Contract.

Business Services Director:The contracting authority for the City, authorized to sign contracts and addenda thereto on behalf of the City.

May: Indicates something that is not mandatory but permissible.

May not:The indicated party is prohibited from taking the action.

Must: The action or condition is required.

Offer:Any proposal, statement of qualifications, bid, or other submission provided by an Offeror in response to this Solicitation.

Offeror: Each individual or entity that submits an Offer in response to this solicitation.

Successful Offeror: An Offeror who received a Notice of Award or a Notice of Intent to Award from the City.

Will:The indicated party is promising to take the action or abide by the condition.

D.2. PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETING

A Pre-Submittal Meeting will be held at the date and time stated on the cover page of this solicitation, if such a date and time is provided. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but written minutes and/or notes regarding the meeting will NOT be provided, so attendance is encouraged. The purpose of this meeting will be to clarify the contents of this solicitation in order to prevent any misunderstanding of the City's position.

D.3. INQUIRIES

Any questions about this solicitation or the proposed Contract must be presented at the Pre-Submittal Meeting, if there is one (see above), or submitted in writing, via email, or through the online bidding system, to the Contract Officer by the Question Submission Deadline. The email must refer to the solicitation number and the paragraph number of the provision that the question concerns. The Contract

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Officer may respond by email or may, if they deem it appropriate, address the question in a solicitation addendum or response through the question and answer portal in the online bidding system. Offeror may not rely on oral interpretations or clarifications about the solicitation; only questions answered in an email by the Contract Officer, posted through the online bidding system, or posted as a formal solicitation addendum will be binding.

D.4. ADDENDUM OF SOLICITATION

Solicitation Addenda will be posted on the City’s link to the online bidding website. Offeror is responsible for checking the webpage regularly for new solicitation addenda and must acknowledge each addendum to this solicitation in its submittal. Please note that vendors who have registered with the Business Services Department at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tucson-az and follow the City of Tucson will receive email notifications of solicitation addenda.

D.5. UNDERSTANDING SCOPE OF WORK

Before submitting an Offer to this solicitation, Offeror must familiarize itself with the Scope of Work, laws, regulations, physical conditions, and other factors affecting the obligations – including the expense and difficulty of fulfilling those obligations – that Offeror will have under the Contract if awarded to Offeror. No adjustment to the financial or other terms of the Contract will be justified by Offeror’s failure to fully understand or appreciate the Contract requirements or other factors affecting Contract performance.

D.6. PREPARATION OF OFFER

A. Form and Organization. If Offer forms are included in this Solicitation, Offeror’s Submittal must be on those forms. Supporting documentation must be arranged in a manner that follows and clearly refers to corresponding sections of the solicitation. Offeror may copy the submittal forms in order to complete them electronically but may not alter or rearrange them or change any paragraph designations.

B. Confidential Information. Any information in its submittal that Offeror wishes to be treated as confidential must be clearly marked “CONFIDENTIAL.”

C. Offer Contents. Offeror’s submittal must contain responses to all sections of this solicitation, any Offer forms provided must be completed and any requested supporting documentation must be attached.

D. Signatures. Offeror must include in their submittal signed copies of the Offer and Acceptance page. Any cover letter accompanying the proposal documents must be signed. Offeror must initial each erasure, interlineation or other modification in the submittal. The person signing and initialing on behalf of Offeror must be a person authorized to legally bind Offeror.

E. Prices. Where a unit price is provided it will govern over any erroneous extension of the price.

F. Time Periods. Periods of time, stated as a number of days, will be calendar days unless specifically stated otherwise.

G. Accuracy. Mistakes in preparation of its submittal confers on Offeror no right to modify or withdraw its submittal after the Submittal Deadline.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tucson-az

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H. Cost of Preparation. The City will not reimburse Offeror for the cost of developing, presenting, submitting or providing any response to this solicitation.

I. Subcontractors. Offeror must, in their submittal, list any subcontractors that it will utilize in the performance of the Contract if they are awarded the Contract and must describe their qualifications in detail.

J. Incomplete Information. Failure to include all requested information may have a negative impact on the evaluation of Offeror’s submittal.

D.7. PAYMENT DISCOUNTS

Payment discount periods shall be computed from the date of receipt of the material/service or correct invoice, whichever is later, to the date City’s payment warrant is mailed. Unless freight and other charges are itemized, any discount provided shall be taken on full amount of invoice. Payment discounts of twenty-one calendar days or more shall be deducted from the proposed price in determining the price points. However, the City shall be entitled to take advantage of any payment discount offered by a vendor provided payment is made within the discount period. The payment discount shall apply to all purchases and to all payment methods.

D.8. TAXES

The City is exempt from federal excise tax, including the federal transportation tax, but is not exempt from any other taxes, including state and local sales and excise taxes.

D.9. EXCEPTIONS TO CONTRACT PROVISIONS

By submitting an offer in response to this solicitation, Offeror is offering to enter into the Contract with the City. If Offeror wishes to modify any Contract terms and conditions, Offeror must, in its Offer, clearly identify the changes it is requesting. No requested modification will be deemed accepted by the City unless and until the City’s Business Services Director or their designee expressly accepts it in writing.

D.10. PUBLIC RECORD

Any documents submitted by Offeror in response to this solicitation will become the property of the City.

Except as set forth below with respect to Confidential Information, the Submittal will be deemed to be a public record available for review by the public after the award notification.

D.11. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

The City is obligated to abide by the Arizona Public Records Law, A.R.S. §§ 39-101 through 39-161. If Offeror believes that any portion of its Offer, specification, protest or correspondence contains information that is confidential and subject to being withheld from disclosure in the event that the City receives a public records request to which the record is responsive, Offeror must, when the record is submitted, provide the Contract Officer written notification of that fact. The records or portions of records that Offeror wishes to be treated as confidential must also be clearly marked “CONFIDENTIAL” on their face. Pricing will not be treated as confidential.

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If the City, after award notification, receives a public-records request the scope of which includes a document submitted by Offeror and marked "CONFIDENTIAL", the Contract Officer will make a written determination regarding whether the document will be provided to the requestor. If the Contract Officer determines that the document should be released, City will notify Offeror in writing. Unless Offeror, within 10 days after the date of that notice, obtains and provides to City an order from a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting the City from releasing the documents, the City may release the documents without any liability to Offeror.

D.12. WHEN AND HOW TO SUBMIT OFFERS

In order to be considered, Offeror must, no later than the Offer Submittal Deadline, submit its Offer electronically through the City’s online bidding system:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tucson-az

NOTE: THE ENTIRE OFFER MUST BE IN "“SUBMITTED"” STATUS IN THE CITY’S ONLINE

BIDDING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED. RESPONSES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED

IN THE SYSTEM, BUT THAT ARE NOT IN "“SUBMITTED"” STATUS BY THE OFFER SUBMITTAL

DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

D.13. CERTIFICATION OF NONCOLLUSION; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Offeror will not communicate, orally or in writing, with any member of the Mayor and Council, or with any City staff outside the Procurement Division of the Business Services Department, regarding this Solicitation. By submitting an Offer, Offeror warrants that:

A. Preparation and submission of the submittal did not involve collusion or other anti-competitive practices.

B. Offeror has not given, offered to give, nor intends to give at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, trip, favor, meal or service to a public servant in connection with this solicitation.

C. No person has been employed or retained to solicit or secure a Contract under this solicitation upon a promise of a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee.

D. No employee of the City involved in this Solicitation process, or any family member of such an employee, has any substantial financial interest in Offeror’s firm. No member of the City of Tucson Mayor and Council who has, or whose family member has, any substantial financial interest in Offeror’s firm will participate in any action taken by the Mayor and Council with respect to this Contract. The terms “relative” and “substantial interest” have the meanings assigned in A.R.S. § 38-502

The City may disqualify Offeror from further participation in the solicitation process if the City determines that any City employee or official involved in this Solicitation process has an actual or apparent conflict of interest or if Offeror has engaged in any collusion or anti-competitive practices.

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D.14. WITHDRAWAL OF OFFER; BINDING OFFER

By submitting an Offer in response to this Solicitation, Offeror is offering to enter into the Contract with the City. Offeror may withdraw a submitted Offer at any time prior to the Offer Submittal Deadline.

Telephonic or oral withdrawals are not effective.

Offeror cannot withdraw an Offer that is in “submitted” status as of the Offer Submittal Deadline unless the Director of the Business Services Department consents in writing to the withdrawal. The Offer will be irrevocable for 90 days after the Offer Submittal Deadline.

D.15. DISCUSSIONS

The City may, at its discretion, conduct discussions with Offeror for the purpose of eliminating minor irregularities, informalities, or apparent clerical mistakes in Offeror’s submittal in order to clarify the offer and assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, solicitation requirements.

D.16. VENDOR REGISTRATION; BUSINESS LICENSE

In order to be eligible for award of a Contract, Offeror must:

A. Register with the City’s Business Services Department. Registration can be completed at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tucson-az

B. Obtain a City of Tucson Business License or a written determination from the City's Business License Section that a license is not required. For questions contact the City's Business License Section at

(520) 791-4566 or email at license@tucsonaz.gov mailto:license@tucsonaz.gov

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E. OFFER EVALUATION AND CONTRACT AWARD

E.1. PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA – (listed in relative order of importance)

A. Method of Approach

B. Qualifications and Experience

C. Proce Proposal

E.2. INTERVIEWS

The City may interview some or all of the offerors at any point during the evaluation process. If interviews are conducted, information provided during the interview process will be taken into consideration in the evaluation process. The City will not reimburse the Offeror for any costs Offeror incurs during its participation in the interview process.

E.3. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS

The City may undertake any additional investigations it deems appropriate to evaluate the competence and financial stability of any offeror.

E.4. OTHER INFORMATION

Information that evaluation committee members have about an offeror beyond what is provided in the offeror’s Offer may be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

E.5. PRICE

A. Tax Offset Policy. If applicable under Section 28-18(6) or Section 28-17(7)(d) of the Tucson Procurement Code, the City will include the amount of all business privilege taxes other than the City’s in evaluating the pricing component of each Offer.

B. Payment Discounts. Any discounts offered by Offeror for payments made within 21 calendar days or more will be deducted from the proposed price in evaluating an offeror’s pricing.

However, the City may take advantage of any early- or timely-payment discounts offered by a vendor. Any proposed payment discount will apply to all purchases and to all payment methods

E.6. CITY’S RIGHT TO WAIVE DEFECTS OR REJECT OFFERS

Notwithstanding any other provision of this solicitation, the City may:

A. Waive any immaterial defect or informality; or

B. Reject any or all submittals, or portions thereof; or

C. Reissue the solicitation.

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E.7. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

At the City’s discretion, it may negotiate with one or more responsible offerors to agree upon the final conditions, terms and price of the Contract. In doing so, the City will treat offerors fairly and will not disclose to any offeror information from responses submitted by other offerors. Exclusive or concurrent negotiations do not constitute a contract award and do not confer any rights to the offerors participating in such negotiations. In the event the City deems that negotiations are not progressing, the City may formally terminate these negotiations and may enter into concurrent or exclusive negotiations with the next most qualified firm(s).

E.8. AWARD OF CONTRACT

A Contract is created when, and only when, it is formally awarded, which occurs when the Business Services Director and the City Attorney sign the Offer and Acceptance page of the Successful Offeror’s submittal. When a Contract is awarded, the City will send the Contractor a Notice of Award.

The City may first issue a Notice of Intent to Award to the Successful Offeror(s). Offeror, if it receives a Notice of Intent to Award from the City, must sign and file with the City, within ten (10) days after receipt of the Notice, all documents necessary for execution of the Contract. A Notice of Intent to Award does not create a contract. Only a subsequent formal award, as described above, creates a Contract.

E.9. MULTIPLE AWARDS

The City, at its sole discretion, may award multiple Contracts.

E.10. SUBMITTAL RESULTS

After the City issues a Notice of Award, the City will post the name(s) of the Successful Offeror(s) on the Business Services Department’s Internet site at https://procurement.opengov.com/portalucson-az/contracts

E.11. PROTESTS

Any interested party, may, in accordance with Article IX of the Tucson Procurement Code, protest either this solicitation or the award of a Contract under this solicitation. A protest based on alleged improprieties in this solicitation must be filed no later than five (5) working days before the Proposal Submittal Deadline. A protest of a proposed or actual award must be filed no later than ten (10) calendar days after the City issues a Notice of Intent to Award or, if no Notice of Intent to Award is issued, after the City issues a Notice of Award.

A protest must be made in writing and filed with the Contract Officer. It must include:

A. The name, address, and telephone number of the protestant;

B. The signature of the protestant or its representative;

C. The solicitation or Contract number;

D. A detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds for the protest along with copies of all relevant documents; and https://procurement.opengov.com/portalucson-az/contracts https://procurement.opengov.com/portalucson-az/contracts

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E. The form of relief requested.

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F. EVALUATION PHASES

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

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1. Method of Approach

A. Understanding of City Objectives and Goals

1. Demonstrate how the proposed program will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and 2045.

2. Articulate how the program addresses the specified RFP goals and objectives.

B. Incentive Structure and Financial Analysis

1. Demonstrate how the Firms will create a well-structured incentive model, including a Tier approach based on income levels.

2. Demonstrate how the Firm will create a comprehensive financial analysis, including a business plan for long-term success.

3. Demonstrate how the Firm will evaluate the program sustainability, considering maintenance and Solar for All requirements.

4. Demonstrate how the Firm will identify additional funding sources, incentives, and subsidies for low-income solar installations.

C. Cost and Scalability

1. Demonstrate how the Firms will create a breakdown of the total program cost.

2. Demonstrate how the Firms will create a list of diverse funding sources including but not limited

N/A N/A

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3. Demonstrate how the Firms will create an assessment of scalability, including ease of replicability and expansion to additional households.

4. Demonstrate how the Firms will create a cost-effectiveness analysis of scaling the program.

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2. Qualifications & Experience

A. Firm Qualifications and Experience

1. Provide a brief description of relevant experience for personnel assigned to this project (one half page maximum per person).

2. State the intention of proposed subcontractors for any portion of the work sought by this Request for Proposal (RFP). Include the subcontractors’ roles and resumes.

3. Describe the availability of project personnel to adhere to the timeline and participate in this project in the context of the Firm’s other commitments.

4. Provide a detailed statement of qualification describing why your Firm is the most qualified and capable to develop the City’s Solar Empowerment Program sought by this RFP.

5. List all solar-related projects where the Firm served as the primary consultant during the past 5 years. Provide a brief description and links to each project.

6. Describe the Firm’s familiarity with the unique characteristics of Tucson, Arizona and/or cities with similar characteristics.

7. Describe the firm’s experience working with low-income communities and disadvantaged populations, and the familiarity with Solar for All program requirements.

B. Program Design and Approach

1. Describe the Firm’s experience assessing the local solar market.

2. Describe the Firm’s experience analyzing regulatory compliance and

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3. Demonstrate how the Firm will clearly define program eligibility criteria, including income and geographic considerations.

4. Demonstrate how the Firm will create an inclusive program approach to serve various eligible residents.

5. Demonstrate how the Firm will consider the outlined program impact metrics when designing the program.

C. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

1. Describe the Firm’s experience creating a well-defined monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with program impact metrics.

2. Describe the Firm’s experience creating a template for program progress reports that includes relevant metrics.

3. Describe the Firm’s experience creating a standardized maintenance plan for homeowners to ensure the longevity and efficiency of rooftop solar installations.

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3. Price Proposal

A. Provide your firm's Fee Summary as requested on the Price Page attached herein.

B. The cost proposal should include all of the following components:

1. Tasks that will be performed for this project closely mirroring the required tasks and subtasks as identified in the Scope of Work including:

a. Task 1 – Assess

Local Solar Market

b. Task 2 – Assess

Regulatory Compliance

c. Task 3 – Propose Program Eligibility Criteria

d. Task 4 – Propose Program Approach

e. Task 5 – Propose Incentive Structure

f. Task 6 – Conduct a Financial Analysis

g. Task 7 – Community and Stakeholder Engagement

h. Task 8 – Monitor and Evaluation

2.

2. For each task and subtask in #1, show the:

3.

a. breakdown of consultant (subconsultant) staff categories involved,

b. number of hours per task for each staff category (see attached list of disciplines)

c. staff category direct hourly labor rate,

d. total cost for billing purposes.

3.

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4. In support of subconsultant costs, if any, shown in your cost proposal, please provide the subconsultant’s cost proposals received which should be broken down in a similar manner as requested above showing major tasks, with corresponding subconsultant staff categories, direct hourly labor rates.

5.

5. Submit an overall hourly rate schedule for Offeror and all subconsultants. These hourly rates should match those rates shown in the cost proposal.

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G. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

G.1. COOPERATIVE PURCHASING

Contractor will, when requested, provide goods and services at the same prices and under the same terms and conditions as set forth in this Contract to any public or nonprofit agency that, at the time of request, has a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the City or participates in the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (SAVE) cooperative. See http://www.tucsonprocurement.com/coop_partners.aspx and click on “Cooperatives” for a list of agencies that have Cooperative Purchasing Agreements with the City; see http://www.mesaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=23638 for a list of agencies participating in SAVE.

These lists are subject to change. Contractor may, however, charge an agency that is outside the Tucson Metropolitan Area for additional out-of-pocket expenses that will be incurred by Contractor in providing goods and services to the agency (i.e., freight charges, travel related expenses, etc.).

Each participating agency that orders goods or services under this Contract as provided above is solely responsible for paying Contractor for those goods and services. The City is not responsible for any disputes arising out of transactions made by others.

G.2. LIVING WAGE REQUIREMENTS

Contractor will comply with all applicable provisions of the City’s Living Wage Ordinance (Article XIV of the Tucson Procurement Code). Contractor will, upon request, affirm in writing that Contractor is in compliance and will provide City with information and documentation demonstrating that compliance.

The City’s Living Wage ordinance can be found at the following link:

https://tucsonprocurement.com/bidders_livingwage.aspx.

G.3. PRICE ADJUSTMENT

At least 90 days before the date that the Contract is eligible for extension, Contractor may submit to the Contract Officer a request for price adjustments based on documented increased Contractor costs and the City may, at its discretion, make price adjustments, which will apply during the extension term.

G.4. HUD CLAUSE

Any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation will contain the HUD Terms and Conditions listed in the corresponding attachment titled, 5369-B.

G.5. TERM AND RENEWAL

The term of the Contract will commence when awarded to Contractor and remain in effect for a period of one (1) year, unless terminated, canceled or extended as otherwise provided herein. The City may, at its sole option, extend the Contract's term for up to four (4) additional one-year periods or portions thereof.

http://www.tucsonprocurement.com/coop_partners.aspx http://www.mesaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=23638 https://tucsonprocurement.com/bidders_livingwage.aspx

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G.6. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) REQUIREMENTS

Any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation will contain the ARPA Terms and Conditions listed in the corresponding attachment titled, "ARPA Terms and Conditions."

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H. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

H.1. Required Insurance Policies

Contractor will obtain and maintain during the entire term of this Contract and for 2 years after the Contract term ends, the following insurance coverage from insurers that have an “A.M. Best” rating of not less than A-VII:

H.2. Commercial General Liability

Policy must include Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury and Broad Form Contractual Liability with coverage limits no lower than:

A. Each Occurrence: $1,000,000

B. General Aggregate: $2,000,000

C. Products & Completed Operations Aggregate: $2,000,000

D. Personal and Advertising Injury: $1,000,000

E. Blanket Contractual Liability: $1,000,000

H.3. Commercial Automobile Liability

Policy must include bodily injury and property damage, for any owned, hired, and/or non-owned vehicles used in performance of work under this Contract, with a Combined Single Limit no lower than $1,000,000.

H.4. Worker's Compensation

Policy must have coverage limits no lower than:

A. Per Occurrence: Statutory

B. Employer's Liability: $1,000,000

C. Disease Each Employee: $1,000,000

D. Disease Policy Limit: $1,000,000

E. [If Contractor is a Sole Proprietor, include this waiver provision under A.R.S. § 23-961(M). To determine whether the Contractor is a Sole Proprietor, please request the Sole Proprietor/Independent Contractor form from the Contract Officer listed in the solicitation.] I am a sole proprietor, and I am doing business as [name of sole proprietor business]. I am performing work as an independent contractor for the City of Tucson. I am not the employee of the City of Tucson for workers' compensation purposes, and, therefore, I am not entitled to workers' compensation benefits from the City. I understand that if I have any employees working for me, I must maintain workers' compensation insurance on them.

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H.5. Policy Change Notice

Contractor will give the City 30 days advance written notice before any of the above policies are changed in any manner that is inconsistent with the requirements of this Contract. The notice must be sent directly to the Procurement Division of the Business Services Department.

H.6. Additional Insured

The Commercial General Liability, Commercial Automobile Liability and umbrella policies where applicable will include the City as an additional insured with respect to liability arising out of the performance of this contract. The City must be covered to the full policy limits, even if those limits of liability are in excess of those required by this Contract. The coverage must be primary and any insurance carried by City is excess and not contributing.

H.7. Claims-Made Coverage

If any or part of the required insurance is written on a claims-made basis, any policy retroactive date must precede the date of the contract and the Contractor must maintain such coverage for a period not less than three (3) years following contract expiration, termination or cancellation.

H.8. Additional Requirements

Each insurance policy required by this Contract, excluding Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions), must include or be endorsed to include to provide the following:

A. A waiver of subrogation endorsement in favor of the City, for losses arising from work performed by or on behalf of the Contractor (Including Worker’s Compensation).

B. The policy is primary and any insurance carried by the City is excess and not contributing.

C. The coverage provided by the policy is not limited to the liability assumed under the indemnification provisions of this Contract.

D. The insurer will provide written notice to the City at least ten (10) calendar days before the policy is terminated or cancelled or the coverage is reduced.

H.9. Verification of Coverage

A. Contractor will give the City certificates of insurance (ACORD form or equivalent approved by the City), signed by an authorized representative of the insurer, showing that the Contractor has all the insurance required by this Contract.

B. Contractor must deliver the certificates directly to the Procurement Division of the City’s Business Services Department before the Contractor commences work under this Contract.

C. The certificates must contain the City project/contract number and project description.

D. The City reserves the right to require complete copies of all insurance policies required by this Contract at any time.

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H.10. Subcontractors

Contractors’ insurance certificate(s) must include all subcontractors as insureds under its policies or Contractor must give the City separate certificates and endorsements for each subcontractor showing that each subcontractor has the insurance coverage described above.

H.11. Public Entities

If Contractor or any sub-contractor is a public entity that self-insures as permitted by law, then the insurance requirements in this Section 8 will not apply to that entity and that entity must instead provide a Certificate of Self- Insurance.

H.12. Sufficiency of Coverage

The City in no way warrants that the required minimum insurer rating in this Contract is sufficient to protect the Contractor from potential insurer insolvency, nor that the required liability limits are sufficient to protect Contractor.

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I. STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I.1. ADVERTISING

Contractor will not advertise or publish information concerning this Contract without prior written consent of the City’s Business Services Director.

I.2. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

The parties will comply with all federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, standards and Executive Orders including, without limitation, the following:

A. Americans with Disabilities Act.