EVICC PRF76 CAT 4.pdf

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

100 Cambridge Street, 10th Floor

Boston, MA 02114

Request for Quote (RFQ) PRF76 Energy, Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services

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

Facilitation and Analysis Services for the Third Assessment of the Electric Vehicle

Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC)

COMMBUYS Bid Number: Bid BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131720

Project Number: FY27ENER0011 Date: 7/23/2026

Please note: This is a single document associated with a complete Solicitation that can be found on COMMBUYS. All Bidders are responsible for reviewing and adhering to all information, forms, and requirements found in all tabs and related forum records for the entire Solicitation. To locate the Solicitation associated with this document, go to www.COMMBUYS.com, select the “Search for solicitations” link, enter the above Document Number in the “Document Number field, and select the “Search” button. Bidders who need help regarding COMMBUYS navigation may refer to the COMMBUYS Resource Center at www.mass.gov/osd for documents and guides. Bidders may also contact the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at commbuys@state.ma.us or the COMMBUYS Helpline at 1-888- 627-8283. 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/ http://www.mass.gov/osd mailto:commbuys@state.ma.us

REQUEST FOR QUOTES

Project# FY27ENER0011 / COMMBUYS Bid# Bid BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131720

Purchasing Department Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

Address 100 Cambridge Street, 10th Floor City, State Zip Code Boston, MA 02114 RFQ Name/Title Facilitation and Analysis Services for the

Third Assessment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council

(EVICC)

Project Number FY27ENER0011 COMMBUYS Bid Number Bid BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-131720

14. Description or Purpose of Procurement:

The purpose of this solicitation is to procure the services of a consultant to assist the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) with the following –

EEA seeks a qualified consultant or consultant team with a strong background in project management, facilitation, and technical expertise to assist in developing the Third Assessment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC). The consultant would complete analysis and forecasting of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Massachusetts, draft and help manage the development of the Assessment in accordance with legislative requirements, and otherwise support the EVICC’s operations.

Background

The EVICC was established pursuant to Section 81 of An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind to develop strategies that result in an equitable, interconnected, accessible, and reliable EV charging network in Massachusetts. EVICC is required to report to the legislature on these strategies through a formal assessment submitted every two years, starting in August 2023. The third EVICC Assessment is due to the legislature by August 11, 2027. EVICC’s role in developing a comprehensive plan to build out the state’s EV charging network, in partnership with government actors, private industry, and the public, is vital to the achievement of the state’s climate requirements.

EVICC’s membership includes senior leadership from a variety of state agencies, as well as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. The council meets monthly to discuss the development of the next Assessment, progress on Assessment recommendations, state efforts to support the buildout of EV charging throughout the state, and developments in the EV charging industry.

The Second EVICC Assessment was released in August 2025 and included recommendations to ensure that Massachusetts is well-positioned to continue its progress in deploying EV charging, including by being more strategic in employing public funds and leveraging private funding, better utilizing the https://www.mass.gov/info-details/second-assessment-of-the-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-coordinating-council-evicc electric grid, increasing the efficiency of current EV charger incentive program offerings, planning proactively for future EV charging buildout, and improving the EV charging experience for drivers.

Each EVICC Assessment is required by state law to contain, but is not limited to the following:

• Assessment of the present condition of, and future needs for, road and highway electrification;

• Estimates of the number and type of electric vehicle charging stations in public and private locations;

• A forecast of electric vehicle charging demand throughout the Commonwealth for the next 10 years and the impacts of such demand on the electric distribution grid, identifying areas of the grid that may require modification due to these impacts;

• Estimates of the number of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle charging stations required to meet the commonwealth’s emissions limits, and a discussion of costs, permitting processes and estimated timelines for installing charging stations for medium and heavy-duty vehicles;

• Suggestions for optimal locations for electric vehicle charging stations in urban, suburban and rural locations and low- and moderate-income communities;

• Discussion of present and projected future costs and methods of financing those costs;

• Discussion of technological advances in charging stations and related infrastructure, equipment and technology including, including data collection, mobile charging, assisting in grid management and assisting in the integration of renewable energy resources;

• Discussion of strategies to maintain electric vehicle charging stations in full and continuous working order;

• Recommendations to assist governmental and private sector officials in installing charging stations and related infrastructure, equipment and technology, including within proximity of on-street parking; and

• Identification and discussion of current policies and recommendations for policies, laws and regulatory actions that may facilitate the provision of charging stations and related infrastructure.

Additionally, the Third EVICC Assessment will build on the findings and recommendations of the first two assessments by identifying remaining gaps in Massachusetts’ EV charging policies and programs, prioritizing the highest-impact areas for public and private investment, planning the long-term electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, developing strategies to minimize the grid impacts of EV charging, and advancing proactive electric system planning to support the timely and equitable deployment of charging infrastructure statewide.

15. Applicable Procurement Law

Check Appropriate

Box (“X”):

Type of Purchase Applicable Laws

Executive Branch Goods and Services

Goods and Services MGL c. 7, § 22; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801 CMR

21.00

Human and Social Services MGL c. 7, § 22, § 22N; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801

CMR 21.00; 808 CMR 1.00

Legal Services MGL c. 30, § 51, § 52 and § 65; c. 7, § 22;

and 801 CMR 21.01(2) (b)

Grants MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, § 17; 815

CMR 2.00

16. Acquisition Method:

Check All Applicable (“X”): Category Fee-For-Service

Outright Purchase

Rental (not to exceed 6 months)

Term Lease

License

Other:

17. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

Single Contractor

Multiple Contractors

a. Estimated Number of Awards The target maximum number of Contractors is 1 ; the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies that responded to this Solicitation and not awarded Contracts. If necessary to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth, the Solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional Bids.

18. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Check One (“X”): Eligible Entities

Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Defined Entities Only. Any Contract(s) resulting from this Bid will be open for use by the issuing Purchasing Department and the following other entities:

☒ Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Issuing Entity Only.

19. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Contract Duration Number of Options Number of

Years/Months Initial Duration

From the execution date through 06/30/2027

Renewal Options

One option to renew for one year

Total Maximum Contract Duration

22 months

20. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding, or Compensation:

Estimated Value of Procurement: $450,000

21. Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

a. Statement of Work

The consultant will play a key role in supporting the development of the Assessment and the operations of EVICC. As the services needed require a wide range of expertise, EEA encourages the creation of consultant teams led by a primary vendor and supported by a subconsultant(s) with specific expertise to ensure the ability to complete all aspects of the project scope. The consultant would be expected to complete the below tasks.

i. Assessment Development

1. Help the EVICC team refine the scope, manage the development of the

Assessment and assist with project management;

2. Provide substantive input on content to be included in the Assessment;

3. Develop an initial outline of the Assessment using feedback from EVICC members, state staff, and the public;

4. Support interagency coordination and program tracking;

5. Prepare memos and presentations as needed;

6. Create summary materials to support the release of the final Assessment;

7. Present on Assessment and technical analysis at monthly EVICC meetings; and,

8. Provide additional administrative support to the EEA EVICC team.

ii. Technical Analysis

Critically, the consultant will complete analysis to support the Assessment and the Transportation Electrification Grid Planning (Section 103) Process required by St. 2024 c. 239 §

103. The analysis will include, but is not limited to:

1. Inventory of current public and private EV charger deployment in Massachusetts, using data from the Alternative Fuels Data Center, EDCs, and Registry of Motor Vehicles;

2. Analysis of the number, type and geographic disbursement of EV chargers necessary to meet the state’s climate goals, with a focus on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including modeling different scenarios of needed types, numbers and locations of chargers based on slow, medium and rapid near-term EV deployment;

3. The pace of statewide public, multi-family, workplace, and fleet EV charger deployment since the last assessment compared against the Commonwealth’s goals;

4. Identification of geographies that require greater deployment and/or pace of deployment of public, multi-family, workplace, and fleet Level 2 chargers and direct current fast chargers (DCFCs) to meet the state’s goals;

5. Assessment of the utilization of existing chargers throughout the state;

6. Forecasting EV charging demand in the Commonwealth for the next ten years using current traffic patterns and expected adoption of light, medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles over various time periods;

7. Identification of optimal EV charging hubs across the state, specifically along transportation corridors and to serve medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, taking into account both existing and planned EV charging infrastructure;

8. Identification of areas with likely step load increases of EV charging, such as electrifying fleet depots, using creative approaches such as remote sensing or cell phone data analysis as appropriate; and

9. Identification of areas of the grid that will require substation upgrades to accommodate the forecasted demand and anticipated step load increases, with a focus on charging hubs identified through Section 103 and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) service plazas, and analysis of the potential of load management strategies to avoid grid upgrades.

The consultant should work closely with the modeling team working on the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2035 to ensure alignment on EV and EV charging assumptions. Additionally, the consultant should align their analysis work with the Department of Energy Resources’ Peak Potential of Load Management report and ongoing load management work. The technical analysis should, to the greatest extent practicable, provide consistent planning signals with previous EVICC assessments. This includes aligning methodologies, assumptions, and results so that EEA and partners can reliably plan longer-term investments.

Along with the EEA EVICC team, the consultant will also be expected to engage with stakeholders on their analysis, including collaborating with the Commonwealth’s electric distribution companies (EDCs) to ensure the results of this analysis are useful to the EDCs in their proactive planning efforts like the Transportation Electrification Grid Plans and Electric Sector Modernization Plans. The consultant will be expected to create slide decks summarizing their analysis and provide presentations at EVICC meetings and in other venues.

iii. EVICC Administrative Support

1. Attend weekly EVICC staff meetings and assist with strategy and notetaking at said meetings;

2. Assist with meeting facilitation for the monthly EVICC meeting as requested by the EVICC Chair; and

3. Draft minutes for EVICC meetings.

iv. Stakeholder and Public Engagement

1. Plan and facilitate at least three public hearings during the development of the Assessment, as required by law;

2. Support stakeholder engagement efforts;

3. Analyze and compile public feedback; and

4. Support and help facilitate EEA’s EV Charging Industry Advisory Group.

b. Project Schedule

Task Approximate Timing Discuss Third Assessment Scope at EVICC Meeting September 2, 2026 Develop Draft Assessment Scope & Outline September – October 2026 Discuss Outline at EVICC Meeting November 4, 2026 Public Hearings January 2027 Final Technical Analysis Completed February 15, 2027 Complete Draft Assessment Sections March 1, 2027 Design and Review of Draft Assessment March – April 2027 Release of Draft EVICC Assessment April 15, 2027 Public Comment Period April 15, 2027 – May 21, 2027 Revise Assessment and Final Review May – July 2027 Release of Final EVICC Assessment August 11, 2027 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/peak-potential-load-management-for-an-affordable-net-zero-grid

Fiscal Terms

The contract(s) awarded pursuant to this Project# FY27ENER0011 will be awarded as a rate-based contract with a maximum dollar amount not to exceed Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars ($450,000) in total. The Contractor will be paid on a monthly basis for the work performed in accordance with the scope of services at the hourly rate included in the contract. The Contract(s) awarded pursuant to this Project# FY27ENER0011 is anticipated to be through June 30, 2027, with the option to renew for an additional year, pending funding availability. EEA reserves the right to hire a Contractor for a limited scope of work if necessary to meet the budget parameters.

The selected Contractor will be responsible for the timely completion of the requirements described above and as directed by EEA. In order to provide the breadth of experience and flexibility to meet the anticipated short timelines, the selected Contractor is expected to propose a team and provide details of each team member’s experience. The selected Contractor must assume overall responsibility for coordinating and completing all deliverables contained in the resultant Contract. All invoices must be submitted to the EEA on a schedule and in a format mutually agreed to by EEA and the Contractor.

Invoices shall separately bill and report on work done and shall include sufficient back-up documentation to support the amount being invoiced.

If additional funds become available during the Contract duration period, EEA reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation to the Contract executed as a result of this Project# FY27ENER0011 with related additional services to be determined by the written mutual agreement of EEA and the selected Contractor consistent with the terms of Statewide Contract PRF74 Energy Climate Action, and Facility Advisory Services.

To the extent applicable, the selected Contractor and any resulting Contract shall comply with and/or address any obligation under Massachusetts law that may be applicable to Contractor’s work or the Contractor, as set forth in this RFQ, including, but not limited to, the provisions of M.G.L. c. 149.

Performance Measures:

The contractor shall be responsible for meeting agreed-upon milestones and deadlines, maintaining regular communication with EEA, and ensuring that the final regulatory package is ready for formal adoption.

22. Supplier Diversity Plan (SDP) Plan

Program Background

Pursuant to Executive Order 599 the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) promotes business-to-business relationships between awarded Contractors and diverse businesses and non-profit organizations (“SDP Partners”) certified or recognized (see below for more information) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO).

All Bidders and Contractors are strongly encouraged to create a profile on the SDO’s Supplier Diversity Hub to access the Commonwealth’s supplier diversity resources and tools.

https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-599-reaffirming-programs-to-ensure-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-diverse-and-small-massachusetts-businesses-in-state-procurement-and-contracting https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-the-supplier-diversity-program-sdp https://www.mass.gov/supplier-diversity-office https://www.mass.gov/supplier-diversity-office

Financial Commitment Requirements

All Bidders responding to this solicitation are required to make a significant financial commitment (“SDP Commitment”) to partnering with one or more SDO-certified or recognized diverse business enterprise(s) or non-profit organization(s). This SDP Commitment must be expressed as a percentage of contract sales resulting from this solicitation that would be spent with the SDP Partner(s).

After contract award (if any), the Total SDP Commitment shall become a contractual requirement to be met annually on a Massachusetts fiscal year basis (July 1 – June 30) for the duration of the contract. The minimum acceptable Total SDP Commitment in response to this solicitation shall be 1%. Bidders shall be awarded additional evaluation points for higher SDP Commitments.

No contract shall be awarded to a Bidder without an SDP Commitment that meets the requirements stated herein. This requirement extends to all Bidders regardless of their own supplier diversity certification.

Eligible SDP Partner Certification Categories

SDP Partners must be business enterprises and/or non-profit organizations certified or recognized by the SDO in one or more of the following certification categories:

• Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

• Minority Non-Profit Organization (M/NPO)

• Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

• Women Non-Profit Organization (W/NPO)

• Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VBE)

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE)

• Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE)

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprise (LBGTBE)

Eligible Types of Business-to-Business Relationships

Bidders and Contractors may engage SDP Partners as follows:

• Subcontracting, defined as a partnership in which the SDP partner is involved in the provision of products and/or services to the Commonwealth.

• Ancillary Products and Services, defined as a business relationship in which the SDP partner provides products or services that are not directly related to the Contractor’s contract with the Commonwealth but may be related to the Contractor’s own operational needs. These may include but are not limited to the following examples: professional services (e.g., IT, legal, advertising, HR, accounting etc.), maintenance services (e.g., cleaning, landscaping, tradespersons services, etc.), office expenses (e.g., office supplies, furniture, IT supplies, etc.).

Anything declared as a business expense in which a certified vendor is used would qualify.

Other types of business-to-business relationships are not acceptable under this contract. All provisions of this RFQ applicable to subcontracting shall apply equally to the engagement of SDP Partners as subcontractors.

Program Flexibility

The SDP encompasses the following provisions to support Bidders in establishing and maintaining sustainable business-to-business relationships meeting their needs:

• SDP Partners are not required to be subcontractors.

• SDP Partners are not required to be Massachusetts-based businesses.

• SDP Partners may be changed or added during the term of the contract, provided the

Contractor continues to meet its SDP Commitment.

SDP Plan Form Requirements

All Bidders must complete the SDP Plan Form included in this solicitation and attach it to their bid response. In addition to proposing an SDP Commitment, each Bidder must propose one or more SDP Partner(s) to utilize to meet its SDP Commitment. Certified diverse Bidders may not list their own companies, their subsidiaries, or affiliates, as SDP Partners and may not meet their SDP Commitment by spending funds internally or with their own subsidiaries or affiliates.

Bidders may propose SDP Partners that are:

• Certified or recognized by the SDO: Such partners appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) directory. After contract award (if any), spending with such partners will contribute to meeting the Contractor’s SDP Commitment.

• Certified by one of SDO’s recognized third-party certification bodies but not yet listed in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses: Such partners must be certified in eligible categories by one of SDO’s recognized third-party certification bodies, which include the City of Boston, the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Disability: IN, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), or the National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) but have not yet opted to be listed in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses. In order to opt into SDO’s Directory of Certified Businesses, the SDP partner must follow the applicable expedited instructions on SDO’s Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business webpage. Self-certification is not acceptable. While Bidders may list such proposed SDP Partners on their SDP Plans, spending with such partners will not contribute to meeting the Contractor’s SDP Commitment unless they apply for and are granted SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition. If proposed SDP Partners do not receive SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition, the Contractor must find alternative SDP Partners to meet the SDP Commitment.

• Not yet certified or recognized by the SDO or one of SDO’s recognized third-party certification bodies: Such partners must be certified in eligible categories by other third-party certification bodies that are not yet recognized by the SDO, such as another city or state supplier diversity certification office, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, or the Women Business Enterprise National Council, but are not listed in the above-mentioned directories. Self-https://www.sdo.osd.state.ma.us/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory.aspx https://www.sdo.osd.state.ma.us/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory.aspx https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/ https://www.boston.gov/departments/supplier-diversity#get-your-business-certified https://gnemsdc.org/certification/ https://www.cweonline.org/ https://www.cweonline.org/ https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/supplier-diversity/get-certified/ https://nglcc.org/lgbtbe-certification/ https://www.navoba.org/certification https://www.navoba.org/certification https://nmsdc.org/login/?redirect_to=https://nmsdc.org/?page_id=47261 https://www.wbenc.org/certification/ https://www.wbenc.org/certification/ certification is not acceptable. While Bidders may list such proposed SDP Partners on their SDP Plans, spending with such partners will not contribute to meeting the Contractor’s SDP Commitment unless they apply for and are granted SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition. If proposed SDP Partners do not receive SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition, the Contractor must find alternative SDP Partners to meet the SDP Commitment.

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that their proposed SDP Partners obtain such certification or recognition by the SDO after contract award (if any). The issuing department and the SDO will not conduct outreach to proposed SDP Partners to ensure their certification. Furthermore, no guarantee may be made that a proposed SDP Partner will be certified, or regarding the time it may take to process a proposed SDP Partner certification. Contractors may direct partners to the SDO’s homepage, www.mass.gov/sdo and the Certification Self-Assessment Tool for guidance on applying for certification.

It is desirable for Bidders to provide a description of supplier diversity businesses practices. Specifically, listing contact information for the individual or unit responsible for establishing and maintaining supplier diversity relationships, and including a written policy for establishing and maintaining supplier diversity relationships.

It also is desirable for Bidders to use the SDP Plan Form to describe additional creative initiatives (if any) related to engaging, buying from, and/or collaborating with diverse businesses. Such initiatives may include but not be limited to:

• Serving as a mentor in a mentor-protégé relationship.

• Technical and financial assistance provided to diverse businesses.

• Participation in joint ventures between nondiverse and diverse businesses.

• Voluntary assistance programs by which nondiverse business employees are loaned to diverse businesses or by which diverse business employees are taken into viable business ventures to acquire training and experience in managing business affairs.

Evaluation of SDP Forms

To encourage Bidders to develop substantial supplier diversity initiatives and commitments as measures valuable to the Commonwealth, at least 25% of the total available evaluation points for this bid solicitation shall be allocated to the evaluation of the SDP Plan submissions. Because the purpose of the SDP is to promote business-to-business partnerships, the Bidders’ workforce diversity initiatives will not be considered in the evaluation.

SDP Spending Reports

After contract award, Contractors must submit reports at least annually to demonstrate compliance with the agreed-upon SDP Commitment. To submit SDP spending reports using the Hub, Contractors must create a profile in the Hub. Once registered, awarded contractors must report information such as, but not limited to, SDO or SDO-recognized SDP partner(s), spend with SDO partner(s), and total contract sales. Contractors must follow report submission instructions from the issuing department and the SDO.

https://www.mass.gov/forms/take-the-certification-self-assessment

SDP Spending Compliance Only Spending with SDP Partners that appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) directory shall be counted toward a Contractor’s compliance with their SDP Commitment. Spending with SDP Partners that do not appear in the directories above shall not be counted toward meeting a Contractor’s SDP Commitment.

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure they meet their SDP Commitment. The SDO and the issuing department assume no responsibility for any Contractor’s failure to meet its SDP Commitment.

SDP Spending Verification

The SDO and the contracting department reserve the right to contact SDP Partners at any time to request that they attest to the amounts reported to have been paid to them by the Contractor.

Program Resources and Assistance

Contractors seeking assistance in the development of their SDP Plans or identification of potential SDP Partners may visit the SDP webpage, www.mass.gov/sdp, or contact the SDP Help Desk at sdp@mass.gov.

23. Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

24. Evaluation Criteria

Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFQ. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

a) Process EEA will review the submitted proposals and may conduct an interview process. EEA reserves the right to select no respondents if the responses do not meet a sufficient standard based on the evaluation criteria. EEA reserves the right to waive any technical defect or informality in proposals received or to allow the Respondent to correct them, and to accept or reject any proposal or portion thereof. EEA reserves the right to seek additional information from any and all respondents including but not limited to requests for clarifications and interviews. In reviewing proposals or interviewing respondents, EEA may seek the input of other relevant agencies or stakeholders.

https://www.sdo.osd.state.ma.us/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory.aspx https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/ https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/ http://www.mass.gov/sdp mailto:sdp@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759

b) Qualifications and Experience Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFQ. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

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.

• Experience with modeling, forecasting deployment of new technologies, travel analysis and/or EV infrastructure analysis

• Knowledge of electric vehicle technologies, including vehicles, charging equipment, battery technologies, and emerging technologies such as mobile charging, wireless charging, and bi-directional charging.

• Knowledge of electricity markets, electric distribution grid planning, and utility regulation

• Knowledge of the Commonwealth’s decarbonization and EV and EV charging deployment policies

• Prior work related to medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification, including financial analysis of MHD fleet electrification for different vehicle classes, assisting fleets in electrifying, and/or identification of fleets likely to electrify

• Experience working with government agencies and clean transportation stakeholders

• The ability to provide references upon request

Candidates must be able to serve as a technical, project management, and writing lead, proactively identifying and resolving issues, facilitating internal and external coordination, and delivering high-quality r products on schedule.

c) Evaluation Criteria

Bidders must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFQ. Bidder scores will be used to rank bidders and will determine which bidders will proceed to subsequent stages of the evaluation and/or enter into negotiations with the Commonwealth to receive a Contract award. The selected Contractor is required to have the experience, ability, and skills to complete projects of this type on time and within budget. All complete proposals received by the due date and meeting the requirements established in this RFQ will be reviewed and evaluated by EEA. EEA reserves the right to select no Bidders if the responses do not meet a sufficient standard based on the evaluation criteria.

EEA reserves the right to waive any technical defect or informality in proposals received or to allow the Bidders to correct them, and to accept or reject any proposal or portion thereof. EEA reserves the right to seek additional information from any and all Bidders including but not limited to requests for clarifications and interviews. In reviewing proposals or interviewing Bidders, EEA may seek the input of other relevant agencies or stakeholders.

The evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to the following:

1) Completeness and clarity of the approach (35%): the 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.

2) Qualifications and Experience of Team (25%): Respondent’s proposed team demonstrates significant knowledge and experience to complete all deliverables described in the scope of services, with prior leadership experience in developing complex energy or transportation policy.

3) Price (15%): Respondent should present a reasonable budget with expected hours of work broken down by major tasks and by personnel for each service described herein. Proposals will be evaluated on price and those that can accomplish the complete scope as cost effectively as feasible will be weighed more favorably. The Commonwealth makes no guarantee that any commodities or services will be purchased from any contract resulting from this solicitation.

4) Supplier Diversity Plan (25%): Respondent should demonstrate partnership with one or more SDO-certified or recognized diverse business enterprise(s) or non-profit organization(s).

25. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFQ. Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Any submission that fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFQ will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and may be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

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

26. 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 Project# FY27ENER0011. 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 working on matter related to transmission and wholesale electricity markets.

Narrative Section (6-page limit): A narrative, not to exceed six (6) pages, describing the respondent’s approach for successfully managing and completing the project scope/deliverables as well as the team’s qualifications and experience (the page limit does not include resumes or the cost proposal).

Cost Proposal (2-page limit): A cost proposal, broken out by services listed in the scope, 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. EEA 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.

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

Bidders must disclose the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the development of any part of the response. Work completed under this contract must be free from any plagiarism or bias and contractors are responsible for the accuracy of any work product developed using AI. Contractors must identify if they plan on using AI for any portion of the contract in their bid.

27. Additional Finance Terms Bidders understand and agree that the following terms may be incorporated into any engagement stemming from this procurement. By submitting a bid, bidder certifies their ability and willingness to comply with these terms and requirements.

Invoicing Schedule: Contractor agrees to submit invoices no less frequently than monthly for the duration of this engagement. Contractor agrees to issue an invoice for performance through June 30th of each year no later than July 31st of the same calendar year.

Submitting Invoices: Contractor agrees to submit all invoices via email directly to the Commonwealth’s Contract Manager and CC'ing invoices.env@mass.gov.

Required Documentation: In addition to performance documentation as required by this agreement and the Commonwealth’s Standard Terms and Conditions, Contractor agrees to note the “MMARS Doc ID(s)” and “RFQ/Procurement or Other ID Number” as specified on Page 1 of this agreement on each invoice.

Form of the Required Invoice: Contractor shall submit a system-generated or otherwise formal vendor invoice on company letterhead, including remittance information, and bearing a unique invoice number and date of issuance.

Required Information on the Invoice: Each invoice shall include the applicable department reference numbers as assigned at the time of contract execution, a detailed description of services rendered or goods delivered, the corresponding charges, and the specific dates of service.

mailto:invoices.env@mass.gov

Financial Reporting: Annually, and no later than April 30th, Bidder agrees to provide Contract Manager with a summary of expenses incurred since the prior July 1st and projected costs through the upcoming June 30th.

14. Additional Requirements

Accessibility Contract Language The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Enterprise Digital Accessibility Policy drives ongoing efforts to make Massachusetts’ Digital Assets, including those delivered by a third-party, accessible and usable by all persons as required by state and federal laws. Where a Deliverable includes a Digital Asser, such Deliverable must meet the Commonwealth’s Digital Accessibility Standards.

The Commonwealth’s Digital Accessibility Standards include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 level A and AA developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Bidder must comply with the digital accessibility obligations set forth in the Vendor Digital Accessibility Contract Language and Vendor Digital Accessibility Testing Obligations and any subsequent versions or amendments.

During the bidding process and upon request, Bidder shall cooperate and provide the Commonwealth, or any third-party digital accessibility service provider procured by the Commonwealth, access to test its digital products for accessibility at no additional cost to the Commonwealth. The digital products must be available to the Commonwealth for evaluation prior to purchase and on an ongoing basis.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/enterprise-digital-accessibility-policy https://www.mass.gov/info-details/enterprise-digital-accessibility-policy#6-digital-accessibility-standards https://www.mass.gov/info-details/enterprise-digital-accessibility-policy#6-digital-accessibility-standards https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vendor-digital-accessibility-contract-language https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vendor-digital-accessibility-contract-language https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vendor-digital-accessibility-testing-obligations https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vendor-digital-accessibility-testing-obligations#access-to-test-digital-products

15. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

Procurement Activity Date Time

Bid Release Date July 23, Bidder’s Conference (Teams Link) July 30, 10:00am EST

Deadline for Submission of Questions through COMMBUYS “Bid Q&A” August 4, 5:00pm EST

Official Answers for Bid Q&A published (Estimated) August 10, Deadline for Quotes/Bid Responses (“Bid Opening Date/Time” in

COMMBUYS)

August 20, 10:00am EST

Possible Oral Presentations for Selected Bidder(s) (Estimated) August 24- 27, 2026

Notification of Apparent Successful Bidder(s) (Estimated) August 28, Estimated Contract Start Date September 1, 2026 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/238952873051505?p=9frt51meoISMQtIvdZ

a. COMMBUYS System COMMBUYS is the official source of information for this Bid and is publicly accessible at no charge at www.commbuys.com. Information contained in this document and in COMMBUYS, including file attachments, and information contained in the related Bid Questions and Answers (Q&A), are components of the Bid, as referenced in COMMBUYS, and are incorporated into the Bid and any resulting contract.

Bidders are solely responsible for obtaining all information distributed for this Bid via COMMBUYS.

Bid Q&A supports Bidder submission of written questions associated with a Bid and publication of official answers.

It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for:

• Any amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Bid, and

• Any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid.

The Commonwealth accepts no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than

COMMBUYS.

b. Online Questions (Bid Q&A) Written Questions must be entered using the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right to not respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network, or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in COMMBUYS.)

a. Bid Amendment Deadline The Purchasing Department reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication.

It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth accept no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

b. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time) See the Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening) Date and Time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

c. Estimated Contract Start Date This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

28. Required Forms

Responses to this RFQ must contain the following documents:

Check if applicable (“X”)

Form/Document Notes/Instructions (If any)

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions/Commonwealth IT Terms and Conditions

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification (Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form)

Standard Contract Form and Instructions Electronic Submission

Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer Electronic Submission

Additional Environmentally Preferable Products/Practices

Electronic Submission

Supplier Diversity Plan Form (SDP Plan Commitment)

Electronic Submission

Prompt Payment Discount Form Electronic Submission

Business Reference Form Electronic Submission

The above attachments are available as part of the Bid record on COMMBUYS

(WWW.COMMBUYS.COM).

29. RFQ Attachments

Appendix A: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids