23-066 Facilitating Consultant RFP

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) 23-066 for an Oregon Energy Strategy Facilitating Consultant to lead stakeholder engagement for developing a comprehensive state energy strategy mandated by House Bill 3630. The selected contractor will be responsible for strategic planning, coordinating and facilitating virtual and in-person meetings, preparing meeting materials, taking notes, evaluating project progress, and producing comprehensive reports. Key deliverables include organizing two rounds of Listening Sessions, managing meetings for three distinct Working Groups (Interagency Steering Group, Technical Working Group, and Advisory Group), and facilitating public comment periods. The facilitator must demonstrate expertise in engaging diverse stakeholders, including Environmental Justice communities, and work closely with a separately procured Technical Consultant. Proposals are due on March 15, 2024, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time, with an anticipated two-year contract term running through February 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria will focus on the proposer's stakeholder engagement approach, ability to engage diverse audiences, experience leading complex energy-related meetings, and overall project management capacity.

The RFP includes provisions for Disadvantaged Business Outreach, requiring proposers to describe steps for soliciting certified minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses for potential subcontracting opportunities. Proposers must indicate if they are a certified firm themselves and provide a list of certified firms they have previously contracted with in the last two years. The contract has a not-to-exceed compensation of $250,000, with ODOE covering additional costs such as meeting logistics, participant travel expenses, and direct project-related expenses. As of April 15, 2024, Kearns and West has been identified as the apparent successful proposer, subject to successful contract negotiations. Proposers have a 7-calendar-day window to file written protests based on evaluation process concerns or potential violations of Oregon statutes. The contract aims to produce a comprehensive Oregon Energy Strategy report by November 1, 2025, with a focus on inclusive stakeholder engagement and strategic energy planning.