City of Tucson Solar Empowerment Program

The City of Tucson is seeking a consulting firm to develop a city-operated solar empowerment program for low-income single-family homeowners through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 240128. The primary objective is to increase solar energy adoption among low-income households, with a specific goal of ensuring a minimum 20% reduction in participants' monthly energy bills. The consultant will be responsible for comprehensive program development, including assessing the local solar market, analyzing regulatory compliance, proposing program eligibility criteria, designing an incentive structure, conducting financial analysis, and establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework. Eligible participants will include households at or below 80% Area Median Income, 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, or those participating in federal assistance programs. The proposal is due on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. local Arizona time, with a pre-submittal conference scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. via Microsoft Teams. The contract term will be one year, with the option to extend for up to four additional one-year periods, and is part of three pilot solar programs funded by ARPA funds allocated to climate resilience.

The program does not explicitly specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the RFP suggests a focus on supporting vulnerable communities. The project aligns with Tucson's climate action plan, Tucson Resilient Together, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 for city operations and by 2045 community-wide. The solar empowerment program will potentially partner with TFS and SERI, and will focus on single-family and small multifamily residences, with potential community solar options. While specific budget allocations are not detailed in the provided documents, the program is funded through ARPA funds dedicated to climate resilience. Contractors will need to comply with federal regulations outlined in the ARPA Terms and Conditions, including provisions for equal opportunity, minority and women business enterprise participation, and domestic preference for procurement. The project represents a strategic municipal approach to addressing climate resilience and energy affordability by leveraging resources to support low-income residents' access to solar technology.