DOER Consultant for 83E Round 2 RFQ.pdf

Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources – RFQ-ENE-2026-024 Consulting Services for 83E

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES

ELIZABETH MAHONY, COMMISSIONER

100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020 Boston, MA 02114

Request for Quote

Document Title: Technical Consulting Services for 83E

COMMBUYS Bid Number: BD-26-1041-ENE01-ENE01-130342

Agency Document Number: RFQ-ENE-2026-024

Issued June 12, 2026

Please Note: This is a single document associated with a complete Bid (also referred to as Solicitation) that can be found on www.COMMBUYS.com. All Bidders are responsible for reviewing and adhering to all information, forms and requirements for the entire Bid, which are all incorporated into the Bid. Bidders may also contact the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us or the COMMBUYS Helpline at 1-888-MA-STATE. The Helpline is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday Eastern Standard or Daylight time, as applicable, except on federal, state and Suffolk county holidays.

http://www.commbuys.com/ mailto:COMMBUYS@state.ma.us

1. BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

A. Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) develops and implements policies and programs aimed at ensuring the adequacy, security, diversity, and cost-effectiveness of the Commonwealth's energy supply to create a clean, affordable, equitable, and resilient energy future for all residents, businesses, communities, and institutions.

B. Background for Solicitation

The purpose of this solicitation is to procure the services of a contractor (“Contractor”) to assist the DOER in connection with the Second and Third 83E Procurement.

Section 98 of An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity and Protecting Ratepayers (“2024 Climate Bill”) requires competitive procurements for energy storage, as directed by DOER under its authority contained in Section 83E of An Act to Promote Energy Diversity, Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024 (“Section 83E”), as amended. Section 83E requires the Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) to, through a competitive solicitation process, procure a total of 5,000 MW of energy storage systems by July 31, 2030, of which 3,500 MW shall be mid-duration energy storage (4-10 hours), 750 MW of long-duration energy storage (10-24 hours), and 750 MW of multi-day storage (24+ hours).

The EDCs, in coordination with DOER, released the first solicitation on July 31, 2025, which sought to procure 1,500 MW of mid-duration energy storage and specifically only procure the environmental attributes resulting from those energy storage systems. On December 19, 2025, DOER announced the selection of four energy storage projects whose cumulative capacity totals 1,268 MW. The final acceptance of the bids and the award of contracts is conditional upon successful negotiation of mutually acceptable long-term contracts between the bidders and each of the (EDCs), as well as required regulatory approvals of such contracts, as provided set forth under the Request for Proposals.

For the second procurement under 83E, DOER has proposed the timetable and method for solicitation, in coordination with the EDCs and using a competitive bidding process and shall be subject to review and approval by the DPU.1 The DOER consulted with the EDCs and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Attorney General Office regarding the choice of solicitation methods. Unlike the first procurement, which was required to be for environmental attributes only, this second procurement considers environmental attributes, energy services, and both. This second procurement also includes distribution-connected energy storage systems, whereas only transmission-connected projects were eligible in the first procurement. Proposals received pursuant to this solicitation shall be subject to review by DOER and Executive Office of Economic Development, in consultation with the Independent Evaluator (IE), and the EDCs shall offer technical advice.

The DOER will be a member of the 83E Procurement Evaluation Team, along with the EDCs and the EDCs’ Evaluation Consultant, as monitored by the IE. IE DOER, in consultation with the IE, 1 DPU 26-75 available at https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dpu/fileroom/#/dockets/docket/12979 https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dpu/fileroom/#/dockets/docket/12979 will issue a final, binding determination of the winning bid. The IE will assist DOER in its responsibilities under Section 83E and in the evaluation.

2. PROCUREMENT & CONTACT INFORMATION

A. Type of Procurement

The contract (Contract) will be a Fee for Service subject to 801 CMR 21 and Statewide contract PRF74 Energy Climate action, and Facility Advisory Services.

B. Request for Quote Distribution Method

This Request for Quotes (RFQ) has been distributed electronically using the COMMBUYS system. It is the responsibility of every potential respondent to check COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications to an RFQ to which they intend to respond. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Commonwealth) and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodations to respondents who fail to check for an amended RFQ or submit inadequate or incorrect responses.

Respondents may not alter language in an RFQ or any RFQ component files. Those submitting a proposal must respond in accordance with the RFQ directions and complete only those sections that prompt a respondent for a response. Modifications to the body of this RFQ, its specifications, terms and conditions, or which change the intent of this RFQ are prohibited. Any unauthorized alterations will disqualify a response.

C. PRF74 Energy Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services.

Any work awarded as a result of this RFQ is pursuant to Statewide Contract PRF74 Energy Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services. All terms, conditions, contract rules, and Compensation Structure/Pricing and Expenses established in PRF74 shall apply. Additional information concerning PRF74 can be found using PRF74 User Guide located at:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/prf74-energy-climate-action-and-facility-advisory-services/download

Massachusetts Public Records Law

All proposals and information submitted in response to this RFQ are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., Chapter 66, Section 10, and to Chapter 4, Section 7, and Subsection

26. Any statements in submitted proposals that are inconsistent with these statutes or other laws shall be disregarded.

D. Small Business Procurement

This procurement is targeted to small businesses participating in the Commonwealth's Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP). The DOER intends to evaluate bid responses from designated small business and to potentially award a contract to a SBPP-participate who submits https://www.mass.gov/doc/prf74-energy-climate-action-and-facility-advisory-services/download a bid that meets or exceeds the solicitation criteria. However, this procurement is not limited to business participating in the SBPP. Proposals will be expected from qualified PRF74 vendors as well. If it is determined that there is inadequate SBPP capacity, or no SBPP-participating vendors provide a responsive bid, the DOER will then evaluate, and award bid responses received from non-SBPP businesses. In order to determine a business’s eligibility and to participate in the SBPP, please review the requirements and general program information located at www.mass.gov/sbpp.

E. No Guarantee of Resulting Contract

The Commonwealth makes no assurance that any services will be purchased from any contract resulting from this RFQ.

F. Questions & Answers

All questions must be submitted through the Q&A feature within COMMBUYS.

G. Contact Information

Responses to this RFQ will be received by:

Contact: Thomas Ferguson Energy Storage Program Manager Department of Energy Resources 100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02114 Telephone: (617) 626-7375 E-mail: thomas.ferguson@mass.gov RFQ Name: Technical Consulting Services for 83E Round 2 RFQ File Number: RFQ-ENE-2026-024 http://www.mass.gov/sbpp

H. Procurement Calendar

DOER Issues RFQ June 12, 2026

Deadline for Submitting Questions June 17, 2026

DOER Answers Questions June 22, 2026

RFQ RESPONSE DUE DATE June 26, 2026 by 4pm

Selection of Winning Response* July 6, 2026

Execution of Contract with DOER* July 17, 2026

Project Kick-off Meeting* July 22, 2026

Project Complete* June 31, 2028 *Dates after Request for Quote Response Due Dates are anticipated dates. All dates are subject to change.

3. REQUEST FOR QUOTE & CONTRACT INFORMATION

A. Scope of Work

The selected Contractor will support and assist the DOER in its responsibilities under Section 83E. Generally, the selected Contractor will provide for DOER the quantitative and qualitative evaluation, and analysis of the cost and benefits of the energy storage proposals. This will require expertise in energy markets, including energy storage systems, transmission, distribution, and generation, in quantitative and qualitative modeling and analysis, and in all the direct and indirect cost and benefit criteria that may be included in the evaluation.2 The selected Contractor will be expected to support the second and third Section 83E solicitations which will overlap in time (See Anticipated Key Dates).

In addition to the quantitative and qualitative modeling required to fully evaluate the energy storage proposals, the selected Contractor may be directed to provide: (a) the interpretation and presentation of the modeling data, (b) utilization of the modeling results and Contractor expertise to recommend bids for selection and contract negotiations, and (c) the review and monitoring of contract negotiations. In addition, the selected Contractor may assist the DOER and its counsel during the DPU process, including without limitation assisting in responding to discovery requests, advising on cross-examination questions and in brief preparation. The Contractor may also be directed to prepare a report and provide testimony that would address: (a) the reasonableness of the process and conformance with the provisions of the RFP; and (b) the reasonableness of the contracts executed through the solicitation process.

2 For reference on statutorily required evaluation criteria, please see Section 98 of the 2024 Climate Bill at https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2967 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2967

The selected Contractor’s main responsibilities may include but will not be limited to:

• Contributing to the development of and/or evaluating production cost modeling of regional and multi-regional energy, capacity, and ancillary services markets as well as the evaluation of indirect economic benefits to customers using the outputs from electric market simulation modeling.

• Utilizing production cost modeling results to assist in the implementation of the direct and indirect costs and benefits evaluation methodologies, including but not limited to mark-to-market energy and Clean Peak Energy Certificate (“CPEC”) price comparisons, the evaluation of environmental benefits of Global Warming Solutions Act (“GWSA”) compliance, specific geographic and grid reliability benefits, and project viability.

Contractor should be familiar and comfortable with frameworks for procuring energy services from energy storage (e.g., Index Storage Credit)

• Contributing to the development evaluation criteria for distribution-connected energy storage bids and evaluation of direct and indirect costs and benefits from those projects.

This may include how to allow and evaluate bids comprising aggregations of distribution-connected energy storage projects.

• Reporting to DOER on the reasonableness of qualitative and quantitative evaluations, including determining the success of economical modeling results and identifying issues for the DOER management.

• Representing DOER on the evaluation team through in-person meetings and subcommittee conference calls as needed.

• Participating in all stages of the evaluation process including Stage I, which includes determining a proposal’s threshold eligibility, and Stage III, which includes determining the portfolio effect of multiple proposals and assisting the DOER in its ranking of proposals.

• Reporting assessments and conclusions to the DOER and other consultants as required.

Anticipated Key Dates*

July 31, 2026 DPU-Approved Round 2 RFP posted by EDCs

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 Round 2 Bid evaluation and selection process

Spring 2027 Round 3 RFP Drafting

July 31, 2026 DPU-Approved Round 3 RFP posted by EDCs

Spring – Summer 2027 Round 2 EDC contract negotiation & execution

Summer 2027 – Winter 2028 Round 2 DPU contract regulatory process

Fall 2027 – Spring 2028 Round 3 Bid evaluation and selection process *Dates are anticipated key dates to be discussed with RFP Drafting Team and are subject to review by the DPU.

B. Deliverables

Key deliverables as discussed above and as directed by the DOER shall be completed by the selected Contractor(s) and shall include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. Consult with DOER and EOED on the review of proposals received in Section 83E solicitation;

2. Attend extensive meetings and conference calls with DOER and the soliciting EDCs concerning the evaluation of responses submitted in response to the RFP;

3. Provide consultation to DOER in its determination of a winning bid(s); and

4. Provide such other services as set forth in Section 83E.

C. Qualifications & Experience

At a minimum, the selected Contractor’s qualifications and experience should include the following elements. A selected Contractor’s qualifications and types of experience may be met through one or more subcontracting relationships. If the Contractor (including subcontractors) has comparable qualifications to those that are listed below but does not have the exact qualifications, the bid should explain so.

• Knowledge of the ISO New England and other control areas’ energy, capacity, and ancillary services markets

• Knowledge of different frameworks for procuring energy storage (e.g., Index Storage Credit, tolling agreements)

• Knowledge of the ISO New England transmission system and technical analyses performed by ISO New England to address interconnection requests for proposed energy storage projects and associated ISO New England processes and requirements strongly preferred (comparable knowledge may be considered)

• Knowledge of the Massachusetts Distribution System owned by the three (EDCs) and technical analyses performed by the EDCs to address interconnection requests for proposed energy storage projects and associated EDC processes and requirements strongly preferred (comparable knowledge may be considered)

• Experience in the review of complex proposals to provide clean energy via new power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) in Massachusetts and New England

• Demonstrated knowledge in considering changes in locational marginal prices, change in production costs, net imports and exports in conducting quantitative evaluation of electric market simulation modeling, transmission and distribution analysis including constraints and congestion analysis, or in conducting comparable evaluations and analysis

• Knowledge of Department of Public Utilities, including knowledge of previous Sections 83, 83A, 83D, 83E, and 83C proceedings, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regulatory proceedings, rules and precedent and experience participating in such regulatory proceedings

• Knowledge and experience with Massachusetts and regional environmental regulations and associated markets, including the Massachusetts Clean Peak Energy Standard (“CPS”), Global Warming Solutions Act, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

(“RGGI”)

D. Contract Information

The contract(s) awarded pursuant to this RFQ-ENE-2026-024024xxx will be awarded as a rate-based contract with a maximum dollar amount not to exceed four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000). The Contract(s) awarded pursuant to this RFQ-ENE-2023-008 is anticipated to be through June 30, 2028. The DOER reserves the right to hire a Contractor for a limited scope of work if necessary to meet the budget parameters.

E. Contract Expansion

If additional funds become available during the Contract duration period, the DOER reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation to the Contract executed as a result of this RFQ-ENE- 2023-008 with related additional tasks to be determined by the written mutual agreement of the DOER and the selected Contractor consistent with the terms of Statewide Contract PRF74 Energy Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services.

F. Contractor’s Responsibility & Invoicing

The selected Contractor will be responsible for the timely completion of the requirements described above and as directed by the DOER. The Contractor must assume overall responsibility for coordinating and completing all deliverables contained in the resultant contract. All invoices must be submitted to the DOER on a schedule and in a format to be agreed upon by the DOER and the Contractor. Invoices shall include sufficient back-up documentation to support the amount being invoiced.

G. The Commonwealth’s Responsibility

The Commonwealth's Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing and managing all tasks undertaken by the selected Contractor, including but not limited to, developing a Statement of Work; reviewing, commenting and approving work plans and subsequent deliverables;

coordinating with the DOER and other program staff as required; approving invoices promptly;

and reviewing and preparing work products for reports.

H. Submission Instructions

Respondents to RFQ-ENE-2026-024 must respond via COMMBUYS by 4:00 P.M. on June 26, 2026, using the subject line “RFQ-ENE-2026-024 Response”. Late proposals will not be accepted.

Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Unnecessary attachments beyond those sufficient to present a complete, comprehensive, and effective response will not influence the evaluation of the proposal. Each page of the proposal should state the name of the Bidder, and the page number.

All correspondence and filings submitted to the DOER shall be directed to the Grant Contact set forth in Section 2 (G) Contact Information.

Responses that do not include all of the information outlined in the Response Package Contents section below may be disqualified. The DOER may ask applicants (Applicants) to provide additional information or to participate in an interview.

Once the award is made, all submissions are subject to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., Chapter 66, Section 10, and to Chapter 4, Section 7 and Subsection 26.

I. Response Package Contents

Respondents must provide the following sections in their proposal. All responses must include a Transmittal Letter, Executive Summary, Narrative Section, and Cost Proposal as defined below:

Transmittal Letter (1-page limit): The transmittal letter should highlight any special features of the response and include the name, phone number, and email for the Applicant’s point of contact and must identify this RFQ by number (RFQ-ENE-2026-024). The transmittal letter should acknowledge any Amendments to this RFQ posted on COMMBUYS and be signed by a representative of the Applicant who has the authority to bind the Applicant.

Executive Summary (1-page limit): The executive summary must contain the key components of the response, including the Contractor’s name, names of key personnel that will be involved in the project and their respective roles, and a brief description of the organization’s experience with similar energy procurements.

Narrative Section (15-page limit): The narrative section will be comprised of the section as outlined below.

1. Contractor Qualifications and Experience

A. A description of the project team and key partners, if any. List of key individuals that are part of the project team. Organizational structure for the team and project management structure. Resumes for individual team members may be attached and do not count toward the fifteen-page limit.

B. Discussion of project team and key partners’ recent experience with similar energy procurements.

C. Availability of key team member(s) to participate in development of RFPs immediately and long-term availability of member(s) during what is expected to be an extended procurement process.

D. Examples, including a client list, of previous projects that demonstrate experience with similar analyses, consulting for governmental entities, or other relevant experience.

2. The proposed approach to support the evaluation for energy storage procurements; critical criteria, overview of elements to consider, key risk factors and potential pitfalls.

3. Respondents shall describe any current or potential future consulting engagements with parties that: (i) may be involved in developing a bid submission for a Massachusetts solicitation under Section 83E; or (ii) are working with other New England states engaged in their own energy storage solicitation, either individually or in collaboration with another New England state(s).

4. Respondents must provide an overall project pricing based on hourly rates for personnel assigned to the project. In no instance can any hourly rate exceed the maximum billing rates established in PRF74. Respondents must include any and all ancillary services in the project price. The DOER under no circumstance will pay additional costs related to the project unless previously agreed to by both parties in writing.

Cost Proposal (2-page limit): A cost proposal, broken out by task listed in the deliverables, staff person, and hourly rate. Respondents must provide project‐based pricing instead of the maximum billing rates established in PRF74. Contractors must include any and all ancillary services in the project price. DOER under no circumstance will pay additional invoices related to project‐based procurement. Proposals that include partnerships must designate one party as the lead contractors and identify the team of subcontractors.

Supporting Documents: Respondents must provide supporting documents related to their participation as a consultant or IE in similar procurement processes, including but not limited to:

past/current client lists, sample reports submitted to regulatory bodies such as the FERC, the DPU, or similar state regulatory commissions; written testimony, briefs, or analysis submitted in regulatory proceedings; and a detailed list of such testimony provided in similar regulatory proceedings.

Proposals that include partnerships must designate one party as the lead contractor and identify the team of subcontractors.

5. EVALUATION AND AWARD

The selected Contractor shall demonstrate the experience, ability, and skills to complete projects of this type on time and within budget.

All proposals received by the due date and meeting the requirements established in this RFQ will be reviewed and evaluated by the DOER. The evaluation will include, but will not be limited to, the following criteria:

A. Qualifications and availability of Team Members:

Highly Advantageous: Respondent’s proposed team demonstrates significant knowledge in all the following skills: complex regional and multi-regional energy, capacity, and ancillary services economic modeling, different energy storage procurement models, regional transmission and local distribution systems, Massachusetts energy markets, clean and renewable energy portfolio standards, regional and ISO-NE grid structures, and regulatory proceedings.

Advantageous: Respondent’s proposed team demonstrates knowledge in some of the following skills: complex regional and multi-regional energy, capacity, and ancillary services economic modeling, different energy storage procurement models, regional transmission and local distribution systems, Massachusetts energy markets, clean and renewable energy portfolio standards, regional and ISO-NE grid structures, and regulatory proceedings.

Not Advantageous: Respondent’s proposed team demonstrates limited knowledge in a few of the following skills: complex regional and multi-regional energy, capacity, and ancillary services economic modeling, different energy storage procurement models, regional transmission and local distribution systems, Massachusetts energy markets, clean and renewable energy portfolio standards, regional and ISO-NE grid structures, and regulatory proceedings. Respondent is concurrently working on an energy storage project or with an energy storage developer that is associated with a bid submitted in response to a Section 83E RFP.

Unacceptable: Respondent’s proposed team demonstrates limited to no knowledge in many of the required skills.

B. Respondent’s experience with similar projects:

Highly Advantageous: Respondent has fifteen (15) or more years of experience working on projects of a similar type, size and scope to this project.

Advantageous: Respondent has less than fifteen (15) years but more than seven (7) years of experience working on projects of a similar type, size and scope to this project.

Not Advantageous: Respondent has seven (7) or less years of experience working on projects of a similar type, size and scope to this project.

Unacceptable: Respondent has no experience working on projects of a similar type, size and scope to this project.

D. Completeness and clarity of the response:

Highly Advantageous: Respondent presents a plan of approach to achieve end deliverables that is logical, well thought through, achievable, and fully addresses all elements stated in the RFQ.

Advantageous: Respondent presents a plan of approach to achieve end deliverables that is moderately logical, somewhat well thought through, contains some project components that may not be achievable, and addresses most, but not all elements stated in the RFQ.

Not Advantageous: Respondent presents a plan of approach to achieve end deliverables that is not logical, not well thought through, contains many project components that may not be achievable, and does not address many elements stated in the RFQ.

Unacceptable: Respondent does not present a plan of approach.

E. Price

Respondent presents a reasonable budget with expected hours of work and availability by personnel and is inclusive of all ancillary costs.

6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A. Reporting

The selected Contractor is responsible for compliance with all contract reporting requirements including, but not limited to, Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) and other contract reports, as required by this contract.

B. Security and confidentiality

The selected Contractor shall comply fully with all security procedures of the Commonwealth and all other applicable state, local and federal agencies in performance of the contract. The selected Contractor shall not divulge to third parties any confidential information obtained by the selected Contractor or its agents, distributors, resellers, subcontractors, officers or employees in the course of performing contract work, including, but not limited to, security procedures, business operations information, personally identifiable information, or commercial proprietary information in the possession of the Commonwealth Agency.

C. Audit

During the term of this Agreement and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the DOER, its auditors, the Operational Services Division, the Office of the Inspector General or other authorized representatives shall be afforded access at reasonable times to the Contractor’s accounting records, including sales information on any system, reports or files, in order to audit all records relating to goods sold or services performed pursuant to this Agreement. If such an audit indicates that the Contractor has materially overcharged the DOER, then the Contractor shall remit the overcharged amount and be responsible for payment of any costs associated with the audit.

D. Concurrent and Post Contract Employment Restriction

Any selected Contractor (including subcontractors), including all personnel assigned to the Contract, are prohibited from concurrently or subsequently working on any project that is associated with a bid submitted in response to an RFP or a project that is under contract with one or more of the EDCs pursuant to Section 83E. This employment restriction commences on the Contract Effective Date and concludes three years from the Contract End Date.