Chaffee County Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Plan

Chaffee County, Colorado, is seeking a professional contractor to develop a regional Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Plan through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on June 30, 2025. The project involves creating a comprehensive roadmap for electric vehicle infrastructure planning and development in collaboration with the City of Salida, Town of Buena Vista, Town of Poncha Springs, and other key stakeholders. The contractor will be responsible for delivering several key deliverables, including a detailed project approach, stakeholder outreach, comprehensive assessment, draft and final EV Readiness Plan, and a public meeting presentation. The plan must align with Colorado's 2023 EV Plan, focusing on implementing the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan, increasing electrified byways, and prioritizing charging gaps in rural areas. Specific objectives include auditing current EV charging stations, determining priority areas for new stations, advising on local policy improvements, and identifying capital investment needs and funding opportunities. The proposal must address EV infrastructure along critical arterial routes like US Hwy 285 and Hwy 50. Proposals are due by August 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM MST, with the contract period running from August 31, 2025, to May 15, 2026.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The project has a budget of $50,000, which serves as a Not To Exceed amount for the contracted work. The plan will require integration with existing regional transportation infrastructure and the current EV charging network in Chaffee County and surrounding areas. While no incumbent vendors are specifically listed, the contractor will need to demonstrate expertise in transportation planning, electric vehicle infrastructure, and regional stakeholder engagement. The successful bidder will be expected to work closely with local government entities and potentially interface with state-level transportation and energy planning organizations. The project aims to create a strategic document that can guide future infrastructure investments and policy decisions related to electric vehicle adoption and support in this rural Colorado region.