Agricultural Clean Energy Technical Assistance for USDA REAP Assistance

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) is soliciting proposals for a technical assistance vendor to support Rhode Island farmers in submitting applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The selected vendor will complement the existing Rhode Island Agricultural Energy Program (RI AgEP) by providing targeted support to help farmers leverage both state and federal funding for clean energy projects. Key deliverables include assisting farmers with federal REAP application components, developing strategies to maximize funding opportunities, and reducing the energy burden on the state's agricultural sector. The procurement is structured as a Request for Proposals (RFP24004136) with a comprehensive evaluation process that considers technical merit, cost, and proposed ISBE participation rates. The solicitation opens on April 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM GMT, with a vendor Q&A period running from April 22 to April 30, 2024, and proposals due by May 14, 2024, at 5:00 PM GMT. The initial contract term will be approximately three years, beginning around June 1, 2024, with the potential for up to three additional 12-month renewal periods contingent on vendor performance and federal funding availability.

The state strongly encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Disability Business Enterprises (DisBEs), collectively referred to as Inclusive Small Business Enterprises (ISBEs). Vendors will be scored and awarded points based on their proposed ISBE utilization rates, making ISBE participation a critical component of the proposal evaluation. The RFP requires vendors to carry specific insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 in general liability, $100,000 in workers compensation, $1,000,000 in automobile liability, and $2,000,000 in professional liability coverage. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Ocean State Procures system, and vendors must be registered in this platform to be eligible for award. While no specific incumbent vendor or total contract value is disclosed in the documentation, the procurement is explicitly funded through a combination of state and federal sources, specifically tied to the availability of USDA REAP program funds. Vendors must be prepared to provide technical expertise in agricultural clean energy project development, application preparation, and funding strategy optimization.