RFP 03-2027 Cost File.pdf

Request For Proposals No. 03-2027

COST FILE

PRICE PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

(Must be submitted separately from the Technical portion of the proposal)

COMPANY NAME:

TITLE: Community Solar Subscriber Coordination Services

NIGP CODE/PRODUCT CODE: 95895 Utility Management Services

Commodity/Service Description Contractor-recruited subscribers ($ per subscriber)

Nonprofit-recruited subscribers ($ per subscriber)

Initial Acquisition

Income-verified Documentation

Customer Management/Billing

Review and Verification

Compensation to Designated Non-

Profit Partners: Subscriber referrals n/a

Compensation to Designated Non-

Profit Partners: Low-income verification documentation services n/a

Total ($ per subscriber)

* Please note that prices shall only have TWO DECIMAL PLACES. The County’s financial system will not allow more than two decimal places, adjust responses accordingly.

INVOICE PROCEDURE FOR SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTORS:

In order to facilitate prompt payment, invoices must contain the above commodity and/or service descriptions and pricing. Invoices failing to contain the required line item detail, including contract line number and unit pricing, may be returned for correction.

SIGNATURE: DATE:

PRINTED NAME: TITLE:

EQUAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PARTICIPATION

NOTICE TO PRIME CONTRACTORS

15% SUBCONTRACTING GOAL ON CONTRACTS

VALUED AT $50,000 OR MORE

Howard County Code Section 4.122 established an Equal Business Opportunity program to foster overall equity and fairness to all citizens in relation to business enterprises conducting business with the

County.

If a contract is $50,000 or more, the Prime Contractor shall make a good faith effort to comply with the Howard County Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) program’s 15% subcontracting goal. The Prime

Contractor shall make a good faith effort to obtain minority subcontractor participation even if the Prime

Contractor has the capability to complete the work with its own workforce. Certified MBE/WBE/DBE prime contractors can count 100% of the work they self-perform on contracts with EBO subcontracting goals. The subcontracting goal percentage may vary if the contract is funded by a federal or state agency.

Prime Contractors should submit the following completed Equal Business Opportunity Subcontractor

Participation Form with the bid. Identify subcontractors prior to submitting the proposal. After contract award, changes in subcontractors require the written approval of the EBO Coordinator.

Possible areas of obtaining subcontracting participation include, but are not limited to, flagging services, hauling, copying and printing, and the purchase of materials used in performing the contract.

Contractors may use minority, women or disabled business enterprises certified by Howard County, Maryland; the Maryland Department of Transportation; the City of Baltimore, Maryland; or another certifying entity in order to satisfy the 15% subcontracting goal. The website addresses for lists of minority businesses are:

Procurement & Contract Administration | Howard County

Maryland DOT - Vendor Management System

City of Baltimore - Diversity Management System

Contractors should submit a completed Equal Business Opportunity Subcontractor Participation

Form with the bid identifying each certified EBO firm they intend to use on the contract. However, if the

EBO Subcontractor Participation Form is not submitted with the bid, the County may request EBO subcontractor participation of the successful contractor.

Contractors failing to achieve the Equal Business Opportunity Program goal following a good faith effort to obtain participation must complete the Equal Business Opportunity Program Request for

Subcontracting Waiver and provide documentation of its good faith attempts to obtain EBO participation.

The County will determine if the efforts made satisfy a good faith attempt. A waiver will only be considered in rare contracts after a determination that the Contractor has made a good faith effort and thoroughly documented the efforts. Contractors should submit the Equal Business Opportunity Program Request for

Subcontracting Waiver with the bid. However, if the request for waiver form is not submitted with the bid, the County may obtain the request for waiver of the successful contractor.

If the County exercises its option to renew the contract, it is expected that the EBO subcontracting goal will be met for each subsequent contract year when the contract amount is $50,000.00 or more.

Questions relating to the EBO program shall be directed to the EBO Coordinator 410-313-6370.

PRIME CONTRACTORS’ COMPLIANCE OF EBO SUBCONTRACTOR PARTICIPATION

Prime Contractors that are awarded County contracts shall maintain adequate records of EBO participation on County contracts. The County may require that prime contractors report whether or not they met the proposed EBO subcontracting goal, so that the County can track compliance of EBO participation on County contracts.

Revised 02/05/2026 https://www.howardcountymd.gov/procurement-contract-administration https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmarylandmdbe.gob2g.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Creprice%40howardcountymd.gov%7C318e9f06425e4d6c765e08de64c16ef2%7C0538130803664bb7a95b95304bd11a58%7C1%7C0%7C639058979100066362%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bk%2BPBHFaiEv8vqW6I4P4wdLGQvMOWmjej%2FaiKgnbn14%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbaltimorecity.diversitycompliance.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Creprice%40howardcountymd.gov%7C318e9f06425e4d6c765e08de64c16ef2%7C0538130803664bb7a95b95304bd11a58%7C1%7C0%7C639058979100109485%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=y%2FmNKZ4mCmzAA7IObB03UfYK2seq8xeSuO7qgeZ37VU%3D&reserved=0

Revised 02/05/2026 DPH

HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND

EQUAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY (EBO)

SUBCONTRACTOR PARTICIPATION FORM

COUNTY USE ONLY

EBO APPROVAL

SIGNATURE (VENDOR OFFICIAL) TITLE DATE

PRINTED NAME EMAIL

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM

• Complete the section below identifying each certified EBO firm (Minority (MBE), Woman (WBE), and Disabled (DBE) Business

Enterprises) you intend to use on this project. Attach additional sheets if more than two (2) subcontractors.

• This form represents the contractor’s commitment to utilize the named EBO firms at the percentages indicated should the contract be awarded to the contractor. This form should accompany your bid or proposal.

• *EBO Types: AA (African American), ASA (Asian American), HIS (Hispanic American), NA (Native American), FEM (Female), DIS (Disabled)

PRIME CONTRACTOR SHOULD LIST ALL EBO SUBCONTRACTORS / SUBCONSULTANTS / SUPPLIERS

CONTRACT TITLE:

SOLICITATION # CAPITAL PROJECT CONTRACT / PO #

TERM: RENEWAL # AMOUNT $

PRIME CONTRACTOR NAME:

ADDRESS: PHONE:

EBO STATUS (Y/N): *EBO TYPE: CERTIFICATION # CERTIFYING AGENCY:

SUBCONTRACTOR NAME:

ADDRESS: PHONE:

EMAIL: CONTACT REPRESENTATIVE:

*EBO TYPE (Check One) □ AA □ ASA □ HIS □ NA □ FEM □ DIS

CERTIFYING AGENCY: CERTIFICATION # EBO PARTICIPATION %

DESCRIPTION OF WORK: EBO PARTICIPATION $

SUBCONTRACTOR NAME:

ADDRESS: PHONE:

EMAIL: CONTACT REPRESENTATIVE:

*EBO TYPE (Check One) □ AA □ ASA □ HIS □ NA □ FEM □ DIS

CERTIFYING AGENCY: CERTIFICATION # EBO PARTICIPATION %

DESCRIPTION OF WORK: EBO PARTICIPATION $

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM FORM

Revised 9/20/23

Complete this form and return it with your response to the solicitation

Complete Part 1 below if: Prime Contractor is certified in the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert)

Program as a Veteran-owned Small Business by the US Small Business Administration (SBA)

Complete Part 2 below if: Prime Contractor is proposing to subcontract with a business that is certified in the Veteran

Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program as a Veteran-owned Small Business by the US Small Business

Administration (SBA)

Complete Part 3 below if: Prime Contractor proposes NO Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise participation

Check as applicable

1. □ Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Certification:

Prime Contractor is certified in the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program as a Veteran-owned Small

Business by the US Small Business Administration (SBA)

2. □ Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Subcontract Participation:

Prime Contractor proposes to subcontract with a business that is certified in the Veteran Small Business Certification

(VetCert) Program as a Veteran-owned Small Business by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) as described below:

Name(s) of VOBE Subcontractor(s): ______________________________________________________________

Description of Work: __________________________________________________________________________

Percentage of Participation: __________ %

3. □ NO Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Subcontract Participation Proposed.

Name of company: ___________________________________________________________________________

Printed name: _______________________________________________Title: ____________________________

Authorized signature: _________________________________________Date: ____________________________

Email: _____________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________

In accordance with Section 4.130 of the Howard County Code, it is the policy of Howard County Government to encourage increased participation by Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises in the procurement of all goods and services through all solicitations by the County. The Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE) program includes an overall aspirational goal of 1% of the County’s total dollar value of procurement contracts to be made directly or indirectly with Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises. Participation may be either on a direct basis in response to this solicitation or on a subcontractor basis.

For the purposes of the Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Program, a Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE) is defined as a business enterprise that is certified in the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program as a

Veteran-owned Small Business by the US Small Business Administration (SBA). To search the database of certified veteran-owned businesses please visit https://veterans.certify.sba.gov https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/

Information on Howard County, Maryland’s Living Wage Requirement

Basics of the Howard County Living Wage Legislation

In 2007, the Howard County Council passed legislation requiring a minimum “living wage” for employees of certain contractors and subcontractors of Howard County. A Contractor that is defined as a “Covered Employer” under Howard

County Code Section 4.122A shall pay each employee an hourly rate sufficient to at least equal 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for a family of four individuals calculated on the basis of a 40-hour work week for 52 weeks.

Howard County Code Sec. 4.122A applies to service contracts estimated to be over $100,000.00 per year. The code does not apply to commodities contracts, contractors who employ fewer than 5 employees during the contract term, public entities, non-profit organizations, or contracts awarded under emergency, or expedited procedures. Other contractors may also be exempt; see the complete list of exemptions in Section 1 on the front of this form.

The living wage requirements do not apply to an employee:

• who performs no measurable work related to any contract with the County

• who participates in a government-operated or government-sponsored program that restricts the earnings of or wages paid to employees to a level below the wage required under the law

• who participates for not longer than 120 days in a calendar year in a government-operated or government-sponsored summer youth employment program

• for whom a different wage rate is expressly set in a collective bargaining agreement, or

• for whom a higher wage is required by a federal, state, or County law.

This form serves as written certification to the County of your firm’s intent to comply with the County’s wage requirements during this term and any subsequent renewals. A Covered Employer shall not subdivide a contract; pay an employee through a third party; or treat an employee as a subcontractor or independent Contractor to avoid the imposition of any requirement under this law. Failure to comply with this requirement at any time during the initial term and subsequent renewals may be sufficient cause for termination for default. A violation of this law is a Class A civil offense; in addition to a fine, the County may suspend or debar the violator under Howard County Code Sec. 4.117.

Current Living Wage Rate in Howard County

As of January 15, 2026, the Living Wage Rate is $19.83 per hour.

How the Living Wage Rate is Calculated

The Howard County Living Wage Rate is calculated by taking 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for a family of 4, then using this amount to determine the hourly rate based on 40 hours/week. On January 15, 2026, the Federal HHS Poverty

Guideline was published as $33,000 for a family of 4 (see https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines).

125% of $33,000 = $41,250.00 $41,250.00 ÷ 52 weeks ÷ 40 hrs/week = $19.83 per hour

This hourly rate must be paid to employees (full-time or part-time) during the time the employees actually provide services to the County. The current Living Wage remains in effect until new federal poverty guidelines are published, which is usually the following January. If there is a change, the Office of Procurement and Contract Administration will attempt to notify all current contractors via email using the email address provided on this form. The current rate is posted on our website at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/procurement-contract-administration. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ascertain the current rate.

Since the rate is subject to change annually, you must ensure that your bid pricing is sufficient to cover the cost of any increases during the term of the contract, including subsequent renewals. All prices shall take the current wage rate, and subsequent increases in the wage rate, if any, into account and there shall be no unit price adjustment for future wage rate increases during the initial term of this agreement and any subsequent renewals thereof. Future wage rate increases are hereby defined as any new rates approved by the County that take effect after and supersede the rate shown in this solicitation.

If you have questions about the Living Wage Requirement or how to complete this form, please contact the

Office of Procurement and Contract Administration at purchasing@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-6370.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines https://www.howardcountymd.gov/procurement-contract-administration mailto:purchasing@howardcountymd.gov

Howard County, Maryland Wage Rate Requirements for Service Contracts

Exemption Status Subtitle 1, Howard County Code Section 4.122A(b)(2)

Prime Sub-

Contr. Contr.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor employs fewer than 5 employees at any time during the contract term.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor received less than $100,000 from the County in the most recent 12-month period prior to the start date, and will be entitled to receive less than $100,000 from the County within the next 12-month period.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor is a nonprofit organization that has qualified for an exemption from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor is expressly precluded from complying with Howard County Code Sec. 4.122A by the terms of any federal, state, or County law, federal or state contract or grant, and the contract falls within that preclusion.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor is a public entity.

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor participates in a contract awarded under Howard County Code Secs. 4.111

(Emergency), or 4.112 (Expedited).

□ □ Contractor or Subcontractor is a regulated public utility.

□ □ Contract was awarded under a cooperative procurement with another government or organization of governments.

Check here □ if none of the above statements are applicable to your company or the Subcontractor, then continue to Section 2.

I do hereby certify that I have read and understand the provisions of Section 4.122A of the Howard County Code, that I am an authorized representative of the Contractor named below, and that:

□ As a “covered employer,” the Contractor and all Subcontractors will comply with the County’s Wage Rate Requirements for Service Contracts (Howard County Code Sec. 4.122A) and will pay all employees not exempt under the wage requirements, and who perform direct measurable work for the County, the applicable wage requirements at the time the work is performed. The Contractor will keep the records necessary to show compliance and will submit such records to the

Purchasing Agent on request of the Purchasing Agent; and will publicize the requirements of this law to any employees who may be covered by the law. The Contractor’s proposed pricing is sufficient to meet the current living wage rate requirements during the initial term of the agreement and any increases applicable to subsequent renewals.

□ If health insurance is provided to employees, the per employee hourly cost of the premium for health insurance to an employee who provides services to the County that appears in the bid or proposal is correct.

Contractor Name ______________________________ Vendor Federal ID Number __________________

Address ______________________________________ Phone Number _____________________________

_____________________________________________ Email Address _____________________________

Authorized Signature ___________________________ Date _____________________________________

Print Name of Signatory ________________________ Title of Signatory __________________________

To be completed by the

Buyer

Contract Title: Community Solar Subscriber Coordination Services Buyer’s

Initials:

DPH

Contract #: TBD Contract Term: TBD

Capital Project No: N/A Renewal #: N/A rev 01-29-2026

Check all that apply, then continue to Section 2. If none of these statements apply to your company or the Subcontractor, check the last box in this section and continue to Section 2.

Section 1:

Exemptions

Section 2:

Certifications

• If you checked any exemptions in Section 1, skip this section and continue to Section 3.

• If you did not check any exemptions in Section 1, check each box in Section 2 that applies to your company, then complete Section 3 below.

Section 3:

Contact Information

Provide your contact information in the space below, then sign and date this form and submit it with your bid.