Administation, maintenance, operations, and support of community solar program

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), State Procurement Services, on behalf of the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC), is seeking a Program Administrator for the state's Community Solar Program through RFP S-DASOBO-00012436. The procurement aims to secure a contractor to manage, maintain, and operate the Community Solar Program, with key responsibilities including program administration, CSP platform management, utility integration, project management, consumer protection, and low-income facilitator services. The successful proposer must use the existing Mendix low-code development platform and be prepared to migrate all program administrator responsibilities from the incumbent provider by January 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria are comprehensive, totaling 270 points across categories such as management plan (30 points), program experience (50 points), data/financial management (40 points), low-income expertise (40 points), stakeholder engagement (20 points), conflict management (10 points), references (30 points), and pricing (50 points). The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for January 22, 2025, at 11:00 AM PT, with proposals originally due March 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM PT, but recently extended to April 8, 2025, at 3:00 PM PT. The anticipated contract term is three years, with potential renewals, and the award is expected in July/August 2025.

The procurement includes provisions for Certified Firms, specifically small businesses certified under ORS 200.055 by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), including minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses. While certification status will not be scored, proposers are required to disclose their relationships with Certified Firms and outline potential subcontracting opportunities. The current Program Administrator is Cohen Ventures, Inc. (dba Energy Solutions), who has operated the program since 2020 and is eligible to bid on this renewal. The existing infrastructure includes a PostgreSQL database and SharePoint system, with the program currently managing 160MW of solar capacity and collecting monthly fees of $0.85 per kWac from utilities. While the specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the cost proposal template suggests a budget covering program operations from 2025-2028. The successful proposer must demonstrate specific technical capabilities, including at least one individual with a Mendix Academy certification and data security credentials such as SOC-II or ISO 27001 certification. Proposers must also have robust financial management capabilities and experience in handling participant data, utility customer information, and complex billing credit calculations.