RFP EFAA 27-17 Small and Medium Building Initiative Final.docx

RFP EFAA 2027000017

Small and Medium Building Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Initiative

RFP EFAA 2027000017

August 3, 2026 V 081222

Offeror Response Signature Page

RFP EFAA 20270000017

Small and Medium Building Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Initiative

OFFERORS: See the solicitation document below for the response deadline and other response submission information and requirements.

Offerors responding to this solicitation must fill out this page in its entirety, and sign and return it with Offeror’s response. This page must bear a physical or electronic signature, as electronic signature is defined in the "Uniform Electronic Transactions Act", section 24-71.3-102 (8), evincing an intent by the Offeror to be bound by its response. Failure to do so may disqualify the Offeror response.

The undersigned understands and agrees that misrepresentation made in this response and/or subsequent discussions or information presented to the State may be deemed sufficient cause for the refusal by the State to execute a Contract as a result, and that that later discovery of any omission or misrepresentation made in the solicitation response and/or subsequent discussions or information presented to the State may be grounds for the cancellation of an existing contract.

LEGAL COMPANY NAME

OFFEROR INSERT: Full Legal Company Name

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

By: Name of Person Signing for Offeror

SIGNER INFORMATION

OFFEROR INSERT: Signer’s Full Name

TITLE

OFFEROR INSERT: Title of Signer

PHONE NUMBER

OFFEROR INSERT: Signer’s Phone Number

EMAIL ADDRESS

OFFEROR INSERT: Signer’s Email Address

CONTACT FOR CLARIFICATIONS

OFFEROR INSERT: Name of Contact

TITLE

OFFEROR INSERT: Title of Contact

PHONE NUMBER

OFFEROR INSERT: Phone Number of Contact

EMAIL ADDRESS

OFFEROR INSERT: Email Address of Contact

CONTENTS

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A - ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

APPENDIX B – PERSONAL SERVICES MODEL CONTRACT

APPENDIX C - VENDOR ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST

APPENDIX D - VENDOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

APPENDIX E - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) DISCLOSURE AND USE REQUIREMENTS)

APPENDIX F - CONTRACT FEDERAL PROVISIONS EXHIBIT

SECTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1. GENERAL INFORMATION

On behalf of the State of Colorado, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to find a qualified Offeror to pilot and evaluate technical assistance offerings to approximately 20-30 small and medium commercial building owners and operators to support planning, designing, and navigating financing and funding for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects and to pioneer a replicable model for energy efficiency and decarbonization for Colorado.

This solicitation is being published so that qualified Offerors may submit a proposal in accordance with the terms of this solicitation. Please review all materials, including appendices, before responding.

1.2. BACKGROUND

Small and medium commercial buildings have historically had access to fewer resources that support energy efficiency and decarbonization improvements. Those that have had access have often been challenged as to how to take advantage of opportunities, largely due to a lack of capacity and technical support. To address this challenge, the Colorado Energy Office is seeking a qualified Offeror to pilot and evaluate technical assistance offerings to approximately 20-30 small and medium commercial building owners and operators to support planning, designing, and navigating financing and funding for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. For the purposes of this pilot, small and medium commercial buildings are defined as commercial buildings between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet. This initiative is designed to pioneer a replicable model for energy efficiency and decarbonization for Colorado. By demonstrating high-impact energy efficiency and decarbonization projects in the small-medium commercial building sector, the pilot seeks to increase the number of energy efficiency and decarbonization improvements in small and medium commercial buildings across the State.

1.3. GOALS

1.3.1. Goals

The goals of this project are to:

· Conduct outreach to relevant stakeholders that work with or have relationships with owners of small and medium commercial buildings (SMB) to advertise program offerings and develop connections with building owners and operators

· Develop an application and grading matrix to determine which potential SMB building owners and operators shall become participants in the pilot

· Provide technical assistance offerings to approximately 20-30 small and medium commercial building owners and operators

· Evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder outreach and technical assistance offering

· Develop resources to support additional SMB owners and operators in accessing financing for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects

1.4. SOLE POINT OF CONTACT

1.4.1. The State’s sole point of contact for this solicitation is Tara Larwick, Procurement Specialist who may be reached via email at tara.larwick@state.co.us.

1.4.2. Because phone lines may not be consistently monitored, email is the preferred method of communication. The individual listed above is the sole point of contact for this solicitation. Initiating contact with anyone other than this individual may result in Offeror disqualification.

1.5. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

This Schedule of Activities is for information and planning purposes only. Activities listed as “Estimated” may be subject to change depending on the needs of the State. All times are considered in Mountain Time (MT), as adjusted for daylight savings.

The date of publication for this solicitation on Colorado VSS is August 3, 2026.

1.5.1. Written inquiries must be submitted to tara.larwick@state.co.us no later than 5:00 PM August 10, 2026.

1.5.2. The estimated date for the State’s responses to Offerors’ written inquiries to be published on Colorado VSS/Rocky Mountain BidNet is August 13, 2026.

1.5.3. All proposals must be submitted in the method described below no later than 5:00 PM September 2, 2026.

1.5.4. A public opening of the proposals will be held via virtual meeting on September 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Offerors wishing to participate should notify the Sole Point of Contact listed above for meeting information.

1.5.5. The estimated date for the publication of an Intent to Award on Colorado VSS is September 17, 2026.

1.6. START DATE

The desired Contract start date is October 15, 2026, or as soon as a State issued contract has been fully executed, whichever comes first.

1.7. ANTICIPATED CONTRACT TERM

1.7.1. The initial term of the awarded Contract is anticipated to begin upon the execution of a State issued contract and end on December 31, 2027.

1.7.2. The State may extend the Contract beyond the anticipated term in accordance with the Colorado Procurement Code, and in the event that the State determines an extension is necessary.

1.7.3. Any Contract executed as a result of this award may be amended to include additional work that naturally follows the work detailed in this solicitation. Prior to adding any such work, the State will ensure that the work should not otherwise be competitively solicited and that the cost of the work is fair and reasonable.

1.7.4. The State may, within its sole discretion, choose not to exercise any option or extension term in the Contract for any reason. If the State chooses not to exercise any option or extension term, it may re-procure the goods and/or services in its sole discretion.

SECTION 2.0 MINIMUM OFFEROR’S EXPERIENCE AND PERSONNEL

The below indicate the minimum qualifications of an offeror to lead this work. Other qualifications that an Offeror can offer for this project should be detailed in the proposal.

2.1. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE

2.1.1. The Offeror must demonstrate over five (5) years of experience directly performing or coordinating technical assistance to commercial building owners and operators.

2.1.1.1. Specific Colorado experience is not mandatory but is highly desired.

2.1.2. The Offeror must demonstrate over five (5) years of experience with scoping, designing, engineering, permitting, and implementing energy efficiency and electrification retrofit projects in commercial buildings.

2.1.3. The Offeror must demonstrate experience with outreach and marketing to commercial building owners and operators related to energy efficiency and decarbonization.

2.1.4. The Offeror must demonstrate experience providing support to commercial building owners and operators to secure financing for building energy efficiency or decarbonization projects, including through clean energy financing programs such as the Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program or the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF).

2.2. PERSONNEL EXPERIENCE

2.2.1. Personnel working on this project shall have demonstrable experience either providing or coordinating technical assistance to commercial building owners and operators.

2.2.2. Personnel working on this project shall have demonstrable experience and certifications in technical aspects of building energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, including but not limited to architecture, mechanical or electrical engineering, MEP installation, and commercial construction.

SECTION 3.0 REQUIREMENTS AND SCOPE OF WORK

The tasks in Section 3 are the specific activities designed to achieve the goals outlined in Section 1.3.

3.1. ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

3.1.1. All work performed as a result of this solicitation must comply with all applicable provisions of §§24-85-101, et seq., C.R.S., and the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability, as established by the Office Of Information Technology pursuant to Section §24-85-103 (2.5), C.R.S. and 3) all State of Colorado technology standards related to technology accessibility and with Level AA of the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), incorporated in the State of Colorado technology standards. Appendix B, Personal Services Model Contract, Section 17.U. contains further information on indemnification and compliance determination. The State may require Contractor’s compliance to be determined by a third party vendor acceptable to the State that shall attest that the Contractor’s Work Product and software is in compliance with §§24-85-101, et seq., C.R.S., and the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability as established by the Office of Information Technology pursuant to Section §24-85-103 (2.5).

3.1.2. What is required to be accessible? Applications, websites, kiosks and digital documents are required to meet the applicable provisions of §24-85-101, C.R.S. This means that digital content like PDF documents and webpages are accessible to assistive technologies like screen readers and magnification programs, and websites and applications are robust and do not prevent users of a variety of devices, browsers, and operating systems from accessing all functionality intended for use by the public or a State of Colorado employee. For more information, review OIT's accessibility resources and OIT's dedicated Accessible PDF and Documents page.

3.1.3. The final deliverables must follow Accessibility guidelines in line with HB21-1110. In order for State Agencies and local government entities to comply with HB21-1110 by July 1, 2024, State of Colorado vendors and bidders are required to demonstrate that information technology provided to the State of Colorado conforms to or addresses the most current version of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), level AA success criteria. Awarded Offerors may do so by providing either of the following:

3.1.3.1. An independent, third-party evaluation from an accessibility consultancy

3.1.3.2. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). If a VPAT is used, it must use the VPAT 2.4 template, which is based on WCAG 2.1 level A/AA. The Information Technology Industry Council offers a VPAT 2.4 WCAG template (download).

3.1.4. Additional resources include:

3.1.4.1. Accessible Website Content: How To

3.1.4.2. Accessible Online Content QA Checklist

3.1.4.3. Additional How-to guides

3.2. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The awarded Offeror will be required to submit a certificate(s) of insurance (COI) evidencing insurance coverage for the types and amounts of insurance as required by the Insurance provision in the Personal Services Model Contract terms and conditions, included in this solicitation as Appendix B, prior to execution of the Contract.

3.3. AI GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCE

Any use of Artificial Intelligence in the fulfillment of the resulting Contract is governed by the Colorado Energy Office’s policies (for further guidance see Appendix E: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure and Use Requirements). Awarded Offeror(s) will be expected to maintain rigorous alignment with these standards to ensure the security, ethical use, and integrity of all State work products.

3.4. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

The Awarded Offeror shall submit all final deliverables to the CEO by the dates established in this Scope of Work. The CEO’s Program Manager or their designee shall determine whether deliverables meet the Task requirements and approve them. The CEO will notify the Awarded Offeror and request corrections, modifications, or replacements as needed. Unless otherwise noted, the Awarded Offeror will be required to submit all deliverables to the CEO Program Manager or their designee before final approval. If needed, deliverables will be returned to the Awarded Offeror for modification before they are considered complete and reimbursement is made. The CEO expects that prior to submission, all deliverables shall go through an internal quality assurance process and as such shall reflect the requirements of the final Statement of Work.

3.5. SCOPE OF WORK

This Scope of Work describes the deliverables sought through this RFP and the scope of what the Awarded Offeror will be expected to deliver through the Contract resulting from this RFP. The Scope of Work is intended to provide interested Offerors with sufficient basic information to submit a proposal. It is not intended to limit a proposal’s content or exclude any relevant or essential data.

3.5.1. Task 1 – Project Communication, Reports, and Administration

3.5.1.1. Task 1 Description/Subtasks

Task 1 seeks to establish effective project startup, coordination, decision tracking, and internal quality assurance A. Subtask 1.1. Kickoff Meeting The Awarded Offeror shall organize a 45 to 90-minute (virtual or in-person) kick-off meeting. The meeting agenda shall be co-created with and approved by the CEO in advance of the meeting.

B. Subtask 1.2 Bi-Weekly Meetings The Awarded Offeror shall organize bi-weekly meetings with the CEO upon starting. If the CEO determines that meetings should be held more or less frequently, the CEO will communicate this with the Awarded Offeror in writing.

C. Subtask 1.3 Monthly Report

a. The Awarded Offeror shall submit a monthly report for work completed in the previous month. The report shall summarize work for the previous month, including but not limited to, project status, description of the deliverables and tasks completed during the reporting period, budget spent and remaining by task, project findings, unanticipated outcomes or roadblocks, and next steps in the project. If work is behind schedule, a summary of reasons for the delay and a plan of action to bring back on schedule is required. If the project experiences significant changes or delays in the schedule the Awarded Offeror shall provide written communication via email to the CEO Program Manager as soon as they become aware of the delay.

b. Invoices shall be submitted each month with the monthly progress report. In the case there is no invoice for a given month, which must be approved by the CEO in advance since the CEO expects the Awarded Offeror to invoice on a monthly basis, the Awarded Offeror is still responsible for submitting a monthly report indicating no work was done.

c. Note that a monthly progress report is required regardless of whether or not an invoice is submitted. Additional reporting requirements may be noted in other tasks and/or are captured in the Reporting section of this SOW.

D. Subtask 1.4 Final Report The Awarded Offeror shall create a written Final Report that shall include:

a. Overall Project Summary

b. Program Evaluation (see Subtasks 5.1 through 5.3)

c. SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit Gaps Document and Program Blueprint (see Subtasks 6.1 and 6.2)

3.5.1.2. Task 1 Deliverables

A. Subtask 1.1 Kickoff Meeting -. Within two (2) weeks of execution of the Contract. The Awarded Offeror shall provide an agenda and meeting minutes for the kickoff meeting.

B. Subtask 1.2 Bi-Weekly - Starting two weeks after the kickoff meeting, and every two weeks thereafter throughout the Contract. An agenda for each meeting shall be provided at least 3 business days prior to the meeting.

C. Subtask 1.3 Monthly Reports – Due no later than the 10th day of each month.

D. Subtask 1.4 Final Report - Due at least 10 days before termination of the Contract.

3.5.2. Task 2: Stakeholder Outreach

3.5.2.1. Task 2 Description/Subtasks

The Awarded Offeror shall conduct outreach to relevant stakeholders that work with or have relationships with owners of small and medium commercial buildings (SMB) to advertise program offerings and develop connections with building owners and operators.

A. Subtask 2.1 Develop Strategic Outreach Plan and Timeline The Awarded Offeror shall create a strategic outreach plan and timeline for conducting outreach to owners and operators of SMBs and stakeholders engaged with such building owners and operators. The strategic outreach plan should include:

a. A strategy to coordinate on initial stakeholding and outreach endeavors that are conducted by the CEO prior to the execution of the Contract that results from this solicitation and a plan to engage with interested parties identified by the CEO

b. Details on how to educate identified stakeholders on the offerings of the program

c. A strategy to work with identified stakeholders to engage directly with building owners to build interest in participation in the pilot B. Subtask 2.2 Strategic Outreach Plan Execution The Awarded Offeror shall collaborate with the CEO’s Communications & Engagement team on executing the strategic outreach plan, which shall include, but is not limited to:

a. Scheduling and planning outreach

b. Providing virtual outreach opportunities

c. Visiting interested building owners on site to conduct in-person program information sessions

d. Marketing and advertising to ensure that outreach sessions attract attendees The outreach in this program shall be prioritized but not limited for SMB owners and operators in non-investor owned utility (IOU) markets, or other markets with limited access to utility building energy efficiency or decarbonization programs.

C. Subtask 2.3 Develop Strategic Partnerships The Awarded Offeror shall develop and document strategic partnerships with external stakeholders in order to leverage existing networks and streamline the application process for potential SMB building owner and operator pilot program participants. These external stakeholders can include, but are not limited to:

a. Non-governmental organizations

b. Lending institutions such as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and local banks

c. Community Organizations such as energy affordability organizations, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations D. Subtask 2.4 Create Project Tracker The Awarded Offeror shall create a Project Tracker to organize the portfolio of SMB projects and related applicable information. This Project Tracker will outline how to manage the portfolio of SMB owner and operator participants. This can be a spreadsheet, CRM management system, etc.

3.5.2.2. Task 2 Deliverables

A. Subtask 2.1 Deliverable: Written Strategic Outreach Plan and Timeline - Due within 30 days following contract execution.

B. Subtasks 2.2 thru 2.3: Awarded Offeror should include updates for these subtasks in the monthly reports. If there is nothing to report, the Awarded Offeror should say so in the report.

C. Subtask 2.4 Deliverable: Project Tracker - Completed Project Tracker delivered to the CEO within 90 days of the Contract execution.

3.5.3. Task 3: SMB Owner and Operator Discovery and Applications

3.5.3.1. Task 3 Description and Subtasks

The Awarded Offeror shall collaborate with the CEO on the development of an application and grading matrix to determine which potential SMB building owners and operators shall become participants in the pilot.

A. Subtask 3.1 Develop Potential SMB Building Owner & Operator Pilot Program Participants The Awarded Offeror shall work directly with SMB owners and operators identified in the stakeholder outreach process to develop a pipeline of potential SMB building owner and operator pilot program participants. The portfolio of SMB building owner and operator participants identified in this program shall be prioritized for non-IOU markets, or other markets with limited access to utility building energy efficiency or decarbonization programs.

B. Subtask 3.2 Create Application Form The Awarded Offeror shall collaborate with the CEO to create an application form for SMB building owners and operators interested in participating in the pilot. The application should provide the necessary information to evaluate potential SMB building owner and operator participants and their energy efficiency and decarbonization projects for eligibility, technical assistance needs, and future project development potential. The format of this form shall be determined by the CEO Program Manager based on recommendations from the Awarded Offeror.

a. Electronic Application Availability The Awarded Offeror shall create an Accessible application that will be made available electronically through a CEO supplied platform to the SMB Building Owners and Operators to submit applications and collect the received applications.

C. Subtask 3.4 Grading Matrix Development The Awarded Offeror shall, working with the CEO, develop a grading matrix to evaluate SMB building owners and operators applying through the application form.

a. The grading matrix should provide a pre-determined selection criteria for eligible SMB owner/operators to participate in the technical assistance program.

b. There should be at a minimum of three categories: Low-potential, Medium-potential, and High-potential to signify that after receiving the technical assistance program the SMB project owner has a low, medium or high likelihood of moving forward to secure financing or grant funds, and proceed towards a completed decarbonization project.

c. The matrix will evaluate, at minimum:

i. Financial Risk

ii. Programmatic risk

iii. Electric and gas service utility provider information

iv. Energy efficiency and decarbonization project potential

v. Commitment to advance via an attestation, letter of intent, or similar document D. Subtask 3.5 Eligibility Determination The Awarded Offeror in collaboration with the CEO shall use the developed program matrix to determine if SMB building owners and operators are eligible, viable, have the capacity to access and utilize technical assistance, and have an ability to execute a recommended energy efficiency and/or decarbonization project if financing is secured. The Awarded Offeror shall ensure during the application process that any energy efficiency or decarbonization projects led by the operator of a SMB that is not the owner of the building has written approval from the building owner for the operator to participate in the offerings of this pilot in order to deem them eligible.

E. Subtask 3.6 Recommendations The Awarded Offeror shall share the completed grading matrix with the CEO Program Manager with recommendations on which SMB building owners and operators and energy efficiency and decarbonizations projects should move forward to receive the technical assistance. The CEO Program Manager shall make final determinations on which potential SMB building owner and operator participants will receive technical assistance. The CEO anticipates serving approximately 20-30 participants.

3.5.3.2. Task 3 Deliverables and Timelines

A. Subtask 3.1 SMB Building Owner Participant Pipeline - A list of building owners and operators for which the Awarded Offeror has determined a general interest in participating in the program shall be delivered to the CEO within 60 days of Contract execution.

B. Subtasks 3.2 and 3.3 External-facing Participant Application Forms - Participant Application Forms that meet State accessibility standards and OIT security standards, if applicable, shall be due to the CEO within 60 days of Contract execution.

C. Subtask 3.4 - Program Grading Matrix Fully developed Grading Matrix shall be due to the CEO within 90 days of Contract execution.

D. Subtask 3.5 List of Eligible Participants - A list identifying which building owners and operators from the list developed for Subtask 3.5 are deemed eligible for participation in the program based on program eligibility criteria shall be delivered to the CEO within 90 days of Contract execution.

E. Subtask 3.6 Technical Assistance Participant Recommendations - A completed package with a fully documented program grading matrix and a list of recommended SMB owners and operators to move forward on receiving Technical Assistance shall be delivered to the CEO within 120 days of Contract execution.

3.5.4. Task 4: Technical Assistance

3.5.4.1. Task 4 Description

The Awarded Offeror shall provide technical assistance to approximately 20-30 SMB owner or operator participants to assist them in evaluating opportunities to make energy efficiency improvements and/or decarbonize their buildings and to support them in accessing opportunities to finance such projects.

A. Subtask 4.1 Participant Letters of Intent The Awarded Offeror shall require all SMB owners and operators selected for participation in the pilot to provide a letter of intent to participate in the program. The letter of intent shall outline the participant’s proposed project, the technical assistance they wish to receive from the Awarded Offeror, and the participant’s commitment to completing the project.

B. Subtask 4.2 Participant Scope of Work Development The Awarded Offeror shall provide support in the development of a scope of work that details the technical assistance to be provided to the participant by the Awarded Offeror for each participant. These scopes of work may include, but are not limited to, technical design elements that enable energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, such as:

a. Project planning and scoping

b. Engineering and design

c. Permitting

d. Project coordination C. Subtask 4.3 Contractor/Consultant Facilitation The Awarded Offeror shall facilitate the connection between a participant and another third party contractor or consultant, such as an energy services company (ESCO) or contractor, to implement the scope of work identified in the subtask above if it is deemed to be more advantageous to the participant than working directly with the Awarded Offeror. The Awarded Offeror shall not request reimbursement of any costs incurred by another third party contractor or consultant.

D. Subtask 4.4 Technical Assistance The Awarded Offeror shall provide technical assistance to each SMB owner or operator participant consistent with the scope of work developed between the Awarded Offeror and the SMB owner or operator participant, including assistance to each SMB owner or operator participant in understanding and navigating the necessary documentation to apply for financing or other incentives to support implementation of energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. Technical Assistance shall include, but is not limited to:

a. Assistance to SMB owners and operators participants during the application process for identification of relevant financing, rebate programs, or other incentives for their energy efficiency or decarbonization project

b. Development of key resources and guidance to participants shall include, but not be limited to:

i. Literature and published resources for project finance assistance

ii. Links to existing resources

iii. Identification or recommendations of new resources where there may exist gaps in existing SMB technical and financial project resources

c. Where applicable, the Awarded Offeror shall explore and incorporate existing technical and financial resources into their services including but not limited to, C-PACE, PACE Express, CCEF, utility programs like on-bill financing and incentives, and related public or private decarbonization and energy efficiency programs.

3.5.4.2. Task 4 Deliverables and Timelines

A. Subtask 4.1 Letters of Intent The Awarded Offeror shall work with each SMB owner or operator participant to complete and submit to the CEO a letter of intent within 14 days of the date on which notifications are sent to pilot participants of their selection for the pilot.

B. Subtasks 4.2 and 4.3 Scopes of Work for Participating SMB Owners and Operators The Awarded Offeror shall complete a scope of work with each SMB owner or operator participant within 30 days of the submission of a letter of intent in accordance with the Subtask 4.1 deliverable. The Awarded Offeror shall include in the monthly report any agreements made between an SMB owner or operator participant and a third party contractor or consultant to execute a scope of work developed by the Awarded Offeror.

C. Subtask 4.4 Completed Technical Assistance for Participating SMB Owners and Operators The Awarded Offeror shall provide documentation of technical assistance provided to SMB owner and operator participants, including but not limited to final energy efficiency or decarbonization project scopes, construction drawings, engineering documentation, permits, financial documentation and resources (with personally identifiable information appropriately redacted) or relevant documentation demonstrating the completion of these deliverables. Each of these deliverables that are completed in a given month shall be submitted to the CEO with the monthly report for that month.

3.5.5. Task 5: Evaluation and Best Practices

3.5.5.1. Task 5 Description

The Awarded Offeror shall work with the CEO to evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder outreach and technical assistance offerings under Tasks 2-4 in assisting building owners with securing financing for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, as well as any other forms of technical assistance provided.

A. Subtask 5.1 Quantitative Program Evaluation The Awarded Offeror shall evaluate the success of the program in advancing energy efficiency and decarbonization projects by creating an evaluation instrument based on key performance indicators including, but not limited to:

a. Number of outreach sessions conducted by the Awarded Offeror to relevant stakeholders and building owners.

b. Number of building owners that applied to participate in the program.

c. Number of building owners that complete technical design elements.

d. Number of buildings that successfully secure project financing or other incentives.

B. Subtask 5.2 Qualitative Program Feedback The Awarded Offeror shall compile qualitative feedback to evaluate the success of the program for future CEO, utility, or other SMB programs. The feedback should provide details of successful case studies, and highlight other key lessons learned to advance energy efficiency and decarbonization projects in the SMB sector. These shall include, but not are not limited to:

a. Selected interviews with program participants, documenting program successes or areas for improvement.

b. Interviews with qualified third parties, such as an energy services company (ESCO) or other decarbonization contractors.

C. Subtask 5.3 Identification of Effective Technical Assistance and Best Practices The Awarded Offeror shall identify particular forms of technical assistance that were most effective and develop a series of best practice recommendations for similar efforts that shall be incorporated into Task 6.

3.5.5.2. Task 5 Deliverables and Timelines

Subtask 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 Program Evaluation and Best Practices:

The Awarded Offeror will provide a report outlining the quantitative results aligned with the KPIs identified in Subtask 5.1 and qualitative feedback received from Subtask 5.2 that detail the overall effectiveness of this program towards providing technical assistance and decarbonization project support for the SMB sector. The Awarded Offeror shall include in this report best practices identified under Subtask 5.3. - Report due at least 10 days before termination of the Contract.

3.5.6. Task 6 Scaling of Pilot

3.5.6.1. Task 6 Description

The Awarded Offeror shall develop resources to support additional SMB owners and operators in accessing financing for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. The Awarded Offeror shall also develop a scalable blueprint for other interested parties, such as utilities or local governments, to use to provide similar resources and technical assistance to SMB owners and operators that builds off of best practices identified in the pilot.

A. Subtask 6.1 Development of SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit

a. Compile all identified financing resources, including any resources identified in the CEO’s Advanced Building Study once the study is complete, and any financing resources created by the Awarded Offeror (except those that contain sensitive financial information specific to building owners) and create a public-facing SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit, the format for which shall be determined between the Awarded Offeror and the CEO to be hosted on the CEO website.

i. The intended audience for this SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit are SMB owners and operators interested in pursuing energy efficiency and decarbonization projects.

b. Include a list of any financing resources that could not be developed or identified due to cost, lack of interest from the SMB owner and operator participants, time-constraints, or other identified reasons.

B. Task 6.2 Development of Program Blueprint The Awarded Offeror shall develop a public-facing Program Blueprint. The intended audience for this Program Blueprint is electric and gas service providers, with an emphasis on non-IOU electric and gas service providers, local governments that operate building efficiency or decarbonization incentive programs, and other possible providers of energy efficiency and decarbonization services.

a. The Program Blueprint shall be designed to showcase the specific steps, processes, application evaluation, technical assistance offerings, and program evaluation that were used in the program.

b. The Awarded Offeror shall emphasize easily replicable aspects of the program that were identified as best practices during the evaluation of the program.

c. The CEO Program Manager shall review and give final approval before the Program Blueprint is publicly released.

3.5.6.2. Task 6 Deliverables and Timelines

A. Subtask 6.1: Written SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit - The Financial Navigation Toolkit shall be submitted to the CEO for review and acceptance. Identify and include the list of gaps in financial assistance. - Due no less than 12 weeks before the termination of the Contract.

B. Subtask 6.2: Written Program Blueprint - Program Blueprint shall be submitted to the CEO for review and acceptance. Due no less than 12 weeks before the termination of the Contract.

3.5.7. Key Personnel

Each individual identified below in Section 4.2.1.2., including the Principal Representative, shall be considered Key Personnel of the designating Party.

3.5.8. Reporting

In addition to reporting requirements identified in Scope of Work, the Awarded Offeror shall adhere to all federal reporting under the federal State Energy Program (SEP) and adhere to all Federal Terms and Conditions referenced in the RFP (Appendix F: Contract Federal ProvisionS Exhibit).

3.5.9. Budget

The maximum budget is $350,000 and is not to exceed that amount.

3.5.10. Payment and Invoicing

Payments shall be made in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Contract. The State shall pay the Awarded Offeror the reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs for work performed based on satisfactory progress of the work as laid out and defined in the final contract.

SECTION 4.0 REQUESTED PROPOSAL FORMAT

Proposals should cover the following areas, with an emphasis on how these areas relate to the evaluation criteria listed in Section 5 below. The page limit for proposals should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the Cover Sheet & Signature page, company profile, resumes, cost sheet, examples for demonstration purposes, and any attachments. The Offerors will be required to provide the following information in the order and format provided below.

4.1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Offeror’s Response- Provide a summary of your company history. The Offeror shall introduce the Offeror’s firm or organization and its qualifications. Include company address (local, if applicable), contact information, including email, and description of services, tools and local partnerships as applicable. The executive summary should include the following:

4.1.1. A general overview of the Offeror’s response. Include the same if using subcontractors or partners.

4.1.2. A statement confirming that the Offeror’s firm or organization has no real or potential conflict of interest that would prevent your firm or organization from acting in the best interest of the CEO.

4.1.3. Any exceptions, additions, or modifications to the Scope of Work must be detailed in the Executive Summary. If the Offeror intends to provide additions or modifications to the Scope of Work other than outlined above, it should be outlined here and further detailed under the Technical/Business Proposal section below.

4.1.4. A statement indicating their acceptance or rejection of the accessibility requirements detailed in Section 3.1 of this solicitation. Further requirements follow in Section 4.3.

4.1.5. The Executive Summary should include a statement confirming Offeror has read Appendix E: AI Disclosure and Use Requirements and that the Offer confirms acceptance and the ability to comply with the AI Governance and Compliance requirements of Section 3.3.

A. If the Offeror does not use AI in any capacity, they should state that here.

B. If AI is used in any capacity, Offerors should include that information in their response to Section 4.4.

4.1.6. Include any exceptions to the draft model personal services contract which has been included as an attachment to this RFP.

4.1.7. Complete and include Appendix C - Accessibility Vendor Checklist

4.1.8. Complete and include Appendix D - Vendor Disclosure.

4.2. DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES

4.2.1. Minimum Organizational and Personnel Experience

4.2.1.1. Organizational -

Offeror’s Response- Offerors should reference Section 2.1 of this solicitation regarding the minimum organizational experience. In describing organizational experience, Offerors should address each of the following, using specific examples from prior engagements to clearly demonstrate the following requirements:

A. Provide information that clearly demonstrates over five (5) years of experience directly performing or coordinating technical assistance to commercial building owners and operators B. Provide information that clearly demonstrates over five (5) years of experience with scoping, designing, engineering, permitting, and implementing energy efficiency and electrification retrofit projects in commercial buildings C. Provide information that clearly demonstrates experience with outreach and marketing to commercial building owners and operators related to energy efficiency and decarbonization D. Provide information that clearly demonstrates experience providing support to commercial building owners and operators to secure financing for building energy efficiency or decarbonization projects, including through clean energy financing programs such as the Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program or the Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), utility decarbonization incentive programs, or related public-private energy efficiency and decarbonization programs.

E. Provide information that clearly demonstrates experience with the State of Colorado’s accessibility compliance standards. This may include compliance reports for previous projects or actual examples of documents previously created by the Offeror that demonstrate ability to meet the State’s accessibility compliance standards. These examples will NOT go towards the total page count.

4.2.1.2. Personnel

Offeror Response - Offerors should reference Section 2.2 of this solicitation regarding the minimum personnel experience. Submit resumes for each of the key personnel identified. Resumes should clearly demonstrate, at minimum, those qualifications required under Section 2.2. In describing personnel experience, Offerors should address each of the following, using specific examples from prior engagements.

A. The Offeror shall provide the name, title, role, and qualifications of each key member, including the Principal Representative, of the Awarded Offeror’s team that will contribute to the project.

B. Provide information that clearly demonstrates the experience of the personnel either providing or coordinating technical assistance to commercial building owners and operators.

C. Provide information that clearly demonstrates personnel working on this project have the experience and certifications in technical aspects of building energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, including but not limited to architecture, mechanical or electrical engineering, MEP installation, and commercial construction.

4.3. ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Offeror’s Response- Besides including a statement in the Executive Summary indicating acceptance or rejection of the accessibility requirements detailed in Section 3.1 of this solicitation, complete and submit Appendix C: Accessibility Vendor Checklist. Please note any exceptions from compliance with these requirements required by the Offeror.

4.4. TECHNICAL/BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Offeror’s Response- The Offeror shall provide a clear and detailed narrative explaining the Offeror’s approach to implementing and completing each Task identified in the Scope of Work, including completion and submission of required deliverables. The Offeror should be as specific as possible with the project/technical narrative. The response should include a timeline that conforms with the schedule included in the Scope of Work.

The work plan should state explicitly how the Offeror will accomplish the deliverables for each task and subtask and if the Offeror intends to deliver beyond the minimum requirement and how. The Offer should specifically propose in the work plan a potential format for the SMB Financial Navigation Toolkit referenced in Subtask 6.1 of the Scope of Work above. If the Offeror recommends additions or changes to the Scope of Work, they should be described here.

If the Offeror uses AI tools, include the types of AI tools used, how these AI tools are used, and how you intend to use AI to accomplish the work required under this project. Include a detailed description of your organization's policies and procedures for human oversight and quality control of AI-assisted work products including identifying which personnel will review AI-assisted deliverables prior to submission and any relevant subject matter expertise, how the firm ensures confidential client data is protected when using AI tools and any enterprise agreements or data and handling protocols in place. Describe how the verification and fact-checking process your firm uses ensures accuracy of AI-assisted research and analysis. Please note that certain information may be considered confidential by the State. Describe how you would ensure sensitive/confidential information would be identified and protected from being entered into an AI platform.

4.5. COST PROPOSAL

Offeror’s Response- This is a firm-fixed-rate engagement. The budget has been set for this project and cannot exceed $350,000. Proposals over this amount will not be accepted.

4.5.1.1. Offerors shall submit a detailed Budget Narrative that explains how the company has structured its costs and how it proposes charging the State for the work.

4.5.1.2. As part of its submission the Offeror shall include a proposed budget for each task outlined in the Scope of Work based on the estimated number of staff hours for each staff member and the hourly rate of those staff.

The Offeror shall provide a detailed budget with a firm-fixed price for the entire engagement for all tasks as well as an estimate of the labor hours, by labor category, it anticipates will be required to complete each task related to the statement of work. This should be all-inclusive and the Offeror should anticipate any employee involvement to be reflected in the table. The Offeror shall estimate how many hours each team member will commit to the project, identify their hourly rates, and explain their role in the project. Any travel and per-diem costs for Offeror’s staff travel relative to performance of services shall be reimbursed in accordance with State Fiscal Rule 5-1, as amended. It is expected that the travel rate for labor hours will be billed at half the full rate.

4.5.1.3. Proposed pricing must remain firm during the term of the Contract.

4.5.1.4. Pricing must include any applicable fees associated with the delivery of goods or services, including, but not limited to, shipping and installation Cost MUST be submitted in a separate file from the rest of the proposal and labeled “COST FILE.”

SECTION 5.0 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

5.1. EVALUATION PROCESS

A comprehensive, thorough, complete and impartial evaluation of each proposal received will be conducted in accordance with §24-103-203(7), C.R.S, which states, “The award shall be made to the responsible Offeror whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the State, taking into consideration the price and evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposal.”

5.2. EVALUATION COMMITTEE

5.2.1. An Evaluation Committee will be established utilizing measures to ensure the integrity of the evaluation process. These measures include the following:

5.2.1.1. Selecting committee members who do not have a conflict of interest regarding this solicitation.

5.2.1.2. Facilitating an independent review of proposals.

5.2.1.3. Requiring the evaluation of the proposals to be based strictly on the content of the proposals.

5.2.1.4. Ensuring the fair and impartial treatment of all Offerors.

5.2.2. The objective of the Evaluation Committee is to conduct reviews of the proposals that have been submitted, to hold frank and detailed discussions among themselves, and to recommend an Offeror for award.

5.3. PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

5.3.1. The State will evaluate proposals to determine if each Offeror meets all mandatory/minimum qualification requirements, if applicable. However, the State has the authority to waive non-material requirements in certain circumstances. (Reference Procurement Rule R-24-103-301-03). The mandatory and accessibility requirements are scored on a Pass/Fail basis and only those proposals found to meet all mandatory and accessibility requirements, other than non-material mandatory requirements waived by the State, can be considered for a Contract resulting from this solicitation.

5.3.2. Proposals will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee using the evaluation criteria listed below. A total value evaluation method will be used. This means that the Evaluation Committee will thoroughly evaluate each proposal and determine which proposal best meets the CEO’s overall needs and is most likely to produce a successful outcome in accordance with the Scope of Work, considering all factors. The evaluators will consider whether the Scope of Work requirements in the solicitation have been addressed, how the capabilities of the Offeror meet the State’s needs, the quality of the approach proposed, the price, and any other aspect determined relevant to the evaluation criteria. Considerations will include:

5.3.2.1. the capabilities and experience of the Offeror,

5.3.2.2. the quality and thoroughness of the proposed strategies to administer the project and achieve the desired results within the set timeframe,

5.3.2.3. the quality and depth of experience relative to the minimum requirements and Scope of Work,

5.3.2.4. the extent to which the Offeror agrees or takes exceptions to Colorado’s Contract terms and conditions,

5.3.2.5. the completeness of submittal requirements outlined under Response Requirements,

5.3.2.6. any other aspect relevant to the evaluation criteria to determine whether they meet the Scope of Work requirements

5.3.3. The evaluation criteria to be used in evaluating the proposals are as follows (and are listed in no particular order):

5.3.3.1. Demonstrated experience and capabilities (Organization and Personnel) The…