Section 2 Project Overview and Selection Details RFP 2025-10313 - final.pdf

SECTION 2: PROJECT OVERVIEW & SELECTION DETAILS

1. Background and history: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance), the “M&O Contractor”.

The Residential Building Integration (RBI) Program’s is part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (BTO). Program goals are to lower energy costs for residents, and increase the deployment of retrofits and adoption of energy efficient building practices to enable an integrated energy system that is affordable, reliable, resilient and secure.

NREL provides technical support to BTO to advance and expand building technologies to enhance the affordability, comfort, resilience, and health while supporting a reliable energy system in buildings.

2. Subcontract need summary: The objective of this work effort is to engage leading subject matter experts (SMEs) in research, field validation, analysis, dissemination, and technical support efforts to address industry needs related to energy efficient building technologies and practices. This work focuses on technical topics including, but are not limited to, moisture, humidity, infiltration, envelope upgrades, new construction, retrofits, and whole home solutions.

3. Schedule: Anticipated August 31st Best Value Selection Complete

4. Qualitative Merit Criteria

NREL will evaluate submitted proposals using the qualitative merit criteria stated below to determine which offer(s) represent the best value to NREL. The Statement of Work in this RFP serves as NREL’s baseline requirements that must be met by each offer, but the qualitative merit criteria provided below establish what NREL considers the technical factors valuable in an offer. These qualitative merit criteria are performance-based and permit selection of a higher priced offer that provides higher qualitative merit.

The following qualitative merit criteria will be used to determine the technical value of the offer in meeting the objectives of the solicitation. Sub criteria, if listed, are not individually weighted, but are factors in the overall weighting.

Each qualitative merit criterion (and sub-criteria, if included) and its assigned weight are listed below:

Criterion # Criterion

Assigned Weight

Description https://www.nrel.gov/ https://www.nrel.gov/ http://www.allianceforsustainableenergy.org/

1 Technical Expertise and Industry Experience

30%

Show relevant expertise and qualifications in building science and comprehensive understanding of technical and integration issues facing the residential building industry related to efficiency, affordability, resilience and installation quality in new and existing homes.

Demonstrate experience supporting production builders’ incorporation of technologies and building practices through technical assistance, design guidance, field validation and demonstration projects.

2 Research, Analysis, and Technical Output

30% Describe experience in designing and conducting research activities, including lab or field experimentation, validation, monitoring, and data analysis Describe the sufficiency of facilities, equipment, and/or resources to conduct relevant activities.

Describe experience providing design guidance and review, energy modeling, site inspections, installation demonstrations, and performance testing.

3 Collaboration and Workforce Development

20% Demonstrate a history of effectively partnering with industry stakeholders and facilitating coordination on complex technical issues.

Demonstrate a history of addressing workforce needs in the residential building industry, including creating materials and/or tools for education and training.

4 Knowledge Transfer

20% Demonstrate a history of disseminating and presenting technical and programmatic topics and information at key industry conferences, workshops, meetings, trade publication articles, blogs, and/or social media platforms.

Describe experience in developing and peer reviewing high-quality technical reports, best practice guidance, journal/conference papers, and other publications providing actionable guidance to the industry.

100% Total of Merit Criteria

5. Price or Cost Evaluation

After evaluation of the qualitative merit criteria, the following price or cost evaluation will be used to determine the best value of the offer in meeting the objectives of the solicitation.

The proposed fully burdened labor rates will be the basis of the price analysis.

The combined qualitative merit value will be considered substantially more important than the price (cost).

6. Technical Proposal Logistical Requirements

The technical proposal shall be organized in the following sections:

Section No.

Description

1 Technical Expertise and Industry Experience 2 Research, Analysis, and Technical Output 3 Collaboration and Workforce Development 4 Knowledge Transfer Each section shall be a maximum of 1 page which includes all text, graphics, charts, attachments, appendices, addendums, indices, exhibits, etc. (resumes and proposed changes to the Statement of Work are not included in page count) and the total technical proposal shall not exceed 5 pages. In the event that the page limit is exceeded, NREL at its sole discretion, reserves the right to remove pages from the sections of any non-conforming submittals to bring each non-conforming submittal within the page count requirement.