RFP 240000000760 Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Planning.docx

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement proposal instructions Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Michigan Home Energy Electrification and Appliance Rebates Planning – Sec. 50122 Request for Proposal No. 240000000760 Solicitation Manager Name: Lisa VanOstran Direct Phone: (517) 599-7680 Email: vanostranl@michigan.gov

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) for:

Michigan Home Energy Electrification and Appliance Rebates Planning – Sec. 50122

RFP Timeline

*A bidder’s proposal received at 3:00:01 p.m. Eastern is late and subject to disqualification.

This RFP is subject to change. Check www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS for current information.

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION. The State recommends reading all RFP materials prior to preparing a proposal, particularly these Proposal Instructions and the Vendor Questions Worksheet. Bidders must follow these Proposal Instructions and provide a complete response to the items indicated in the RFP Structure and Documentation table below. References and links to websites or external sources may not be used in lieu of providing the information requested in the RFP within the proposal. Include the bidder’s company name in the header of all documents submitted with your proposal. Note that all documents and information submitted as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received by the State may be posted on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation. Comment by Lugibihl, Chelsea (DTMB): Unless requested, the bidder must follow the format of Schedule A in providing their proposal responses, including the font and size.

RFP Structure and Documentation

2. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE STATE. The sole point of contact for the State concerning this RFP is listed on the Cover Page. Contacting any other State personnel, agent, consultant, or representative about this RFP may result in bidder disqualification.

3. MODIFICATIONS. The State may modify this RFP at any time. Modifications will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. This is the only method by which the RFP may be modified.

4. QUESTIONS. Bidder questions about this RFP must be emailed to the Solicitation Manager or posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS no later than the time and date specified on the Cover Page. In the interest of transparency, only written questions are accepted. Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. Submit questions using the format below; a Microsoft Excel format or similar is suggested.

5. DELIVERY OF PROPOSAL.

Electronic – The bidder must submit its proposal, all attachments, and any modifications or withdrawals electronically through www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. The price proposal should be saved separately from all other proposal documents. The bidder should submit all documents in a modifiable (native) format (examples include but are not limited to Microsoft Word or Excel and Google Docs or Sheets). In addition to submitting documents in a modifiable format, the bidder may also submit copies of documents in PDF. Attachment file size is limited to 6 MB per document. Bidder’s failure to submit a proposal as required may result in disqualification. The proposal and attachments must be fully uploaded and submitted prior to the proposal deadline. Do not wait until the last minute to submit a proposal, as the SIGMA VSS system requires the creation of an account and entry of certain information, in addition to uploading and submitting the materials. The SIGMA VSS system will not allow a proposal to be submitted after the proposal deadline identified in the solicitation Closing On/Closing Date fields (Summary view/Detail view), even if a portion of the proposal has been uploaded.

Questions on how to submit information or how to navigate in the SIGMA VSS system can be answered by calling (517) 284-0540 or (888) 734-9749. The Solicitation Manager will not provide assistance related to the submittal of the proposal and all attachments on the day of the proposal deadline. Responsibility for a complete submission lies with the bidder. Note that all documents and information submitted in any manner as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received may be posted by the State on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

6. EVALUATION PROCESS. The State will evaluate each proposal based on the following factors:

Proposals receiving 80 or more technical evaluation points will have pricing evaluated and considered for award.

The State may utilize all bidder information, without regard to a proposal’s technical score, to determine fair market value for goods or services sought. The State is not obligated to accept the lowest price proposal. If applicable, the State’s evaluation will include consideration of a bidder’s qualified disabled veterans/service-disabled veteran owned business(QDV/SDVOB) status under MCL 18.1261(8). Additional information on the SDVOB preference is available at: Michigan.gov/SDVOB.

The State strongly encourages strict adherence to the Contract Terms. The State reserves the right to deem a bid non-responsive for failure to accept the Contract Terms. Nevertheless, the bidder may submit proposed changes to the Contract Terms in track changes (i.e., visible edits) with an explanation of the bidder’s need for each proposed change. Failure to include track changes with an explanation of the bidder’s need for the proposed change constitutes the bidder’s acceptance of the Contract Terms. General statements, such as that the bidder reserves the right to negotiate the terms and conditions, may be considered non-responsive. Failure to respond timely to requests for proposed changes to Contract Terms during ongoing negotiations may be cause for disqualification.

The State may but is not required to conduct an on-site visit to tour and inspect the bidder’s facilities; require an oral presentation of the bidder's proposal; conduct interviews, research, reference checks, and background checks; and request additional price concessions at any point during the evaluation process.

7. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY. The State reserves the right to issue a Notice of Deficiency to bidders if the State determines after the proposal deadline that a portion of the RFP was deficient, unclear, or ambiguous. Failure to respond to a Notice of Deficiency timely may be cause for disqualification.

8. CLARIFICATION REQUEST. The State reserves the right to issue a Clarification Request to a bidder to clarify its proposal if the State determines the proposal is not clear. Failure to respond to a Clarification Request timely may be cause for disqualification.

9. RESERVATIONS. The State reserves the right to:

a. Disqualify a bidder for failure to follow these instructions.

b. Discontinue the RFP process at any time for any or no reason. The issuance of an RFP, your preparation and submission of a proposal, and the State’s subsequent receipt and evaluation of your proposal does not commit the State to award a contract to you or anyone, even if all the requirements in the RFP are met.

c. Consider late proposals if: (i) no other proposals are received; (ii) no complete proposals are received; (iii) the State received complete proposals, but the proposals did not meet mandatory minimum requirements or technical criteria; or (iv) the award process fails to result in an award.

d. Consider an otherwise disqualified proposal if no other proposals are received.

e. Disqualify a proposal based on: (i) information provided by the bidder in response to this RFP; (2) the bidder’s failure to complete registration on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS ; or (3) if it is determined that a bidder purposely or willfully submitted false or misleading information in response to the RFP.

f. Consider prior performance with the State in making its award decision.

g. Consider overall economic impact to the State when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation. This includes but is not limited to: considering principal place of performance, number of Michigan citizens employed or potentially employed, dollars paid to Michigan residents, Michigan capital investments, job creation, tax revenue implications, and economically disadvantaged businesses.

h. Consider total-cost-of-ownership factors (e.g., transition and training costs) when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation.

i. Refuse to award a contract to any bidder that has failed to pay State taxes or has outstanding debt with the State.

j. Enter into negotiations with one or more bidders on price, terms, technical requirements, or other deliverables.

k. Award multiple, optional-use contracts, or award by Contract Activity.

l. Evaluate the proposal outside the scope identified in the Evaluation Process section of this document if the State receives only one proposal.

10. AWARD RECOMMENDATION. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who offers the best value to the State, as determined by the State. Best value will be determined by the bidder meeting the minimum point threshold and offering the best combination of the factors stated in the Evaluation Process section of this document, and price, as demonstrated by the proposal. The State will post an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS or in the manner it was originally published.

11. DEBRIEF MEETING AND BID PROTEST. The State will post an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis which will provide instructions on how to request a debrief meeting.

If you wish to initiate a protest of the award, you must submit your written protest to the Solicitation Manager no later than 5;00 p.m., 5 business days after posting the Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis. The State reserves the right to adjust this timing and will publish any change.

Additional information about the protest process is available at DTMB - Programs and Policies (michigan.gov) under the “Bidder Protests” link.

12. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD. Contracts equal to $250,000 or greater than require approval by the State Administrative Board. The State Administrative Board’s decision is final; however, its approval does not constitute a contract. The award process is not complete until the awarded contractor receives a contract fully executed by all parties.

13. GENERAL CONDITIONS. The State will not be liable for any costs, expenses, or damages incurred by a bidder participating in this solicitation. The bidder agrees that its proposal will be considered an offer to do business with the State in accordance with its proposal, including the Contract Terms, and that its proposal will be irrevocable and binding for a period of 180 calendar days from date of submission. If a contract is awarded to the bidder, the State may, at its option, incorporate any part of the bidder’s proposal into a contract. This RFP is not an offer to enter into a contract. This RFP may not provide a complete statement of the State’s environment or contain all matters upon which agreement must be reached. The bidder understands that their proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Other than verified trade secrets, proposals submitted via www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS are the State’s property.

14. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. As a public record, all portions of the bidder’s proposal and resulting contract are subject to disclosure as required under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231, et seq. However, the State may exempt some information from disclosure as permitted by law. Under MCL 18.1261(13)(b), records containing “a trade secret as defined under section 2 of the uniform trade secrets act, 1998 PA 448, MCL 445.1902,” are exempt from disclosure under FOIA. In addition, “financial or proprietary information” submitted with a bidder’s proposal is exempt from disclosure under FOIA. A bidder’s failure to comply with this Section is grounds for rejecting a bidder’s proposal as non-responsive. As a part of its proposal, each bidder must follow the procedure below.

SUBMIT A COMPLETED “CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM” (CT FORM) WITH YOUR BID. Completion and submission of the CT Form is required regardless of whether the bidder seeks confidential treatment of information. Failure to submit a completed CT Form may be cause for disqualification from the solicitation process. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form instructions, the proposal may be publicly disclosed in its entirety without redaction after an award recommendation.

Complete and sign Section 1 of the CT Form if the bidder does NOT request confidential treatment of information contained in its proposal; or

i. Complete and sign Section 2 of the CT Form if the bidder requests confidential treatment of certain information. Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy.”

Failure to complete and sign a CT Form may result in disqualification of the bidder. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow the CT Form instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation.

b. FOIA REQUESTS. If a FOIA request is made for a bidder’s proposal, the Public Copy may be distributed to the public along with the bidder’s CT Form. The CT Form is a public document and serves as an explanation for the redactions to the Public Copy. Do not put any trade secret, financial, or proprietary information in the CT Form. Do not redact the CT Form itself.

c. NO ADVICE. The State will not advise a bidder as to the nature or content of documents entitled to protection from disclosure under FOIA or other laws, as to the interpretation of such laws, or as to the definition of trade secret or financial or proprietary information. Nothing contained in this provision will modify or amend requirements and obligations imposed on the State by FOIA or other applicable law.

d. FAILURE TO REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. Failure to request material be treated as confidential as specified herein relieves the State, its agencies, and personnel from any responsibility for maintaining material in confidence.

e. Bids containing a request to maintain an entire proposal as confidential may be rejected as non-responsive. Bidders may not request confidential treatment with respect to resumes, pricing, and marketing materials. The State reserves the right to determine whether material designated as exempt by a bidder falls under MCL 18.1261 or other applicable FOIA exemptions. If a FOIA request is made for materials that the bidder has identified as trade secret, financial, or proprietary information, the State has the final authority to determine whether the materials are exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

f. Bidder forever releases the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees from all claims, rights, actions, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses and fees, which arise out of or relate to the disclosure of all or a portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP. Bidder must defend, indemnify and hold the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees harmless, without limitation, from and against all actions, claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, attorney fees, and expenses (including those required to establish the right to indemnification), arising out of or relating to any FOIA request, including potential litigation and appeals, related to the portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP that bidder has identified as a trade secret, or financial or proprietary information. The State will notify bidder in writing if indemnification is sought. The State is entitled to: (i) regular updates on proceeding status; (ii) participate in the defense of the proceeding; (iii) employ its own counsel; and to (iv) retain control of the defense, or any portion thereof, if the State deems necessary. Bidder will not, without the State’s written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, action, or proceeding. If a State employee, official, or law is involved or challenged, the State may control the defense of that portion of the claim. Any litigation activity on behalf of the State, or any of its subdivisions under this Section, must be coordinated with the Department of Attorney General. An attorney designated to represent the State may not do so until approved by the Michigan Attorney General and appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

confidential treatment form INSTRUCTIONS. Bidder must complete either Section 1 or Section 2 of this CT Form and sign where indicated. Do not complete both sections. This CT Form must be signed by the individual who signed the bidder’s proposal. A completed CT Form must be submitted with your proposal, regardless of whether your proposal contains confidential information.

Failure to submit a completed CT Form with your bid is grounds for rejecting the proposal as non-responsive. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form Instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation. See the Confidential Treatment Form and The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) sections of the Proposal Instructions for additional information Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if the bidder does not request confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED.

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is not requested.

RFP Number

RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company

Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if bidder requests confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. Submission of a completed CT Form is required to request confidential treatment. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED.

Provide the information in the table below. Bidder may add rows or additional pages using the same format shown in the table. Bidder must specifically identify the information to be protected as confidential and state the reasons why protection is necessary.

The CT Form will not be considered fully complete unless, for each confidentiality request, the bidder: (1) identifies the Proposal Page #, Section #, and Paragraph #, (2) identifies whether the material is a Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), or Proprietary Information (PI), and (3) explains the specific legal grounds that support treatment of the material as TS, FI, or PI. Bidders must provide a complete justification as to how the material falls within the scope of an applicable FOIA exemption or relevant case law. Bidders must not simply cite to an applicable exemption or case name. Bidders must also provide the contact information for the person at their organization authorized to respond to inquiries by the State concerning the material.

Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy”.

(1) Proposal Page #, Section #, Paragraph # (2) Material is Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), Proprietary Information (PI) (3) Applicable FOIA Exemption with Written Justification (4) Bidder Contact Information

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is requested and has attached to this form a redacted “Public Copy” of the bidder’s proposal.

RFP Number

RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company vendor questions worksheet Provide a detailed response to each question. “You” and “company” refers to the bidder.

1. Contact Information

Bidder’s sole contact person during the RFP process. Include name, title, address, email, and phone number.

Person authorized to receive and sign a resulting contract. Include name, title, address, email, phone number and vendor customer code in SIGMA VSS.

2. Company Background Information

Legal business name and address. Include business entity designation, e.g., sole proprietor, Inc., LLC, or LLP.

What state was the company formed in?

Phone number.

Website address.

Number of years in business.

Number of employees.

Legal business name and address of parent company, if any.

Has there been a recent change in organizational structure (e.g., management team) or control (e.g., merger or acquisition) of your company? If the answer is yes: (a) explain why the change occurred and (b) how this change has affected your company.

Discuss your company’s history. Has growth been organic, through mergers and acquisitions, or both?

Has bidder ever been debarred, suspended, or disqualified from bidding or contracting with any entity, including the State of Michigan? If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation.

Has your company been a party to litigation against the State of Michigan? If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction.

Within the last 5 years, has your company or any of its related business entities defaulted on a contract or had a contract terminated for cause? If yes, provide the date, contracting entity, type of contract, and details about the termination or default.

State your gross annual sales for each of the last 5 years.

If receiving a contract under this RFP will increase your gross revenue by more than 25% from last year’s sales, explain how the company will scale-up to manage this increase.

Describe partnerships and strategic relationships you think will bring significant value to the State.

State the physical address of the place of business that would have primary responsibility for this account if bidder is awarded a contract under this RFP.

To demonstrate qualification as a qualified disabled veteran, you must provide:

(a) Proof of service and conditions of discharge (DD214 or equivalent);

(b) Proof of service-connected disability (DD214 if the disability was documented at discharge or Veterans Administration Rating Decision Letter or equivalent if the disability was documented after discharge); and

(c) Legal documents setting forth the ownership of the business entity.

In lieu of the documentation identified above, you may provide proof of certification by the National Veterans Business Development Council.

Enter the names of documents submitted with your proposal to demonstrate status as a qualified disabled veteran.

4. Participation in RFP Development or Evaluation

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

If you enter “YES,” you are not eligible for contract award. An awarded vendor may not partner or subcontract with anyone to provide goods and services required under a resulting contract if that subcontractor or partner assisted in the development of this solicitation.

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

5. State of Michigan Experience and Prior Experience

Does your company have experience working with the State of Michigan? If so, please provide a list (including the contract number) of the contracts you hold or have held with the State for the last 10 years.

Describe at least 3 relevant experiences from the last 5 years supporting your ability to successfully manage a contract of similar size and scope for the work described in this RFP.

Experience 1

Company name.

Contact name.

Contact role at time of project.

Contact phone.

Contact email.

City.

State.

Zip.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

2. What role did your company play?

3. How is this project experience relevant to the subject of this RFP?

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 2

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 3

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

6. Standard Contract Terms

Bidder must affirm agreement with the attached Contract Terms. If not in agreement, written exceptions in accordance with the Evaluation Process section of the Proposal Instructions must be provided with Bidder’s proposal.

7. Michigan Economic Impact

Number of employees currently employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Number of additional employees to be employed at locations within the State of Michigan if awarded this Contract (if any).

Minimum wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Average wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Percentage of employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan that are covered by employer-provided health insurance.

8. Labor, Antidiscrimination and Environmental Laws Compliance

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal labor, antidiscrimination and employment laws and regulations received within the past five years.

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal environmental laws and regulations received within the past five years.

9. Supplier Diversity

10. Other

11. Response to State Requests

Contractor must enter company name here.

Schedule A – statement of work contract activities Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 240000000760 Michigan Home Energy Electrification and Appliance Rebates Planning – Sec. 50122

This schedule identifies the anticipated requirements of any Contract resulting from this RFP. The term “Contractor” in this document refers to a bidder responding to this RFP, as well as the Contractor who is awarded the contract. The term “bidder” is used to identify where specific responses to the RFP are required.

The Contractor must respond to each requirement or question and explain how it will fulfill each requirement. Attach any supplemental information and appropriately reference within your response.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CONTRACTORS/BIDDERS: There are specific requirements for which acceptance must be simply acknowledged through a checkbox(es), and others that require further explanation. Click one checkbox and complete the entries as identified.

BACKGROUND

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is committed to promoting healthy communities, economic growth, and environmental sustainability through energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering a variety of programs through both federal and state funding. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) authorized the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out the Home Energy Rebate Programs to help households save money on energy bills, improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. The Home Energy Rebate Programs consists of two programs: the Home Efficiency Rebates (IRA Section 50121) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (IRA Section 50122).

The Home Efficiency Rebates will provide funding to lower the upfront cost of whole-home energy efficiency upgrades in single-family and multi-family homes aiding retrofitting and electrification efforts. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates will help finance the upfront cost of efficient electric technologies in single-family and multi-family homes.

1. Requirements

1.1. General Requirements

The Contractor will focus on:

· Expertise

· Be the expert on Sec.50122 DOE Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program.

· Collaborate with selected contractor for Sec.50121 DOE Home Energy Efficiency Rebates program.

· Strategic Planning

· Conduct stakeholder engagement and listening sessions with the following Michigan entities (but not limited to):

· State of Michigan: EGLE Divisions and Offices, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Michigan Public Commission (MPSC), Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO)

· Local and Tribal governments

· Community based organizations

· Investor-owned, cooperative, and municipal utilities

· Residential contractors, labor unions, trade organizations

· Suppliers

· Identify program design priorities to address Michigan's needs, including but not limited to:

· Streamlined and easy for residents to navigate.

· Preventing or reducing program deferrals.

· Health and safety issues.

· Additional support needed to assist with the increased demand for local permits and code inspections.

· Material Management & Recycling of energy efficiency and electrification related equipment and materials replaced in homes.

· Equipment warranties and labor and parts warranties.

· Reporting and data tracking.

· Identify existing contracts and program delivery mechanisms that meet programmatic requirements.

· Develop plan to address equity and environmental justice in program.

· Coordinated Program Delivery

· Develop approach for integrating rebates with existing federal, state, utility, and community-based programs that does not duplicate or recreate existing Michigan rebate programs.

· Engage relevant stakeholders to consider how and when co-delivery of resources to be most effective.

· Research on standards and best practices of standing up energy efficiency rebate programs.

· Develop recommendations for complementary programming through the DOE State Energy Program, and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant programs.

· Workforce needs and connection to the DOE Training Residential Energy Contractor and Energy Auditor programs.

· Identify needs of residential contractor training programs as it relates to implementing HER programs in Michigan.

· Identify existing programs, certifications, and gaps; identify job categories with shortages, develop strategy for recruiting and filling gaps.

· Capacity

· Develop contracting materials and mechanisms for third party program implementation. Note: selected contractor will not be eligible to apply as a third party implementor.

· Consumer Outreach & Education

· Identify effective approaches for outreach to disadvantaged communities.

· Draft and develop relevant communications and public information, including but not limited to press releases, website content, and marketing materials.

In consultation with EGLE, the Contractor shall develop all elements of the program design and prepare the written narratives for the Sec.50122 Application. Iterative drafts shall be provided to EGLE for review, feedback, and edits. EGLE will serve as the final approver on the content of the program design and applications. EGLE will be responsible for submission to DOE and will serve as the Prime Applicant for the federal award, as required by DOE.

A state’s plan for implementing a Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate program will need to include information regarding how the state will --

1. verify the income eligibility of eligible entities seeking a rebate for a qualified electrification project;

2. allow rebates for qualified electrification projects at the point of sale in a manner that ensures that the income eligibility of an eligible entity seeking a rebate may be verified at the point of sale;

3. ensure that a homeowner, eligible building owner, or aggregator does not receive a federal rebate for the same upgrade through both the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates and any other Federal grant or rebate program, including the Home Efficiency Rebates; 4) ensure that a homeowner or eligible building owner does not receive a federal rebate in excess of the maximum specified rebate amount; and

4. determine whether a project qualifies for the refund amounts available to households below 80% AMI or below 150% AMI.

Deliverables: The expected outputs from these supported activities include:

1. Stakeholder meetings held throughout the state, including development of any materials (invitation, presentation, handouts, website content, surveys, etc.) regarding the Sec.50122 Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program.

2. Final Application for the Sec.50122 Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program approved by the EGLE that fulfills the scope of work, state objectives, and federal requirements, including the following plans:

a. Community Benefits Plan

b. Education and Outreach Strategy

c. Consumer Protection Plan

d. Utility Data Access Plan

e. Privacy and Security Risk Assessment

f. Market Transformation Plan

3. Final State Implementation Plan and corresponding contracting/granting materials and mechanisms for third party program implementation.

4. Proposed supplemental funding programs for local and tribal governments and workforce.

5. Routine and consistent meetings with EGLE, and written status reports for EGLE to discuss and evaluate progress on the plan development and program implementation.

6. Appropriate oversight of subcontractors, as applicable.

7. All necessary compliance-related information and documentation prepared for EGLE submission to the DOE.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. The Contractor shall have at least three (3) years of experience administering at least one (1) similar rebate and incentive programs.

2. The Contractor shall have at least two (2) years of experience managing federal funds and associated compliance and reporting requirements.

3. The Contractor should demonstrate experience with administering one or more rebate programs and/or assistance programs in Michigan.

4. The Contractor shall provide sufficient personnel and program capacity to perform the required services. The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel have appropriate training, education, experience, and orientation to fulfill the requirements of their assigned positions to meet the state’s expectations.

List all exception(s):

Bidder must describe how they comply with the above requirement(s):

1.2. Funding Requirements

All Grant awards made under the Home Energy Rebate Programs shall comply with applicable law, including regulations contained in 2 CFR Part 200 as amended by 2 CFR Part 910. The funding for this contract is through the DOE Sec. 50122 Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program, in which EGLE is the Recipient. The Recipient will apply all the terms and conditions of this Award, as applicable, including the Intellectual Property Provisions, to all subrecipients (and subcontractors, as appropriate), as required by 2 CFR 200.101, and to require their strict compliance therewith. Further, the Recipient will apply the Award terms as required by 2 CFR 200.327 to all subrecipients (and subcontractors, as appropriate), and to require their strict compliance therewith.

List all exception(s):

Bidder must describe how they comply with the above requirement(s):

2. Staffing

2.1. Contractor Representative

The Contractor must appoint at least one individual specifically assigned to State of Michigan accounts, who will respond to State inquiries regarding the Contract Activities, answer questions related to ordering and delivery, etc. (the “Contractor Representative”).

The Contractor must notify the Contract Administrator at least 30 calendar days before removing or assigning a new Contractor Representative.

List all exception(s):

Bidder must identify its Contractor Representative:

2.2. Customer Service Toll-Free Number

The Contractor must specify its toll-free number for the State to contact the Contractor Representative. The Contractor Representative must be available for calls during the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.

List all exception(s):

Bidder must identify its Customer Service Toll-Free Number:

2.3. Work Hours

The Contractor must provide Contract Activities during the State’s normal working hours Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST and possible night and weekend hours depending on the requirements of the project.

List all exception(s):

2.4. Key Personnel

The Contractor must appoint at least one individual who will be directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Contract (“Key Personnel”). Key Personnel must be specifically assigned to the State account, be knowledgeable on the contractual requirements, and respond to State inquiries within 24 hours.

The State has the right to recommend and approve in writing the initial assignment, as well as any proposed reassignment or replacement, of any Key Personnel. Before assigning an individual to any Key Personnel position, Contractor will notify the State of the proposed assignment, introduce the individual to the State’s Project Manager, and provide the State with a resume and any other information about the individual reasonably requested by the State. The State reserves the right to interview the individual before granting written approval. In the event the State finds a proposed individual unacceptable, the State will provide a written explanation including reasonable detail outlining the reasons for the rejection. The State may require a 30-calendar day training period for replacement personnel.

Contractor will not remove any Key Personnel from their assigned roles on this Contract without the prior written consent of the State. The Contractor’s removal of Key Personnel without the prior written consent of the State is an unauthorized removal (“Unauthorized Removal”). An Unauthorized Removal does not include replacing Key Personnel for reasons beyond the reasonable control of Contractor, including illness, disability, leave of absence, personal emergency circumstances, resignation, or for cause termination of the Key Personnel’s employment. Any Unauthorized Removal may be considered by the State to be a material breach of this Contract, in respect of which the State may elect to terminate this Contract for cause under the Termination for Cause section of the Standard Contract Terms. It is further acknowledged that an Unauthorized Removal will interfere with the timely and proper completion of this Contract, to the loss and damage of the State, and that it would be impracticable and extremely difficult to fix the actual damage sustained by the State as a result of any Unauthorized Removal. Therefore, Contractor and the State agree that in the case of any Unauthorized Removal in respect of which the State does not elect to exercise its rights under Termination for Cause, Contractor will issue to the State the corresponding credits set forth below (each, an “Unauthorized Removal Credit”):

i. For the Unauthorized Removal of any Key Personnel designated in the applicable Statement of Work, the credit amount will be $25,000.00 per individual if Contractor identifies a replacement approved by the State and assigns the replacement to shadow the Key Personnel who is leaving for a period of at least 30-calendar days before the Key Personnel’s removal.

ii. If Contractor fails to assign a replacement to shadow the removed Key Personnel for at least 30-calendar days, in addition to the $25,000.00 credit specified above, Contractor will credit the State $833.33 per calendar day for each day of the 30-calendar day shadow period that the replacement Key Personnel does not shadow the removed Key Personnel, up to $25,000.00 maximum per individual. The total Unauthorized Removal Credits that may be assessed per Unauthorized Removal and failure to provide 30-calendar days of shadowing will not exceed $50,000.00 per individual.

Contractor acknowledges and agrees that each of the Unauthorized Removal Credits assessed above: (i) is a reasonable estimate of and compensation for the anticipated or actual harm to the State that may arise from the Unauthorized Removal, which would be impossible or very difficult to accurately estimate; and (ii) may, at the State’s option, be credited or set off against any fees or other charges payable to Contractor under this Contract.

The Contractor must identify the Key Personnel, indicate where they will be physically located, describe the functions they will perform, and provide current chronological résumés.

List all exception(s):

A. The Contractor must identify all Key Personnel that will be assigned to this contract in the table below which includes the following:

1. Name and title of staff that will be designated as Key Personnel.

2. Key Personnel years of experience in the current classification.

3. Identify which of the required key personnel positions they are fulfilling.

4. Key Personnel’s roles and responsibilities, as they relate to this RFP, if the Contractor is successful in being awarded the Contract. Descriptions of roles should be functional and not just by title.

5. Identify if each Key Personnel is a direct, subcontract, or contract employee.

6. Identify if each Key Personnel staff member is employed full-time (FT), part-time (PT) or temporary (T), including consultants used for the purpose of providing information for the proposal.

7. List each Key Personnel staff member’s length of employment or affiliation with the Contractor’s organization.

8. Identify each Key Personnel’s percentage of work time devoted to this Contract.

9. Identify where each Key Personnel staff member will be physically located (city and state) during the Contract performance.

<Add more rows below as needed> 1.

Name 2.

Years of Experience in Current Classification 3.

Role(s) / Responsibilities 4.

Direct / Subcontract/ Contract 5.

% of Work Time 6.

Physical Location

B. The Contractor must provide detailed, chronological resumes of all proposed Key Personnel, including a description of their work experience relevant to their purposed role as it relates to the RFP.

Qualifications will be measured by education and experience with particular reference to experience on projects similar to that described in the RFP.

Bidder must provide the resumes and information as required above – either in this response box or identified here as an attachment to this RFP.

2.5. Organizational Chart

The Contractor must provide an overall organizational chart that details staff members, by name and title, and subcontractors.

Bidder must provide detailed information as required above – either in this response box or identified here as an…