Community Solar Subscriber Coordination Services

Howard County, Maryland is requesting proposals for subscriber coordination and program management services for its 4-MW Community Solar Program under RFP 03-2027, with proposals due August 26, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EST and a pre-proposal conference scheduled for August 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via WebEx. A 15% Equal Business Opportunity subcontracting goal for minority, women, and disabled business enterprises applies; the County also offers up to 10% evaluation credit for Certified Local Businesses.

The scope covers end-to-end subscriber acquisition, onboarding, customer service, account management, utility coordination, billing verification, and compliance reporting for approximately 500 residential households across five County-owned solar sites (one ballasted ground mount over a retired landfill and four solar canopies over parking lots). Services must comply with State of Maryland and Baltimore Gas and Electric utility requirements. Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of active community solar subscriber coordination experience and must hold a Subscription Coordinator Number from the Maryland Public Service Commission and all required Maryland licenses and registrations.

The estimated annual contract value is $500,001 to $1,000,000 in Group E. The agreement term is one year commencing November 1, 2026, with five optional one-year renewal periods exercisable at the County's sole discretion. Pricing must be itemized separately for three subscriber types and include detailed costs for initial acquisition, income verification documentation, customer management, customer churn and replacement, and nonprofit partner compensation. Prices are firm for one year; subsequent increases are limited to the lesser of the Consumer Price Index or 5% maximum. Howard County Code Section 4.122A establishes a living wage requirement of $19.83 per hour (125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for a family of four) for service contracts exceeding $100,000 annually.

Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000), and Worker's Compensation at statutory Maryland rates with $100,000 Employer's Liability. Questions are due August 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Award notification will follow proposal evaluation, with awardees required to submit insurance certificates, executed agreements, and Maryland registration certificates within ten days.