rfp-engy-2026-003.pdf

State of New Hampshire Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - State Energy Program

School Energy Efficiency Development (SEED) Grant Program

ALN 81.041

FAIN: DE-EE0010086

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

RFP #2026-003

Release Date: June 26, 2026

Proposals Due: August 21, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST (Noon)

Table of Contents Contents

Executive Summary

I. Pertinent Dates and Information

A. Schedule of Events

B. Written Inquiries

C. Proposal Submission Instructions

D. Restriction of Contact with State Employees

II. Overview

A. Background and Purpose

B. Basic Eligibility Requirements

C. Recommended Project Design

III. Proposal Submission Requirements

IV. Evaluation Procedures and Selection Criteria

A. Proposal Evaluation Procedure

B. Scoring Criteria and Weight

V. Intergovernmental Review

VI. Term of Contract

VII. General Conditions

VIII. Build America, Buy America

A. Definitions

B. Buy America Requirement for Infrastructure Projects (BABA Requirement)

C. BABA Resources

D. Waivers

IX. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

X. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

XI. Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Requirements

XII. Grant Agreement and Certificates

XIII. Ethical Requirements

Appendix A. SEED Grant Program Application .................................................................... A-1

Appendix B. G-1 Agreement ............................................................................................... A-2

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 1 of 38

Executive Summary

With funding made available through the State Energy Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

(SEP BIL) Program, the New Hampshire Department of Energy (Department) issues this Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking applications for its School Energy Efficiency Development (SEED)

Grant Program. This program provides financial support and technical assistance for a public school in a small community to implement energy efficiency projects.

Total funding available under this RFP will be $250,000. The maximum grant request amount is

$150,000. The minimum grant request is $40,000. The Department expects that at least two grants will be awarded. Grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded with either 5% or 15% match requirement, depending on whether the proposer is a disadvantaged school. Projects awarded funding must be completed no later than March 31, 2028.

Non-public schools are not eligible for the SEED Grant Program. Proposers and awardees from prior SEED Grant Program funding rounds are eligible to reapply.

An electronic proposal must be submitted to the Department no later than August 21, 2026 at

12:00 p.m. EST (Noon). If the Department decides to award a contract as a result of this RFP, any award is contingent upon approval of the contract by the Department and the New

Hampshire Governor and Executive Council (Governor and Executive Council).

I. PERTINENT DATES AND INFORMATION

A. Schedule of Events

EVENT DATE/DEADLINE TIME

RFP Issued 06/26/26

Close of Question Period 07/10/26 4:30 PM

Responses to Questions Posted 07/16/26 12:00 PM (Noon)

Proposal Due Date and Time 08/21/26 12:00 PM (Noon)

Anticipated Grant State Date December, 2026

B. Written Inquiries

All inquiries concerning this RFP must be submitted by e-mail to the following RFP Point of Contact:

Susan Gagne, Rules and Contracts Coordinator

New Hampshire Department of Energy

RFP@Energy.NH.Gov https://www.energy.nh.gov/ https://www.energy.nh.gov/consumers/energy-efficiency/school-energy-efficiency-development-seed-grant-program https://www.energy.nh.gov/consumers/energy-efficiency/school-energy-efficiency-development-seed-grant-program mailto:RFP@Energy.NH.Gov

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 2 of 38

Inquiries must be received no later than the Close of Question Period as specified in the

Schedule of Events above. The subject of the e-mail should state the following: RFP

#2026-003, SEED Grant Program Question Period. No phone calls please. It is highly recommended that prospective proposers review the RFP as soon as possible and submit any questions promptly. Please note that responses to questions are carefully considered and may require several days. Responses to questions will be posted as received and can be found here: https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals.

C. Proposal Submission Instructions

Proposals submitted in response to this RFP must be received no later than the Proposal

Due Date and Time as specified in the Schedule of Events herein. Late submissions will not be accepted, nor will extensions be given. Delivery of the proposal and attachments shall be the proposer’s responsibility. The Department accepts no responsibility for damaged, mislabeled, or undeliverable e-mailed proposals. Proposals that are incomplete or unsigned will not be considered. Faxed or physical proposals will not be accepted.

Proposals must be submitted electronically to RFP@Energy.NH.Gov. Proposals must be submitted in PDF format as a file attachment to an e-mail and must be searchable. In no event should a proposal be provided through a link embedded in the submitted e-mail.

The file will be considered received when it is successfully submitted to the mailbox associated with the e-mail address above, and the time of submittal will be based on the time stamp in the receiver’s e-mail. The Department can accept electronic files no larger than 25 MB in any one e-mail. Proposals may consist of multiple PDF attachments or one PDF with all attachments combined. The subject of the e-mail should state the following: RFP #2026-003 SEED Grant Program Proposal – (name of school).

To guard against proposals being overlooked due to being quarantined by the

Department’s spam protection software, it is strongly recommended that an e-mail with no attachment be sent to RFP@Energy.NH.Gov initially stating that e-mail(s) containing a proposal are to follow. The subject of the e-mail should state the following: RFP

#2026-003 SEED Grant Program Intention to File – (name of school).

The Department shall assess completeness and responsiveness of the proposal to eliminate nonconforming proposals. The Department may waive or offer a limited opportunity to cure immaterial deviations from RFP requirements if it is determined to be in the best interests of the State. Any response that is filed shall be valid for no fewer than 150 days following the deadline for submission of proposals, or until the effective date of any resulting contract, whichever is later.

https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 3 of 38

D. Restriction of Contact with State Employees

From the date of the release of this RFP until awards are made and announced regarding the selection, all communications with personnel employed by or under contract with the State regarding this RFP are forbidden, unless first approved by the

RFP Point of Contact or as otherwise outlined in Section III. Department employees have been, and Evaluation Team members will be, directed not to hold conferences and/or discussions concerning this RFP with any potential proposer during the selection process, unless otherwise authorized by the RFP Point of Contact, or as otherwise outlined in Section III.

II. OVERVIEW

A. Background and Purpose

The United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) (ALN

81.041) provides funding and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of Columbia to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy initiatives, and increase energy affordability. States have a robust role in administering program activities that can be tailored to their unique resources, delivery capacity, and energy goals.

The State of New Hampshire, through the Department, provides guidance, information, and data on energy usage. As part of its mission to build partnerships and serve New

Hampshire communities, the Department has received SEP grant funds and created the

SEED Grant Program to encourage schools to holistically review their energy usage and offer funding to implement energy efficiency projects. The SEED Grant Program was created in 2018 and offers a one-time competitive grant with a corresponding match to complete proposed energy efficiency projects in a public school. Since its inception, the

SEED Grant Program has funded and successfully completed energy efficiency projects in public schools located in Berlin, Hill, Lempster, Litchfield, Monroe, New Boston, Pittsburg and Stewartstown. These energy efficiency projects have created a safer, healthier learning environment for students and teachers, as well as reducing a school’s energy usage and operating costs to provide a financial benefit to school district budgets and property taxpayers. The average funding awarded is $101,000 which has provided significant support for eligible projects.

The SEED Grant Program is based upon funding supported by the United States

Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation under the

State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0010086.

The total amount of funding available under this RFP is $250,000. All grant awards are contingent upon final grant agreement approval by the Governor and Executive Council.

https://www.energy.gov/scep/office-state-and-community-energy-programs

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 4 of 38

B. Basic Eligibility Requirements

Proposers must meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible for the SEED

Grant Program. This program is covered under 2 CFR 200 as amended, 10 CFR 420, and the New Hampshire State Energy Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Special Terms and Conditions.

1. In a proposal, the proposer proposes to fund an energy efficiency project in one public school or chartered public school located in a New Hampshire municipality with a total population of 10,000 or fewer residents based on the municipality’s “Total Population OPD Estimate” under the NH Department of

Business and Economic Affairs’ 2024 Total Population Estimates of NH Cities and

Towns published August 8, 2025;

2. The proposer proposes a project seeking to accomplish one or more of the following:

a. Installation of insulation.

b. Installation of energy efficient lighting including light poles (may also be installed within a utility easement if no trees are removed).

c. HVAC upgrades (to existing systems).

d. Weather sealing.

e. Purchase and installation of energy efficient or energy/water efficient appliances and equipment, including but not limited to, energy or water monitoring and control systems, thermostats, furnaces, and air conditioners.

f. Retrofit of energy efficient pumps and motors where it would not alter the capacity, use, mission, or operation of an existing facility.

g. Retrofit or replacement of windows and doors;

3. The proposer does not propose to fund any electrical generational facility (i.e.

solar array, wind energy, etc.) or electric energy storage system (battery storage, etc.) as part of their proposal;

4. The proposer shall wholly own the project site location;

5. Proposers shall:

1. Be registered in the Federal System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting a proposal,

2. Provide a valid and active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a printout of their registration from SAM in its proposal, and https://www.nheconomy.com/getmedia/c18541d6-2e90-457a-9004-6ddbd16f10a8/2024-Population-Estimates.pdf https://www.nheconomy.com/getmedia/c18541d6-2e90-457a-9004-6ddbd16f10a8/2024-Population-Estimates.pdf https://www.nheconomy.com/getmedia/c18541d6-2e90-457a-9004-6ddbd16f10a8/2024-Population-Estimates.pdf https://sam.gov/content/home

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 5 of 38

3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or proposal under consideration by the Department.

All contractors and all subcontractors working on a proposer’s project must also obtain a UEI from SAM. Evidence of valid and active UEIs for contractors and subcontractors do not need to be provided in a proposer’s proposal but must be provided to the Department during contract negotiation if the proposer is awarded funding and before work commences.

Any proposer and their contractors/subcontractors that are debarred from SAM are unable to work on projects funded with Federal funds and are ineligible to participate in the SEED Grant Program.

Due to the high demand of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Proposers should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. Estimated processing time for a new SAM registration takes approximately six weeks.

If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process, they should utilize the HELP feature on the Federal Service Desk website located here: GSAFSD Service Portal Landing - GSA Federal Service Desk Service

Portal.

FSD.gov will work on entity service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here:

GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity; and

6. The proposer meets a 5% or 15% “cash” and/or “in-kind” match requirement for their SEED Grant Program award with firmly committed matching funds. The proposer must commit to the match requirement in its proposal, and must demonstrate how it will provide the match. Not committing to the required cost sharing or demonstrating how it will be accomplished will make the application ineligible. Any cost sharing or matching shall comply with 2 CFR 200.306(b-k) and be allowable under 2 CFR 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles.

Proposers who satisfy the economically eligible School scoring criteria as outlined in Section IV, Part B must match 5% of the value of their award.

Proposers who do not satisfy the economically eligible School scoring criteria as outlined in Section IV, Part B. must match 15% of the value of their award.

“Match” is subject to U.S. DOE Financial Assistance Rules (2 CFR Part 200 as amended by 2 CFR Part 910 and 10 CFR Part 420).

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=ticket&table=u_incident_gsafsd&sys_id=8c92cf6d1bf97510c092dbd4cc4bcbb6 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=ticket&table=u_incident_gsafsd&sys_id=8c92cf6d1bf97510c092dbd4cc4bcbb6 FSD.gov https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=1b5f22581b2115102fe5ed7ae54bcb4e&spa=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 6 of 38

Utility financial incentives/rebates may be used to fund a proposed project but shall not be used as evidence of a match under the SEED Grant Program. See 2

CFR Part 200.406 for more information.

“In-Kind” is defined as the value of non-cash contributions, such as property or services that: benefit a federally assisted project or program; and are contributed by non-Federal third parties, without charge, to a non-Federal entity under a Federal Award. Proposers using an in-kind match should note the following:

a. In-kind matches have to be verifiable;

b. In-kind matches are not included as contributions for other Federal awards;

c. In-kind matches are necessary and reasonable for the accomplishment of the project’s objectives;

d. In-kind matches are not using a federal award to match another federal award;

e. Any in-kind match using donated property or materials must not exceed fair market value;

f. The value of any donated land and/or buildings for an in-kind match must be established by an independent appraiser; and

g. Any in-kind match using dedicated staff hours or volunteer hours must be necessary and reasonable for the completion of the project and of fair-market wage.

Any proposed cash or in-kind match must exclude the following costs:

a. Revenues or royalties from the prospective operation of an activity beyond the time considered in the award;

b. Proceeds from the prospective sale of an asset of an activity; or

c. Other appropriated Federal funds.

Repayment of the Federal share of a cost-shared activity under Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 shall not be a condition of the award.

C. Recommended Project Design

Due to the federal character of SEED Grant Program funding, all projects will be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation

Act (NHPA). These two federal acts require the federal government and recipients of federal funding to evaluate and understand any potential adverse impacts to the https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.406 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.406 https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/35.2_Cost_Sharing_in_Research_and_Development_Contracts_0.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/35.2_Cost_Sharing_in_Research_and_Development_Contracts_0.pdf

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 7 of 38 environment from federally funded projects, as well as consideration of the impacts that such projects may have on any historic and archeological characteristics of affected buildings and/or land.

Projects that meet the following location siting requirements may likely not require additional levels of NEPA and NHPA review, provided that the project:

a) Is installed in or on an existing building or buildings;

b) Does not cause any level of ground disturbance;

c) Does not require tree removal or tree trimming;

d) Does not require structural reinforcement; and

e) Adheres to the exemptions outlined in Appendix B of the New Hampshire executed Historic Preservation Programmatic Agreement.

The Department encourages proposers to conform their project designs to the requirements listed above to prevent additional NEPA and NHPA reviews. Proposers whose projects do not meet the requirements listed above may likely be subject to additional NEPA and NHPA reviews. More information on NEPA, NHPA, and any additional review processes are outlined in Sections VIII and IX of this RFP.

III. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In order to apply to the SEED Grant Program, proposers must complete and submit the

SEED Grant Program Application. The proposal form can be found as an attachment under RFP #2026-003 on the Department’s website here: Requests for Proposals | NH

Department of Energy.

The SEED Grant Program proposal form must be completed in its entirety. Failure to do so, unless otherwise noted, will be considered an incomplete proposal and will be ineligible for scoring. Along with the SEED Grant Program proposal form, proposers shall include other attachments in their proposal.

Those attachments include:

1. A copy of the proposer’s active registration in the Federal System for Award

Management (SAM). Proposers must print out a copy of their SAM registration from the SAM website and include it with their proposal package.

a. Any subcontractors the proposer plans to use will have to submit a copy of their active registrations in SAM.gov.

2. Evidence of direct ownership of the school building by the proposer – property deed, property tax card, etc.

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2014/01/f7/state_historic_preservation_programmatic_agreement_nh.pdf https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 8 of 38

3. A copy of the proposer’s most recent financial audit. The financial audit must be performed by an independent third party.

4. A resume and relevant project history of the proposer’s qualified project manager, including any contractors or subcontractors working with the project manager. Resumes should include years of experience, specifically including energy efficiency work in commercial buildings.

5. A project budget summary. Summary should include an itemized breakdown of all tasks to complete the project, as outlined in the contractor’s bid or quote.

More information can be found in Section IV, Part B. under Project Budget

Summary.

6. A signed copy of the Department’s Davis-Bacon assurance letter. This letter must be signed by the proposer’s authorized representative. A template of the Davis-

Bacon assurance letter can be found here under RFP 2026-003: Requests for

Proposals | NH Department of Energy.

7. A printout of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates from the SAM.gov website which shall be incorporated into the contract and subcontracts, as applicable. Wage rates will be verified by the Department and may change before final grant agreement approval and/or project commencement.

8. Letters of community support for the project from:

a. The municipality’s local governing body;

b. The school board;

c. Any one of the school’s State elected officials.

See Section IV, Part B. of this RFP for more on letters of community support.

Letters of community support are not required; however, they must be submitted with the proposal if the proposer desires to receive points for having them during the evaluation process.

9. Preferably all proposers and subcontractors have federal funding experience, specifically with Davis-Bacon and Related Acts reporting.

10. Any other supporting documentation relevant to a proposer’s proposed project.

IV. EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Proposal Evaluation Procedure

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated in a two-step review process, followed by a contracting phase. The evaluation will be based solely on the proposal. Therefore, insufficient or unclear information may result in a low score, https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals https://sam.gov/

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 9 of 38

If determined to be appropriate by the Evaluation Team, proposers may be invited to interviews. The Evaluation Team retains the sole discretion to determine whether to conduct interviews, with which proposers, and the number of interviews. Proposers are advised that interviews may be conducted with fewer than all proposers. Interviews may be conducted in person or via remote access.

The purpose of the interviews is to clarify and expound upon information provided in the proposer’s proposal. Proposers are prohibited from altering the basic substance of their proposal or submitting new information during the interviews. The Evaluation

Team and Department staff may ask the proposer to provide written clarifications of elements in the proposal, regardless of whether the Evaluation Team intends to conduct oral interviews. Information gained from interviews or written clarifications will be used to refine scores assigned during the evaluation process.

The procedure for proposal evaluation and school selection will be as follows:

Step 1 – Proposal Screening: The Department shall assess compliance with the submission requirements set forth in this RFP. The SEED Grant Program proposal form must be filled out completely unless otherwise noted. Incomplete SEED Grant Program proposal forms will not be reviewed. The Department may waive or offer a limited opportunity to cure immaterial deviations from RFP requirements if it is determined to be in the best interests of the State.

In accordance with the New Hampshire Executive Order No. 2023-05, any proposer that is determined by the Department to be boycotting Israel shall be disqualified, and its proposal deemed ineligible. More information on Executive Order 2023-05 can be found here: 2023-05.pdf.

Ineligible proposals will not be scored. All proposals deemed ineligible will receive email notification of that determination within a reasonable time period following the determination.

Step 2 – Evaluation: An Evaluation Team consisting of New Hampshire state agency personnel shall review the proposals and information submitted by each proposer based upon the criteria established in this RFP.

The Evaluation Team shall generate consensus scores for each proposal, rank the proposals, and create a “ranked list” based on the Scoring Criteria and Weight as detailed in Section IV, Part B. of this RFP.

In no event shall any proposal with a consensus score of 60 or below be considered eligible for SEED Grant Program funding.

Step 3 – Contract Negotiation and Execution: A letter of intent will be sent to the selected proposers’ authorized submitter. The Department shall negotiate, if necessary, and develop grant agreements and related contract documents with selected proposers.

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/2023-05.pdf

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 10 of 38

Step 4 – Contract Approval: The Department shall submit completed grant agreements to the Governor and Executive Council for approval. After Governor and Executive

Council approval, work can begin on the proposed project. The proposed project must be completed by March 31, 2028.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this RFP, this RFP does not commit the

Department to make an award. The Department reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any or all proposals, or any portions thereof, for any reason at any time, including, but not limited to, canceling the RFP, and to solicit new proposals under a new proposal process. If, for any reason, negotiations with the top scorer(s) do not result in a contact(s), despite reasonable efforts made in good faith, the Department may go to the next highest scorer(s) and seek to negotiate with that proposer(s).

B. Scoring Criteria and Weight

The Department will consider the following criteria and assign a corresponding point score. A maximum score for all criteria would be 105 points:

Quality and Clarity of Proposal: The submitted proposal is concise, well organized, and easy to understand. Maximum Point Score: 10

Ability to Manage Federal Funding: The proposer includes, as a separate attachment to their proposal form, a copy of their recent financial audit performed by an independent third party. The financial audit demonstrates the proposer’s ability to handle local, state, and federal funding and does not include significant findings or deficiencies in the proposer’s financial practices or standards. Maximum Point Score: 15

Project Budget Summary and Financing: The proposer provides, as a separate attachment to their proposal form, a project budget summary that shows fiscal responsibility and understanding of available project funds, proof of match, an expectation of financial audits, and other scrutiny. The project budget summary will include any anticipated personnel costs, contractual costs, supply/equipment costs, and other relevant costs for the proposed project. The project budget also identifies and describes the source and dollar amount of any leveraged funds for the project, including the match required to receive a SEED Grant Program award. Maximum Point Score: 20

Project Timeline: The proposer provides a project timeline that is detailed, includes project milestones, and demonstrates that the proposed project can be completed by

March 31, 2028. Contracts to be awarded funding must be approved by Governor and

Executive Council, a process that takes approximately six to eight weeks. Maximum

Point Score: 10

Qualified Project Manager: The proposer intends to work with a qualified project manager to complete their proposed project. The proposer includes in their proposal package the following criteria listed below:

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 11 of 38

• A summary of the qualifications, experience, and roles of the project manager and their team, if applicable.

• Resumes for key personnel that lists education, professional affiliations, and years of experience, specifically including experience in energy efficiency projects.

• Summaries of similar energy efficiency projects undertaken in public schools or commercial buildings, including date of installation, project summary, status of project, client name, and contact information.

• A list of two references, who are familiar with the project manager’s work and experience, and their contact information.

Maximum Point Score: 15

Proposed Energy Savings: The proposal proposes a project that will result in energy savings and operational cost savings. The proposal includes an explanation of the anticipated annual energy savings from the proposed project, either in dollar, electricity, or fuel (natural gas, propane, heating oil, etc.) savings, and an explanation as to how the anticipated annual energy savings was arrived at. The proposal also details how the proposed energy savings will advance other objectives or be redirected toward other initiatives. Maximum Point Score: 20

Economically Eligible School: The proposer proposes a project that will benefit an economically eligible public school or chartered public school. A proposer shall be considered economically eligible if it satisfies at least one of the criteria listed below.

Proposers that do not meet any of the criteria listed below shall not be considered economically eligible.

1. The public school or chartered public school has 24% or more of their total 2025-2026 student population eligible for free/reduced lunch based on the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Free/Reduced School

Lunch Eligibility for 2025-2026;

Proposers considered economically eligible must match 5% of their SEED Grant Program award and shall receive full points in this criterion. Proposers that do not meet any of the criteria listed above must match 15% of their SEED Grant award and shall not receive any points in this criterion. No partial points will be awarded in this criterion.

Maximum Point Score: 10

Letters of Community Support (OPTIONAL): The proposal can include letters of support for the proposer’s project from the following:

1 Point: The municipality’s governing body (i.e., selectboard or city council).

1 Point: The local school board.

https://my.doe.nh.gov/iPlatform/Report/Report?path=%2FBDMQ%2FiPlatform%20Reports%2FDemographic%20Data%2FFree%20and%20Reduced%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%2FFree%20Reduced%20K-12%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%20Rates%20by%20School&name=Free%20Reduced%20K-12%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%20Rates%20by%20School&categoryName=Free%20and%20Reduced%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility&categoryId=18 https://my.doe.nh.gov/iPlatform/Report/Report?path=%2FBDMQ%2FiPlatform%20Reports%2FDemographic%20Data%2FFree%20and%20Reduced%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%2FFree%20Reduced%20K-12%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%20Rates%20by%20School&name=Free%20Reduced%20K-12%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility%20Rates%20by%20School&categoryName=Free%20and%20Reduced%20School%20Lunch%20Eligibility&categoryId=18

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 12 of 38

3 Points: Any one of the school’s State elected officials. Such officials shall include the municipality’s State Representative(s), State Senator, or Executive Councilor.

Proposers can find their State Representative(s) and State Senator on the NH

General Court website here: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/.

Proposers can find their Executive Councilor here:

https://www.nh.gov/council/districts/index.htm.

Maximum Bonus Point Score: 5

V. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

This program is eligible for intergovernmental review under ALN 81.041, but it has not been selected for review by the Single Point of Contact.

VI. TERM OF CONTRACT

The term of the contract with any selected proposer will be for a period beginning with contract approval by the Commissioner of the Department and, if applicable, Governor and Executive

Council and ending March 31, 2028.

VII. GENERAL CONDITIONS

The Department reserves the right to the following: to reject or accept any or all proposals, or any part thereof; to determine what constitutes a conforming proposal; to waive irregularities that it considers non-material to the proposal, solely as it deems to be in the best interests of the State; to negotiate with any selected firm(s) or individual(s) in any manner deemed necessary to best serve the interests of the State, including to negotiate lower fees or a different hourly rate structure; and to contract for any portion of the proposals submitted and to contract with more than one proposer.

In the event that the Department determines to contract with more than one proposer, the

Department reserves the right to assign components of the contract according to relevant qualifications and experience, and availability. This RFP and all information relating to this RFP

(including, but not limited to, fees, contracts, agreements, and prices), are subject to the laws of the State of New Hampshire regarding public information and state procurement of goods and services.

1. Contract Approval: If the Department decides to award a contract as a result of this RFP process, any award is contingent upon approval of the contract by the Commissioner of the Department and, if applicable, the Governor and Executive Council with payment subject to the Department’s special utility assessment process. Payments hereunder are contingent upon the availability of funds assessed pursuant to RSA 365:37. The

Department shall assess the costs of the contract to the appropriate party(ies) and upon payment of the assessment, will process payment to the consultant. General funds will not be requested to support the contract resulting from this RFP. At the sole discretion https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/ https://www.nh.gov/council/districts/index.htm

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 13 of 38 of the Department, payment may be made using general assessment funds if a special assessment pursuant to RSA 365:37 cannot be made.

2. Additional Information: The Department reserves the right to request additional information from any or all prospective consultants submitting proposals to assist in the evaluation process.

3. Confidentiality of Proposal and Information Provided to Proposers: The substance of the proposal must remain confidential until the effective date of any contract resulting from this RFP. A proposer’s disclosure or distribution of proposals other than to the

Department may be grounds for disqualification. Each proposer also agrees to maintain as confidential all information to which it has access in the course of this RFP and contracting process until such time as it is instructed otherwise by the Department.

4. Public Disclosure: Pursuant to RSA 21-G:37, all responses to this RFP shall be considered confidential until the award of a contract. On the closing date of responses, the

Department will post the number of responses received with no further information.

No later than five business days prior to submission of a contract to the Department of

Administrative Services pursuant to this RFP, the Department will post the name of each proposer, and rank or score of each proposal eligible to be scored. In the event that the contract does not require Governor and Executive Council approval, the Department shall disclose the name of each proposer and rank or score of each proposal eligible to be scored at least five business days before final approval of the contract. All such postings may be viewed on the Department’s website at: Requests for Proposals | NH

Department of Energy.

By submitting a proposal, the proposer acknowledges that the Department is subject to the Right-to-Know Law, RSA Chapter 91-A. The content of each proposer’s proposal shall become public information upon the award of any resulting contract. Copywritten materials submitted along with a proposal are subject to Chapter 91-A and will be made available to the public unless it appears that the proposer has violated the original copyright. If a proposer copyrights its proposal materials, then by submitting the copywritten proposal, the proposer waives any copyright protections as to the state, its employees, and agents, and agrees that the state may copy and distribute the proposal for purposes such as, but not limited to, scoring, contracting, and responding to public information requests. Any information submitted as part of a response to this

RFP may be subject to public disclosure unless otherwise exempt. See RSA 91-A. In addition, in accordance with RSA 9-F:1, any contract entered into as a result of this RFP may be made accessible to the public online through the website Transparent NH:

(http://www.nh.gov/transparentnh). However, business financial information, confidential information, such as personally identifiable information, including, but not limited to, social security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, employer identification numbers, and account numbers, proprietary information such as trade https://www.energy.nh.gov/rules-and-regulatory/requests-proposals http://www.nh.gov/transparentnh/

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 14 of 38 secrets, financial models and forecasts, and proprietary formulas, may be exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV.

If any part of its proposal contains information that a proposer asserts is exempt from public disclosure, the proposer must specifically identify all relevant text in a letter to the Department and must mark or stamp each page of the materials claimed to be exempt from disclosure as “confidential,” and provide support for such assertion(s) as part of proposer’s response to this RFP. The proposer shall explain, in writing, what measures it has taken to keep such information confidential, and the personal privacy or competitive business interests that would be harmed if such information were to be publicly disclosed. The explanation shall also identify by page number and proposal section number the specific information the proposer claims to be exempt from public disclosure pursuant to RSA 91-A:5. It is helpful if the text claimed to be confidential is also highlighted, underlined, or otherwise identified in the actual proposal itself.

Marking the entire proposal or entire sections of the proposal as “confidential” will neither be accepted nor honored.

The Department shall maintain confidentiality of properly identified information contained in proposals consistent with RSA Chapter 91-A. Any information a proposer identifies as exempt from disclosure shall be kept confidential until the Department has determined, as necessary, whether such information is exempt from public disclosure pursuant to RSA 91-A.

In the event that the Department receives a request to view portions of a proposal that the proposer has properly and clearly marked “confidential,” the Department shall notify the proposer and specify the date the Department intends to release the requested information, redacting any information the Department independently concludes is exempt, consistent with applicable laws and regulations. Any effort to prohibit or enjoin the release of the information the Department identifies for release shall be the proposer’s responsibility at the proposer’s sole expense. If the proposer fails to obtain a court order enjoining the disclosure, the Department may release the information on the date the Department specified in its notice to the proposer(s), or in its notice to any other relevant parties, without any liability to the proposer(s).

5. Liability: By submitting a proposal, the proposer agrees that in no event shall the

Department be either responsible for or held liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in preparation of or in connection with the proposal, or for work performed prior to the effective date of any resulting contract.

6. Equal Opportunity Employers: All parties submitting proposals shall be Equal

Opportunity Employers (EOE). The selected consultant will be expected to comply with all federal, state, and local laws respecting non-discrimination in employment.

https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-mrg.htm

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 15 of 38

7. Addendums: The Department reserves the right to amend or cancel this RFP at any time. Proposers should check Requests for Proposals | NH Department of Energy for any addenda to this RFP before submitting their proposals, and for answers to any questions submitted by others.

8. Vendor: The selected consultant(s) shall be required to submit a Taxpayer Identification

Number (TIN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Social Security Number (SSN), and to register as or currently be registered as a vendor with the State of New

Hampshire Treasury.

9. Terms and Conditions: The terms and conditions set forth in the State’s Form G-1

(version 11//2021) “Grant Agreement, General Provisions” (General Provisions) for contracts, attached hereto as Appendix B, shall apply to the contract to be entered into with the selected proposer(s). In addition, each contract shall be supplemented by three exhibits: Exhibit A will include any special provisions, including any modifications to the General Provisions regarding insurance coverage and other matters; Exhibit B will set forth in detail the Scope of Services; and Exhibit C will set forth in detail the price limitation, the source of payment (special utility assessment), and any preconditions to payment. In addition, in accordance with New Hampshire Executive Order No. 2023-05, any contract entered into as a result of this RFP shall include a provision permitting the

Department to immediately terminate the contract upon making a determination that the Proposer is boycotting Israel.

10. Contract Modifications: Once a contract becomes effective, any subsequent material changes or modifications to the contract terms must be submitted for review and prior approval by the Commissioner of the Department and, if applicable, the Governor and

Executive Council.

11. Offer: This RFP is not an offer. Neither the Department nor this RFP shall create any commitment on the part of the State or confer any rights on the part of the proposer unless and until a binding written contract is executed between the Department and the proposer, and if applicable, approved by the Governor and Executive Council.

12. Property of the State: All materials and data submitted or received in response to this

RFP will become the property of the State and will not be returned to the proposer(s).

Upon contract award, the State reserves the right to use any information presented in any proposal, provided that its use does not violate any copyrights, or other provisions of law, including RSA 91-A.

13. Non-Collusion: The proposer’s signature on a proposal submitted in response to this RFP guarantees that the prices, terms and conditions, and work quoted have been established without collusion with other proposers and without effort to preclude the

Department from obtaining the best possible competitive proposal. Proposers who

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 16 of 38 wish to submit joint proposals with other consultants must clearly identify that the proposal is a “joint proposal” and must identify all proposers in the first instance.

14. Challenges on Form or Process of the RFP: Any challenge regarding the validity or legality of the form and procedures of this RFP, including, but not limited to, the evaluation and scoring of proposals, shall be brought to the attention of the Department at least 10 business days prior to the proposal submission deadline, by sending written notice to the RFP Point of Contact, named above. By submitting a proposal, the proposer is deemed to have waived any challenges to the Department’s authority to conduct this procurement and the form and procedures of this RFP.

15. Grant Agreement General Provisions: The terms and conditions set forth in the State’s

“General Provisions” for grant agreements, attached hereto as Appendix B, will apply to the grant award and funding agreement that the Department will enter into with grantees. In addition, each agreement will be supplemented by several exhibits: Exhibit

A will include any special provisions, including any additions to or modifications of the

General Provisions; Exhibit B will set forth the scope of services and reporting requirements in detail; and Exhibit C will set forth the amount of the grant, any required milestones, preconditions to reimbursement, the amount of grant holdback or retainage, and the documentation requirements for, and conditions of, grant payments.

Several exhibits shall consist of federally required certifications by grantees of federal funds. Upon award, the grantee should be prepared to sign certain assurances and exhibits including Drug Free Workplace; Lobbying; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance; Environmental Tobacco Smoke; Federal Funding Accountability and

Transparency Act (FFATA); Build America, Buy America Act (BABA); Davis Bacon and

Related Acts: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and National Historic

Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance.

In addition, in accordance with New Hampshire Executive Order No. 2023-05, any grant agreement entered into as a result of this RFP shall include a provision permitting the

Department to immediately terminate the agreement and withhold funding upon making a determination that the proposer is boycotting Israel and permitting the

Department to withhold payment of any and all funding pending that determination.

More information on New Hampshire Executive Order No. 2023-05 can be found here:

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/2023-05.pdf.

16. Project Changes: Once a grant agreement becomes effective, any subsequent material changes or modifications to the project or agreement terms, including, but not limited to, changes in project site plan, design, equipment, or other major components, overall project budget, key project personnel, project funding or financing model, project administration, management, or communications, or proposed technical details, must be submitted for review and evaluation by the Department. Amendments to the Grant https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/2023-05.pdf

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 17 of 38

Agreement are subject to approval by the Department and the Governor and Executive

Council.

17. State Fire Marshal’s Office Project Review: Per administrative rule Ed 321.13, all construction of school facilities shall meet the requirements of the state fire code under

SAF-C 6000 as adopted by the Commissioner of the Department of Safety under RSA 153 and as amended pursuant to RSA 153:5, I by the state fire marshal with the board of fire control. The drawings and specifications of public-school construction shall be evaluated by the state fire marshal according to the state fire code. Pursuant to RSA

153, the state fire marshal shall judge the drawings and specifications according to other related parts and standards of the Life Safety Code under NFPA Doc. No. 101, and the state building code under RSA 155-A.

Any proposer selected to receive a SEED Grant Program award shall be required to have a review of their proposed project completed by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and shall provide evidence of approval by the State Fire Marshal’s Office before the

Department enters a contract with any SEED Grant Program grantee.

Any SEED Grant Program grantee must submit an application to the State Fire Marshal’s

Office using the following link: State of New Hampshire Division of Fire Safety | Public

Portal (mygov.us). Grantees will need to create an account for log in, choose “New

Permit,” scroll down to the Plan Review Request category, and choose “Plan Review

Request – Educational Facility.” Grantees must be prepared to upload electronic plans upon submittal of the request. The State Fire Marshal’s Office has 30 days to respond to the initial request.

SEED Grant Program grantees should contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office using the following e-mail address (dos.fmo.inspec@dos.nh.gov) only if a funding award is given.

This should be done to ensure that the State Fire Marshal’s Office is aware of the incoming application request and so they may answer any questions that the grantee has on the application process.

18. Federal Funding Requirements: Proposers must adhere to all Federal funding requirements, including but not limited to, U.S. DOE Financial Assistance Rules under 2

CFR Part 200 as amended by 2 CFR Part 910 and 10 CFR Part 420.

19. Reporting, Notification, and Inspection: The Department and the U.S. DOE reserve the right to conduct the following: inspect and monitor financial and payroll records and transactions; inspect project/program sites and interview workers; approve RFPs for sub-recipients and provide input on programs; issue periodic notices, memos, and updated reporting forms and information; request notification about media inquiries, responses, and copies of published clippings; participate in meetings and publicize progress of the SEED Grant Program; and pull back SEED Grant Program funding, if appropriate.

https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/state_agencies/ed300.html https://public.mygov.us/divisionoffiresafety_nh https://public.mygov.us/divisionoffiresafety_nh mailto:dos.fmo.inspec@dos.nh.gov

NH Department of Energy RFP #2026-003 Page 18 of 38

All electronic or physical program and financial records pertaining to a grantee’s project shall be securely stored and retained by the grantee for three years from the date of project completion.

20. Technical Monitor: The Department shall retain the services of a technical monitor to oversee project progress for the duration of the awarded project using funding separate from the grantee’s award from the SEED Grant Program. Upon acceptance of award, the selected grantee is consenting to the use of a technical monitor for the duration of the proposed project.