This is a Solicitation Development Form for the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, for a Municipal Electric Utility (MEU) Feasibility Study (RFP No. 26133-130). The City is seeking qualified consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the financial, technical, operational, regulatory, and legal implications of establishing a city-owned electric utility to replace Duke Energy Florida. The procurement is structured in three phases: Phase 1 (base award) comprises the feasibility study including project management, stakeholder engagement, data collection, baseline assessment, financial modeling, and comparative analysis; Phase 2 (optional award) assesses technical and financial viability of a 100% renewable-powered MEU; and Phase 3 (optional award) evaluates alternative municipalization options and develops a draft transition plan. The RFP was publicly advertised on January 30, 2026, with a 35-day advertisement requirement. Proposals are due by March 19, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through the City's online bidding portal, with a question submission deadline of February 26, 2026. Shortlisting is scheduled for April 3, 2026, interviews and selection on April 22, 2026, and anticipated council recommendation for award on June 4, 2026. Key deliverables include draft and final feasibility reports, executive summaries, presentations to city leadership, detailed data appendices, financial models with 10-, 20-, and 30-year demand forecasts, and comprehensive analysis of Duke Energy asset valuation and acquisition costs.
The allocated budget for this procurement is $750,000 from Fund 0001, Department 130, Division 1341, with no grant funding identified. The City requires all vendors to submit a business outreach plan describing efforts to utilize Small Business Enterprises (MBEs), Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), though no specific set-asides are identified. Service contractors exceeding $200,000 in contract value must comply with St. Petersburg City Code living wage requirements. No incumbent vendor is identified in the solicitation materials. Responding firms must be registered with the Florida Department of State, comply with E-Verify requirements, maintain current applicable Florida licenses, and meet Level 2 criminal background screening requirements. Required insurance coverage includes Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Commercial Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, Workers' Compensation as required by Florida law, and Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Evaluation will employ a point-based system weighted as follows: Experience and Qualifications (35 points), Project Approach (30 points), Fee Summary (20 points), and Business Outreach Plan (15 points). The City reserves the right to award to one or multiple vendors and retains flexibility in final contract negotiations.