DEEP-2027-003-SW Addendum II.docx

This is an addendum document issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for the Energy Resilience Construction Grants solicitation (DEEP-2027-003-SW). The addendum modifies or clarifies terms of the original Request for Proposals, which solicits design and construction proposals from municipalities, municipal electric utilities, investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and other qualified entities to improve the resilience of Connecticut's electric grid against extreme weather, wildfires, natural disasters, and outage-related disruptions. Eligible projects encompass resilience-focused infrastructure upgrades and distributed energy resource deployments statewide. Individual project grants range from $10,000 to $6 million, with a combined funding pool of approximately $24 million. Proposals were originally due December 1, 2026. Applicants must demonstrate project readiness through preliminary engineering and environmental assessments, with preference given to shovel-ready projects that include detailed project descriptions, budget justifications, community resilience plans, and evidence of local support.

Funding for the grants derives from three sources: Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40101(d) formula funding, state bond cost match funding authorized under Connecticut General Statutes Section 16-243y, and Federal Sustainable Energy Program (SEP) BIL funding. The evaluation process is competitive and considers technical merit, cost-effectiveness, community benefit, and alignment with state energy goals. Selected projects will be subject to grant agreements requiring progress reporting, financial documentation, and compliance with construction timelines and quality standards. All applicants must comply with applicable federal and state procurement regulations, prevailing wage requirements, and environmental review processes. As an addendum, this document supersedes or supplements specific provisions contained in the original RFP solicitation.