Solar PV Request for Proposal (RFP #2627-0575) Solicitation 1: Squalicum High School

Bellingham School District #501

Solar Design & Installation

Solicitation 1 — Squalicum High School Request for Proposals

RFP #2627-0575

Proposal Due Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 3:00 PM Pacific

Solicited pursuant to RCW 39.04.290

Bellingham School District #501 Operations Department

1985 Barkley Blvd Bellingham, WA 98226

Owner’s Representative: Cascadia Renewables LLC

1. Introduction

1.01 Purpose

Bellingham School District #501 (the “District”) is soliciting proposals from qualified design-build contractors for the design, fabrication, and installation of a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system at Squalicum High School, 3773 E.

McLeod Road, Bellingham, Washington 98226 (Whatcom County parcel #380327464081). The selected Contractor will carry the design engineering through to issuance of construction documents and will construct, commission, and place the system in service.

This Solicitation 1 is the first of an anticipated total of five solicitations to complete a ten-site District solar program, with projects running from 2026 through 2028. Proposers are encouraged to review the full program calendar in Section 3.04 when assessing their capacity to perform.

1.02 The District and the program

Bellingham Public Schools serves approximately 11,200 students and 1,400 staff across 22 main school buildings totaling more than 1.5 million square feet. In 2025, the District completed approximately 1 MW of rooftop solar across five schools as part of a previous program. The current program will extend that work to ten additional sites and is being delivered under Washington State University (WSU) Energy’s Community Solar Expansion Program (CSEP).

1.03 Owner’s Representative and conflict of interest

Cascadia Renewables LLC (“CR”) serves as the District’s independent Owner’s Representative for this program.

CR prepared the technical bid specification, is administering this solicitation on the District’s behalf, and will provide design review, construction oversight, and commissioning oversight. CR also serves as one member of the evaluation panel detailed under Section 9.04. Every determination of responsiveness, responsibility, and award remains at the District’s discretion; determinations will be made and signed by the District pursuant to Sections 7.03 and 9.01.

CR, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is not a Proposer on this solicitation, holds no design-build contract for this work, and will not be a proposer, subcontractor, or equipment supplier on Solicitations 1 through 5 of this program. Neither CR nor any of its principals will hold a financial interest in any Proposer, proposed subcontractor, or equipment supplier in connection with this solicitation.

1.04 Funding and schedule

This project is funded by a WSU Energy Program CSEP incentive combined with the elective payment (“Direct Pay”) provision of the federal Investment Tax Credit (or “ITC”) under IRC §6417. The District is claiming the energy community bonus, which is location-based. Domestic content is encouraged but not required under this solicitation for modules, racking and balance of system. Power inverters and module-level power electronics are subject to Section 2.03. Federal prevailing wage, apprenticeship and prohibited foreign entity requirements bearing on the Credit are set out in Section 2.04.

Direct Pay eligibility depends on the system being placed in service on or before December 31, 2027. If that date is missed, the credit is lost in full—there is no partial credit and no cure available to the District in such an event.

The District has therefore set the (a) Substantial Completion and (b) Placed in Service dates in Section 12.01 well in advance of that deadline, so that the credit is not exposed to late-season utility processing. Proposers are strongly encouraged to read and understand Sections 12.01 and 12.02 carefully before pricing this work.

2. Procurement Authority and Method

2.01 Statutory authority

This solicitation is issued under and governed by RCW 39.04.290, which allows for the competitive bidding of building engineering systems. The selected contractor must provide final specifications and a bid price for the system, with all specifications subject to approval by the appropriate design, engineering, and/or public regulatory body. Chapter 39.80 RCW does not apply to the design of building engineering systems included in a contract under this section.

The selected Proposer is responsible for producing final specifications stamped by a Washington-licensed professional engineer and approved by the City of Bellingham as the authority having jurisdiction.

2.02 Method of award

This is a best-value procurement, not a low-bid procurement. The District will award the contract to the responsive, responsible Proposer with the highest total evaluated score under Section 9. Price is a scored, weighted element of that evaluation, but the District is not obligated to award to the lowest-priced Proposer.

This procurement is not conducted through a small works roster and is not subject to RCW 39.04.155. All other public works requirements of Title 39 RCW apply, including but not limited to prevailing wages under Chapter

39.12 RCW, bonding under Chapter 39.08 RCW, retainage under Chapter 60.28 RCW, apprentice utilization under RCW 39.04.320 (Section 7.02), the mandatory and supplemental bidder responsibility criteria of RCW

39.04.350 (Sections 7.01 and 7.03).

2.03 Prohibited foreign equipment – FCC Covered List

The work required for the program will include the use of power inverters and module-level power electronics.

Foreign-produced power inverters and module-level power electronics are included on the Federal Communications Commission's (“FCC”) Covered List maintained under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Public Notice DA 26-786, WC Docket No. 18-89, ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No.

21-233), except to the extent the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of War has granted a conditional approval for a specific power inverter or module-level power electronics.

Proposers must to acquaint themselves with the definition of a power inverter and what qualifies as foreign-produced for purposes of the FCC Covered List, and exceptions or exclusions that may be applicable.

A. As part of its proposal, a Proposer must:

1. Certify in its proposal, on the form provided in the Contractor Response Template, that each power inverter and each module-level power electronic device it proposes either:

a. is not foreign-produced (consistent with the definition applicable to the FCC Covered List);

b. has been granted a Conditional Approval by the Department of War or the Department of

Homeland Security; or

c. held a valid FCC equipment authorization in effect on the proposal deadline and remains lawfully marketable in the United States;

2. Re-certify the same at product submittal under Bid Specification Section 1.06.1, and again before the equipment is ordered;

3. Notify the Owner’s Representative in writing within five (5) business days of becoming aware that any proposed or ordered device has been added to the Covered List, has had an equipment authorization denied, revoked or withdrawn, or has otherwise lost the status certified under subsection 1 above; and

4. Substitute a device of equal or better performance meeting the Bid Specification and this Section, at no increase in the Contract Sum and no extension of the Contract Time, where a device previously certified under subsection 1 above cannot lawfully be installed.

B. Basis of design and deviations. The Bid Specification names the SolarEdge SE100K-US inverter and the SolarEdge C651U power optimizer as the basis of design. A Proposer offering any alternative inverter or module-level power electronic device must document with its proposal that the alternative satisfies subsection A.1 above. Approval of an alternative under Bid Specification Sections 2.05.5 and 2.03.3 does not waive this requirement.

C. In addition to and separate from the requirements set forth in subsection A.1, the District additionally requires that power inverters and module-level power electronics be supplied by a manufacturer that is not headquartered in a country of concern. This criterion set forth in subsection C is separate from, and does not substitute for, subsection A, and a device may satisfy one and fail the other.

This Section 2.03 applies to power inverters and module-level power electronics. The advanced robotic devices addressed by the same Public Notice are not within the scope of this project.

2.04 Federal tax credit compliance — prevailing wage and apprenticeship, and prohibited foreign entity restrictions The District intends to claim the Clean Electricity Investment Credit under Section 48E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Credit”), through the elective payment provision of Code Section 6417, together with the energy community bonus described in Section 1.04. Two sets of federal requirements bear directly on the Work and on how it should be priced. They are separate from, and additional to, the Washington public works requirements of Sections 7.02 and 12.06 and the FCC Covered List requirements of Section 2.03.

A. Prevailing wage and apprenticeship. The increased credit amount depends on compliance with the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements of Code Sections 48(a)(10) and 45(b)(8), as incorporated into the Credit by Code Sections 48E(d)(3) and (4), and the applicable Treasury Regulations (the “PWA Requirements”). The PWA Requirements are federal and are measured against United States Department of Labor wage determinations and registered apprenticeship labor-hour, ratio and participation standards. Compliance with Chapter 39.12 RCW and RCW 39.04.320 does not by itself establish compliance with the PWA Requirements, and Proposers should not assume the two regimes call for the same records.

By submitting a proposal the Proposer certifies, on the form provided in the Contractor Response Template, that it and its subcontractors of every tier will comply with the PWA Requirements for the entire period of construction, alteration or repair of the facility; will keep the payroll and apprenticeship records those requirements call for; and will furnish those records to the District and the Owner’s Representative, with a written declaration that they are true and correct, as the District reasonably requires to substantiate compliance.

B. Prohibited foreign entity restrictions. Because construction of this project begins after December 31, 2025, the Credit is subject to the prohibited foreign entity restrictions of Code Sections 7701(a)(51) and (52), as incorporated into the Credit by Code Sections 48E(b)(6), (c)(3) and (d)(6), including the payment rules of Code Section 7701(a)(51)(D)(i)(II) and (ii) and the material assistance rules of Code Section 7701(a)(52) (the “PFE Restrictions”).

By submitting a proposal the Proposer certifies, on the form provided in the Contractor Response Template, that it, its subcontractors and its suppliers are able to comply with the PFE Restrictions, and that for every manufactured product and eligible component incorporated into the Work it will deliver (1) a supplier certification in substantially the form issued with this RFP, signed under penalty of perjury and stating the supplier’s employer identification number or foreign equivalent (Bid Specification Section 2.01.8.3), and (2) the direct cost information the District requires to compute the material assistance cost ratio for the Work. The Proposer and the District must each retain these records for six (6) years.

C. Timing and substitution. Certifications under this Section are re-confirmed at product submittal under Bid Specification Sections 2.01.8 and 1.06.2.15 and again before equipment is ordered, on the same terms as Section

2.03. Where a product previously certified can no longer be supplied in compliance with this Section, the Contractor must substitute a product of equal or better performance meeting the Bid Specification, at no increase in the Contract Sum and no extension of the Contract Time.

D. Contract liability. The form of design-build agreement published by addendum under Section 12 will state the Contractor’s liability to the District for any reduction, disallowance or recapture of the Credit, and any associated penalties or interest, attributable to a failure by the Contractor, its subcontractors or its suppliers to meet the PWA Requirements or the PFE Restrictions. Proposers should price this work on that basis.

E. Questions. The sample supplier certification form is available in the project folder. A Proposer that believes any requirement of this Section cannot be met as specified must raise it through the Q&A process under Section

5.02 before the question deadline in Section 3.02.

3. Procurement Schedule

3.01 Notice

Notice of this solicitation is published in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the District once each week for two consecutive weeks, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in accordance with RCW 28A.335.190(1). The RFP and all exhibits are available from the project folder on the first publication date.

3.02 Key dates

Event Date

First publication of notice; RFP issued Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Second publication of notice Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Mandatory site walk — registration requested Thursday, October 1, 2026, 8:30 AM

Form of design-build agreement published by addendum

On or about Friday, October 2, 2026

Deadline for written questions; deadline to request modification of supplemental criteria (Section 7.03); deadline to protest solicitation terms (Section 13.01)

Friday, October 9, 2026, 3:00 PM

Addendum issued with question responses Wednesday, October 14, 2026

PROPOSALS DUE Thursday, October 22, 2026, 3:00 PM

Evaluation and scoring October 23 – October 29, 2026

Finalist interviews (if held) November 2 – November 4, 2026

Board of Directors approval Thursday, December 17, 2026

Contract execution and Notice to Proceed On or about Friday, December 18, 2026

The District reserves the right to modify this schedule of Key Dates, in part or in full, by addendum.

3.03 Performance milestones

Milestone Date

Apprentice utilization plan submitted (Section 7.02)

Before Notice to Proceed

30% design submittal Within 30 days of Notice to Proceed

PSE Schedule 152 interconnection application filed Within 45 days of Notice to Proceed

60% issued-for-permit design submittal; roof access ladder locations and any supplemental fall arrest anchor locations finalized (Section 6.05)

Within 60 days of Notice to Proceed

90% issued-for-construction design submittal On or before Monday, March 15, 2027

Milestone Date

Building and electrical permits issued On or before Friday, April 9, 2027

On-site construction begins On or after Monday, April 12, 2027 (see Section 12.12)

Recovery schedule trigger — forecast Placed in Service later than August 15, 2027 (Section 12.03)

Notice within 5 business days; recovery schedule within 10 business days

SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION Thursday, July 15, 2027

PLACED IN SERVICE — PSE Permission to Operate and energization

On or before Sunday, August 15, 2027

Final completion, closeout, and final acceptance Friday, October 29, 2027

3.04 Program calendar — remaining solicitations

The following is provided for reference purposes only and so that Proposers can plan capacity across the program. Dates and capacities other than those for this Solicitation 1 are targets and are subject to change in the District’s sole discretion.

Solicitation Sites Estimated Capacity (DC)

Advertised Completion

1 Squalicum High School 498.22 kW Sept 23, 2026 Jul 2027

2 Sehome High School 557.38 kW Sept 23, 2026 Jul 2027

3 Cordata Elementary, District Offices, Happy Valley Expansion

209.38 kW Sept 28, 2026 Jul 2027

4 Bellingham High School, Whatcom Middle School

675.12 kW Aug 2027 Aug 2028

5 Parkview Elementary, Birchwood Elementary 515.04 kW Aug 2027 Aug 2028

A Proposer may respond to more than one solicitation. Award of one solicitation does not preclude award of another; however, demonstrated capacity to perform concurrent work is scored under Section 9.

The Solicitation 2 site walk for Sehome High School is to be held on the same morning as the site walk for this Solicitation 1; see Section 4.01.

The Solicitation 3 site walk is held on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Within Solicitation 3, the Happy Valley Expansion is anticipated to be sequenced first.

4. Mandatory Site Walk

4.01 Attendance and registration

Attendance at the site walk on Thursday, October 1, 2026, is mandatory. Attendance must be by an employee or officer of the Proposer or of a firm named in the proposal as a joint venture partner. Attendance by a proposed subcontractor or outside consultant does not satisfy this requirement. A proposal from a firm that did not attend will be rejected as non-responsive.

Registration for the site walk is requested by 3:00 PM on Monday, September 28, 2026, via the Q&A form, so that badges can be prepared. A firm that has not registered by that time is not excluded: it may attend by notifying the District through the Q&A form at any time before the site walk begins, or by presenting itself at the start location, subject to the access requirements below.

• Start location: Squalicum High School, 3773 E McLeod Rd Bellingham, WA.

• Arrival and introductions: 8:30 AM. Parking will be directed on arrival. The site walk for this solicitation concludes at approximately 10:30 AM.

• Attendees must wear company-logo clothing or a high-visibility vest at all times. The District will supply vests if needed.

• Roof access will be provided. Attendees must be capable of interior stair and ladder access and must comply with District fall-protection direction. Portions of the roof have little or no parapet.

• If attendance exceeds 30, the group will be split into two rotations.

All questions must be submitted through the Q&A form to ensure uniform responses that are available to all potential proposers. Oral statements made in response to questions raised during the site walk are not binding on the District.

Firms intending to respond to Solicitation 2 (Sehome High School) may attend that site walk the same morning, beginning at 10:45 AM at Sehome High School. Attendance at the Sehome site walk does not satisfy the mandatory attendance requirement for this Solicitation 1, and attendance at this Solicitation 1 site walk does not satisfy the requirement for Solicitation 2. Each solicitation is registered for, and attended, separately.

4.02 Site walk anticipated schedule

Time Activity

8:30 – 8:50 AM Arrival, check-in, badges, introductions, agenda review – Squalicum High School, 3773 E. McLeod Rd

8:50 – 9:30 AM Exterior, northeast corner and primary electrical room: PSE 750 kVA pad-mount transformer, CT cabinet, PSE CT meter, generator enclosure; 3000 A main switchboard, automatic transfer switch, sub-panels and transformers

9:30 – 10:20 AM Roof: access via the interior stairwell on the north side; both upper flat roof sections, the gym roof, air handler locations, roof level changes, proposed inverter parapet location, and vegetation adjacent to the gym

10:20 – 10:30 AM Staging and access review: north site staging adjacent to the generator, gym roof staging, lift and crane positioning; closing questions and adjourn

10:30 – 10:45 AM Travel to Sehome High School for the Solicitation 2 site walk (10:45 AM – 12:30 PM), for firms attending both

4.03 Site briefing — conceptual design and service

The following summarizes conditions Proposers are encouraged to examine during the site walk. Nothing set forth below is a substitute for the Bid Specification or the feasibility study in the project folder, and it does not relieve the Contractor of the field verification obligations in Bid Specification Section 3.01.

Item Condition

Conceptual system 498.22 kW DC / 400.00 kW AC; (859) Heliene 144HC-580 M10 TPC SL modules; (4) SolarEdge SE100K-US inverters with (859) C651U optimizers

Attachment Hybrid — reduced ballast combined with mechanical attachment and seismic anchors. PanelClaw FR Pro with U-Anchor seismic anchors, 9-degree tilt, 17-inch inter-row spacing, is the basis of design. Maximum

5.00 psf distributed dead load (Bid Spec 1.04.13, 2.04.6).

Layout Seventeen (17) individual arrays across the upper flat roof sections, preserving IFC 6-foot fire setbacks and 4-foot access pathways

Item Condition

Roof loading Design dead load 15 psf and design live load 20 psf, against 43.0 psf total allowable on the least conservative member (22K4 joist, 31'-0" span, K-bar truss at 6'-0" o.c.), per the March 2024 structural feasibility review. The 2026 roof recover added approximately 1.7 psf that is not reflected in that basis, leaving approximately 6.3 psf for the PV system. Bid Specification Section 1.04.13 caps PV distributed dead load at 5.00 psf and Section

2.04.6 requires a hybrid ballasted and mechanically attached mounting system to achieve it.

Service 480Y/277V 3-phase 4-wire; 750 kVA PSE pad-mount transformer; 3000 A main switchboard and 3000 A main OCPD

Interconnection headroom 600 A available under the 120% rule; PSE hosting capacity 0.65 MW; no direct transfer trip upgrades required at 400 kW AC

Primary utility meter PSE Z002791814, in a locked enclosure not opened during the District’s site assessment. The site has four PSE meters; only the primary school meter is in scope.

Standby generator Cummins Onan 80 kW / 100 kVA diesel, 480Y/277V, through a 300 A ATS serving emergency panels HX and LX. Backed-up load panels, not whole-site backup.

Shading Rooftop obstructions, approximately fifteen typical air handlers plus one unique unit, roof level changes, and winter shading from trees near the gym. Conceptual design achieves 87.0% TSRF.

Access and staging Roof height requires mechanical lifting; the staging area may not accommodate a telehandler of sufficient reach and a crane may be required. Gym roof staging permitted within roof capacity.

5. Communications, Questions and Addenda

5.01 Single point of contact

From the date this RFP is issued until the Notice of Intent to Award, all communication regarding this solicitation must be submitted through the Q&A form identified in the project folder. Proposers must not contact District staff, school principals, site staff, Board members, or the Owner’s Representative directly regarding this solicitation. Unauthorized contact may result in rejection of the proposal.

This restriction does not limit a Proposer’s right to attend or comment at an open public meeting of the Board of Directors under Chapter 42.30 RCW, to request modification of supplemental responsibility criteria under Section 7.03, to appeal a determination of non-responsibility under Section 7.03, to protest under Section 13.01, or to communicate with the District on matters unrelated to this solicitation.

5.02 Questions and responses

Written questions are due through the Q&A form by 3:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2026. All questions and the District’s responses will be published by addendum to all registered Proposers, without attribution, on or about Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Proposers are strongly encouraged to submit questions early so that supporting documentation can be gathered before the response deadline.

5.03 Addenda

Only written addenda issued by the District modify this RFP. Oral statements made at the site walk or elsewhere are not binding. Proposers must acknowledge receipt of all addenda in their proposal. Addenda are issued through the project folder and by email to registered Proposers.

6. Project Scope and Budget

6.01 Site summary

Parameter Requirement

Site Squalicum High School, 3773 E. McLeod Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

Minimum DC capacity 498.22 kW DC

AC capacity Exactly 400.00 kW AC — both a minimum and a maximum.

See Bid Specification Section 1.04.3.

Minimum first-year production 494,598 kWh

Site annual consumption (reference) Approximately 1,051,796 kWh

Mounting Hybrid ballasted and mechanically attached, with seismic anchors, on a 2026 fleeceback KEE membrane recover over the existing assembly. Maximum 5.00 psf distributed dead load (Bid Spec 1.03.12, 1.04.13, 2.04.6).

Electrical service 480Y/277V, 3-phase; 750 kVA PSE pad-mount transformer;

3000 A main switchboard

Interconnection PSE Schedule 152 process; import/export configuration

Sales tax status Taxable. Rated above 100 kW AC and not more than 500 kW AC. A 50% sales and use tax remittance is available under RCW 82.08.962(1)(c)(i)(B), but only if the labor standards in Section 12.14 are met and certified by L&I. The Proposer’s approach to qualifying is scored within Project Approach & Methodology under Section 9.02. See Section 6.04.

Full technical requirements are in the Squalicum High School Bid Specification, issued as Exhibit A to this RFP.

6.02 Maximum Allowable Construction Cost

The Maximum Allowable Construction Cost (MACC) for this project is $1,018,900 before Washington retail sales tax. Because the NTE price required by Section 6.03 includes sales tax as stated in Section 6.04, Proposers should compare their NTE price to the tax-inclusive figure ($1,112,639). A proposal above the MACC is not automatically non-responsive; the District may negotiate scope or price with the highest-ranked Proposer under Section 11.01 before award. Proposers should nonetheless treat the MACC as the District’s funded ceiling.

6.03 Not-to-Exceed pricing and contingency

Proposers must state a single Not-to-Exceed (“NTE”) price. The NTE price must include Washington retail sales tax, the cost of apprentice utilization under Section 7.02, and the Proposer’s own contingency. No exclusions from the NTE price will be accepted. Anything a Proposer excludes from its base price must be covered by the Proposer’s contingency and/or its fee, within the NTE.

6.04 Washington retail sales tax

Washington retail sales tax at the current City of Bellingham combined rate of 9.2 percent (6.5 percent state, 2.7 percent local) applies and must be included in the NTE price. While the AC capacity ceiling in Section 6.01 is set to hold the interconnection at the design point, the AC rating is nonetheless material to sales tax, because RCW

82.08.962 sets the 50% remittance band at more than 100 kW AC and not more than 500 kW AC. Proposers must include the full 9.2 percent in the NTE price; the District, not the Contractor, applies for any remittance. If the combined rate changes before the proposal deadline, the District will confirm the applicable rate by addendum.

6.05 Owner-furnished work

The District will furnish the following at its own cost before PV installation. Contractors must not include this scope in their pricing:

• Recover of the roof membrane system, completed in summer 2026 under a separate District contract. The assembly is described in Bid Specification Section 1.03.12 and the project manual is in the project folder.

• Permanent fall arrest anchors.

• Permanent roof access ladders.

• Twenty (20) CB-18 fall arrest anchors and thirty (30) solar conduit penetrations installed and flashed under the 2026 roof recover. Their locations will be reviewed at the mandatory site walk and the site maps are in the project folder. The Contractor shall use the existing conduit penetrations where its design permits; any additional roof penetration requires prior written approval and must be flashed under Bid Specification Section 3.03.3.

• Roof cleaning prior to PV installation. Spot cleaning at the point of mechanical attachment remains the Contractor’s responsibility per best practice.

Coordination on roof access ladder placement, and on any supplemental fall arrest anchors the District elects to add, is mandatory, not optional. Those locations will not be finalized until the Contractor's 60% issued-for-permit design is approved, so that the fall protection system suits the released array layout. The District will not install ladders or supplemental anchors before that approval without the Contractor's written concurrence. The twenty

(20) anchors already installed under the 2026 recover are fixed and are not subject to this coordination.

6.06 Bid alternates

The District has identified the alternates listed below. Proposers must price each alternate separately on the Contractor Response Template at Section D.8. Alternate pricing is stated in addition to the Not-to-Exceed price and is not included in the NTE price scored under Section 9.03. The District may accept or reject any alternate, in whole or in part, in its sole discretion at award, and acceptance or rejection of an alternate does not change the NTE price or any schedule milestone. Alternate pricing must include Washington retail sales tax and must be held firm on the same terms as the NTE price under Section 8.02.

Alternate 1 — Load monitoring. Building load (consumption) monitoring integrated with the photovoltaic monitoring platform. Bid Specification Sections 2.06.5 and 3.12.1. Photovoltaic production monitoring is included in the base bid and is not part of this alternate.

Alternate 2 — Module cleaning. Annual cleaning of all photovoltaic modules for two (2) years following Substantial Completion. Bid Specification Section 3.12.2.

7. Qualifications, Responsibility, and Apprentice Utilization

The items in the table below are pass/fail and are not scored. Items 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10 are conditions of responsiveness; a proposal failing any of them is rejected as non-responsive. Items 4, 5, 6 and 7 are supplemental bidder responsibility criteria adopted under RCW 39.04.350(4); a Proposer failing any of them is determined not responsible, with the written reasons and appeal rights set out in Section 7.03.

# Requirement

1 Current Washington State general contractor registration and Washington electrical contractor license, both in good standing at the proposal deadline and maintained through final acceptance.

2 Not on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries list of contractors ineligible to bid on public works under RCW 39.06.010, and not disqualified under RCW 39.12.065(3).

3 Attendance at the mandatory site walk on October 1, 2026 by an employee or officer, as required by Section 4.01.

4 Completion of a minimum of three (3) commercial rooftop PV projects of at least 130 kW DC each within the five (5) years preceding the proposal deadline, with reference contacts provided. Projects completed by a firm named in the proposal as a joint venture partner count toward this requirement; projects completed by a proposed subcontractor do not.

5 At least one NABCEP-certified professional in a relevant role (PV Installation Professional, PV Design Specialist, PV Technical Sales, or Associate) is assigned to this project. NABCEP certification held by the lead on-site supervisor or superintendent is acceptable where that individual holds relevant oversight responsibility. Documentation of certification must be attached.

6 Ability to furnish a 100% performance bond and a 100% payment bond, evidenced by a surety letter.

7 Ability to carry the insurance required by Section 12.08, evidenced by a certificate of insurance or broker letter.

8 A complete proposal, submitted on the District’s response template, received before the deadline, with all addenda acknowledged.

9 Five (5) years in business under the Proposer’s current legal entity completing commercial projects, as required by Bid Specification Section 1.05.1.

10 Subcontractor listing under Section 8.04 complete for every category, with each category naming one subcontractor, the Proposer itself, or a statement that the category is not applicable.

7.01 Mandatory bidder responsibility criteria (RCW 39.04.350(1)) Before award, a Proposer must meet every mandatory bidder responsibility criterion in RCW 39.04.350(1). The Proposer must:

A. At the time of proposal submittal, hold a certificate of registration under Chapter 18.27 RCW and an electrical contractor license under Chapter 19.28 RCW

B. Hold a current Washington unified business identifier (UBI) number C. Hold industrial insurance coverage under Title 51 RCW, an Employment Security Department number under Title 50 RCW, and a state excise tax registration number under Title 82 RCW D. Not be disqualified from bidding on any public works contract under RCW 39.06.010 or RCW

39.12.065(3) E. Not have been found out of compliance by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council for working apprentices out of ratio, without appropriate supervision, or outside their approved work processes, within the one-year period immediately preceding the proposal deadline

F. Within the three-year period immediately preceding the proposal deadline, not have been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the Department of Labor & Industries, or through a civil judgment, to have willfully violated RCW 49.48.082

G. Have received training on the requirements related to public works and prevailing wage under Chapter

39.04 and Chapter 39.12 RCW, or be exempt under RCW 39.04.350(1)(g)

H. Within the three-year period immediately preceding the proposal deadline, not have been determined to have violated RCW 50.24.014 or to have committed any other offense identified in RCW 39.04.350(1)(h)

Before award, the Proposer must submit a statement signed under penalty of perjury in accordance with Chapter 5.50 RCW verifying compliance with (g) and (h). The District may award in reasonable reliance on that statement. These criteria apply to subcontractors at the time each subcontract is executed.

7.02 Apprentice utilization (RCW 39.04.320)

The estimated cost of this project exceeds $1,000,000. As a public works contract awarded by a school district, it is subject to the apprentice utilization requirements of RCW 39.04.320. No less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total labor hours worked on this project must be performed by apprentices enrolled in a program approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council or granted reciprocal recognition under RCW

39.04.310. The requirement applies to the Contractor and to every subcontractor.

As required by RCW 39.04.320(4)(b), the contract will contain a specific line item stating the apprentice utilization goal, the monetary incentive for meeting it, the monetary penalty for failing to meet it, and the expected cost value of compliance. The Contractor will not be required to exceed the apprentice utilization requirement. Only the District may approve or deny a good-faith effort exception request under RCW 39.04.320.

Before the Notice to Proceed, the successful Proposer must submit an apprentice utilization plan to the District on the template published by the Department of Labor & Industries, as required by RCW 39.04.350(3). Proposers must include the cost of apprentice utilization in the NTE price under Section 6.03.

7.03 Determination of responsibility, request to modify, and appeal (RCW 39.04.350(4)) Items 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the table above are supplemental bidder responsibility criteria. The basis for evaluating each is the documentation identified for that item in the Contractor Response Template.

A potential Proposer may request that the District modify any supplemental criterion. The request must be submitted through the Q&A form by 3:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2026. The District will evaluate the request and respond before the proposal deadline, and will issue an addendum identifying any new criteria that result.

If the District determines a Proposer to be not responsible, it will state the reasons in writing. The Proposer may appeal by delivering additional information to the District’s Operations Department within three (3) business days after receiving the determination. The District will consider that information before issuing a final determination.

If the final determination affirms that the Proposer is not responsible, the District will not execute a contract with any other Proposer until two (2) business days after the Proposer has received the final determination.

8. Proposal Submittal Requirements

8.01 Format and delivery

• Proposals must be submitted on the District’s Contractor Response Template. Reformatted or substituted response forms will not be accepted.

• Submit one (1) electronic copy of the proposal, delivered through the method identified in the project folder. The completed Contractor Response Template may be submitted either as a PDF or as the Microsoft Excel workbook itself. All other required documents must be submitted in PDF.

• Time of receipt is the District portal’s server timestamp on completion of the upload, not the time transmission began. If the portal is unavailable for thirty (30) consecutive minutes or more during the four hours preceding the deadline, the District will extend the deadline by addendum to 3:00 PM on the next business day.

• Character limits stated in the response template are enforced. Text beyond the limit will not be read or scored.

• Attachments are accepted only where expressly invited. Unrequested appendices, brochures and generic capability statements are not scored.

• Proposals must be received by 3:00 PM Pacific on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Late proposals will not be accepted or considered.

8.02 Required contents

The complete proposal comprises the Contractor Response Template (Microsoft Excel workbook), including the Schedule tab and the equipment certification required by Section 2.03, submitted either as a PDF or as the workbook itself; the Section G Project Approach and Methodology narrative document submitted as a separate PDF; all required attachments listed in the template; and a signed acknowledgment of addenda. Proposals must remain valid and irrevocable for ninety (90) days after the proposal deadline.

8.03 Public records

Proposals are public records under Chapter 42.56 RCW. Material a Proposer believes to be exempt must be clearly and specifically marked, page by page, with the exemption claimed. A blanket designation of the entire proposal as confidential is ineffective. The District makes no determination whether marked material is in fact exempt. If a public records request is received for marked material, the District will notify the Proposer and will withhold the records for ten (10) business days. Absent a court order obtained by the Proposer and served on the District within that period, at the Proposer’s expense, the District will release the records.

8.04 Subcontractor listing (RCW 39.30.060)

The estimated cost of this contract exceeds one million dollars. On the Contractor Response Template at Section C.6, each Proposer must name the subcontractor with whom it will subcontract for the performance of each of the following categories of work, or must name itself where it will perform that work with its own forces:

(1) heating, ventilation and air conditioning; (2) plumbing as described in Chapter 18.106 RCW; and (3) electrical as described in Chapter 19.28 RCW.

A Proposer that fails to name a subcontractor or itself for each category, or that names more than one subcontractor for a single category, renders its proposal non-responsive and void. Where a category of work is not within the scope of this project, the Proposer must so state; a statement that a category is not applicable satisfies this Section as to that category.

The names required by this Section must be submitted with the proposal, or delivered through the Q&A form within one (1) hour after the proposal deadline in Section 3.02.

Within forty-eight (48) hours after the proposal deadline, each Proposer must additionally submit the names of the subcontractors with whom it will subcontract for the performance of structural steel installation and rebar installation and placement, or must name itself, in accordance with RCW 39.30.060(2). Where neither category is within the scope of this project, the Proposer must so state.

Naming a subcontractor under this Section does not relieve the Proposer of the subcontractor approval requirements of Bid Specification Section 1.06.2.1 or of Section C.5 of the Contractor Response Template.

9. Evaluation and Scoring

9.01 Responsiveness and responsibility review

The Owner’s Representative will review each proposal against Sections 7 and 8 and will make a written recommendation to the District. The determination of responsiveness and the determination of responsibility under Section 7.03 are made and signed by the District’s Executive Director of Operations or designee. Only responsive proposals proceed to scoring.

9.02 Scoring categories

Category Points Basis

Bidder Qualifications 20 Scored by the evaluation panel for experience depth, comparable project record and references, assigned personnel and certifications, subcontractor detail, and occupied-facility experience

Cost Proposal — Price 20 Computed by formula. See Section 9.03.

Cost Proposal — Quality 15 Scored by the panel: transparency and traceability of the cost basis, justification of exclusions and contingency, equipment and workmanship warranty terms, roof attachment and leak warranty, and escalation exposure, and the reasonableness of alternate pricing relative to the base price

Equipment Specification 20 Scored by the evaluation panel for compliance with the Bid Specification, warranty terms, and the justification for any deviation.

Project Approach & Methodology 25 Scored by the panel. 20 points from the Section G narrative document; 5 points from the milestone schedule on the Schedule tab of the response template. Includes the Proposer’s approach to the RCW 82.08.962 labor standards under Section 12.14.

TOTAL 100

9.03 Price scoring formula

Price points are awarded by formula and are not subject to panel judgment:

Price Points = ( Lowest Responsive NTE Price ÷ This Proposer’s NTE Price ) × 20

The result is rounded to two decimal places. Only responsive proposals are included in determining the lowest NTE price. A non-responsive Proposer receives zero price points.

9.04 Panel, rubrics, and consensus scoring

The District will convene an evaluation panel comprising District personnel together with the Owner's Representative. The composition of the panel is determined by the District in its sole discretion, and the District may add, substitute, or remove members at any time before scoring is complete. District personnel will at all times constitute a majority of the panel.

The panel scores by consensus. Each member reviews every responsive proposal independently and forms a preliminary view, and the panel then meets and agrees on a single score in each category in Section 9.02. The panel records one written rationale per category per Proposer, which becomes part of the procurement record.

Where the panel cannot reach consensus on a category score, the score is the average of the members' scores and the disagreement is recorded in the rationale.

The District maintains scoring rubrics for the panel, published as Exhibit D to this RFP and binding on panel members. The rubrics may elaborate on the criteria in Section 9.02 but may not introduce any criterion beyond them.

The consensus panel score is added to the price score computed under Section 9.03 to produce the total score.

Price is not scored by the panel.

10. Interviews

The District may invite Proposers to interview between November 2 and November 4, 2026, and will hold interviews where Section 9.04 requires them to break a tie. If interviews are held, every responsive Proposer whose total score is within ten (10) points of the highest-ranked Proposer will be invited on the same terms and with the same allotted time and question set.

Interviews are used to confirm and clarify the written proposal. Where an interview materially changes the panel’s understanding of a proposal, the panel may revise its consensus scores; each revision must be documented in writing with the reason. Interviews are not an opportunity to submit new pricing or new scope.

The District may award without interviews.

11. Award and Contracting

11.01 Negotiation

The District may negotiate scope, schedule, and price with the highest-ranked Proposer. Negotiation may reduce scope or price, but may not raise the NTE price above the amount that was scored under Section 9.03. If the District and that Proposer cannot reach an agreement, or the price cannot be brought within the MACC, the District may terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-ranked Proposer. Negotiation may not alter the evaluation criteria or the relative ranking of Proposers.

11.02 Award

The award is subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The successful Proposer will execute a contract directly with the District and will carry the design engineering through issuance of construction documents.

Within ten (10) business days of the Notice of Intent to Award, the successful Proposer must deliver executed performance and payment bonds, certificates of insurance meeting Section 12.08, the Chapter 5.50 RCW statement required by Section 7.01, and the apprentice utilization plan required by Section 7.02.

The District will issue a written Notice of Intent to Award to all Proposers following evaluation and before Board approval. The date of that notice is not fixed by this RFP.

11.03 Reservation

The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive irregularities, to cancel this solicitation in whole or in part, and to reissue it when doing so is in the District’s best interest.

12. Contract Terms of Particular Note

The following terms will appear in the contract. They are highlighted here because they materially affect pricing and risk. This section is a summary; the executed contract governs. The District will publish the form of design-build agreement by addendum shortly after issuance of this RFP, and in any event before the deadline for written questions in Section 3.02, so that Proposers may review the full contract terms before pricing. Where this Section 12 and the published form of agreement differ, the form of agreement governs.

12.01 Schedule milestones and definitions

Substantial Completion means the system is mechanically and electrically complete, all inspections by the authority having jurisdiction are passed, and the system is capable of operation pending only utility authorization. The Substantial Completion date is July 15, 2027.

Placed in Service means Puget Sound Energy has issued written Permission to Operate and the system has been energized and is exporting or offsetting load in its final configuration. The Placed in Service date is August 15, 2027. The District’s federal Investment Tax Credit eligibility depends on the system being placed in service on or before December 31, 2027; the contract date is set earlier so that utility processing time does not put that deadline at risk. The Contractor must cooperate with the District and the Owner’s Representative in scheduling the Puget Sound Energy witness test and Permission to Operate concurrently where PSE permits.

12.02 Liquidated damages

The District's damages from late completion are difficult to determine precisely, and the amounts below are the parties' reasonable pre-estimates of those damages as of the date of contract execution, not a penalty.

Liquidated damages accrue under each tier only for delay attributable to the Contractor. Tier 1 and Tier 2 liquidated damages may accrue concurrently.

Tier Trigger Amount

1 Failure to achieve Substantial Completion by July 15, 2027

$250 per calendar day until Substantial Completion is achieved

2 System not Placed in Service as of August 15, $100 per calendar day for the first seven (7) calendar days after August 15, 2027 and this per calendar day amount shall double each week until the System is Placed in Service, provided that the per calendar day amount shall not double more than five (5) times: from and including the forty-third (43rd) calendar day after August 15, 2027, the amount shall remain $3,200 per calendar day and shall not increase further. The liquidated damages for this Tier 2 may be incurred in addition to those applicable for failure to achieve Substantial Completion in accordance with Tier 1.

Tier 2 escalation schedule. Counting calendar days from August 15, 2027, Tier 2 liquidated damages accrue as follows: days 1–7, $100 per calendar day; days 8–14, $200 per calendar day; days 15–21, $400 per calendar day;

days 22–28, $800 per calendar day; days 29–35, $1,600 per calendar day; days 36–42, $3,200 per calendar day;

and day 43 and each calendar day thereafter until the System is Placed in Service, $3,200 per calendar day. Tier 2 liquidated damages accruing through day 42 total $44,100.

Scope of remedy. Liquidated damages under this Section are the District's exclusive monetary remedy for delay.

They do not limit the District's rights or remedies with respect to defective or non-conforming work, breach of warranty, termination for default, or any matter other than delay.

Excusable delay. Liquidated damages will not accrue, and the Contractor is entitled to an equitable extension of the Contract Time, in accordance with the terms of the contract.

12.03 Placed in Service – schedule monitoring and recovery

Each monthly schedule update required by Bid Specification Section 3.05.2 must state the Contractor’s then-current forecast Substantial Completion and Placed in Service dates.

If any update, or any other information available to the Contractor, shows a forecasted Placed in Service date later than August 15, 2027, the Contractor must notify the District in writing within five (5) business days and submit a written recovery schedule within ten (10) business days. The recovery schedule must identify the cause of the schedule slip, the corrective measures the Contractor will take, and the resources it will add, at no additional cost to the District, where the schedule slip is attributable to the Contractor.

If the Contractor fails to submit a recovery schedule, or submits one the District reasonably…