Consulting services - avoided costs

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is seeking qualified independent third-party consultants and experts to provide consulting services for avoided costs proceedings across three specific utility dockets: Docket No. 2025-15-E (Dominion Energy South Carolina), Docket No. 2025-16-E (Duke Energy Carolinas), and Docket No. 2025-17-E (Duke Energy Progress). The primary objectives include evaluating avoided cost rates, methodologies, terms, calculations, and conditions within utility filings. Contractors must demonstrate the ability to comply with ex parte laws, show independence as required by South Carolina Code Section 58-41-20(I), and be willing to participate in discovery, depositions, cross-examinations, and Commission testimony. Key submission deadlines include questions due by August 28, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST, and proposals due online by October 18, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST. Evaluation criteria will encompass qualifications, performance data, staff expertise, interviews, conflicts of interest certification, and pricing. The contract period runs from November 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025, with a public offer opening scheduled for October 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM.

The solicitation does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Pricing will be submitted as hourly rates for consulting services specific to each docket, with reimbursement available for lodging expenses up to current GSA maximum rates and meal expenses not exceeding $35 per day in-state or $50 per day out-of-state with receipts. The Public Service Commission reserves the right to award multiple contracts to qualified consultants for the same docket. The procurement authority derives from the South Carolina Energy Freedom Act, specifically Section 58-41-20(I), which exempts the Commission from standard State Procurement Code requirements when selecting consultants. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, contractors will be compensated based on hourly rates and eligible for limited expense reimbursements. The solicitation emphasizes the need for independent, qualified experts who can provide comprehensive analysis of utility avoided cost proceedings across multiple energy providers.