Electric Vehicle Charging as a Service

Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Electric Vehicle Charging as a Service, seeking firms to install and operate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at multiple locations throughout Tompkins County. The procurement aims to establish a comprehensive EV charging network, with a particular focus on providing charging options for non-Tesla drivers, who currently lack fast charging access in the county. Respondents may submit proposals for Level 2 and/or Level 3 EV charging solutions at various sites, including the Ithaca-Tompkins County International Airport and multiple municipal properties. The RFP requires vendors to provide complete charging infrastructure services, including equipment provision, installation, operation, maintenance, and network services, with site preparation and community outreach components. Proposals will be evaluated based on the overall proposed plan, respondent qualifications, and potential for local economic development. Key dates include a last day for questions of June 24, 2024 at 5:00 PM, and a proposal submission deadline of July 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM, with award notifications anticipated by July 31, 2024.

The RFP does not include any specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses, with all sub-contracting goals reported as 0% for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Minority Owned, Women Owned, and Disadvantaged Owned businesses. Tompkins County is facilitating the RFP process on behalf of multiple municipalities and institutions, but will not be signing a county-wide contract; instead, individual municipalities and institutions will contract directly with selected vendors. Each participating entity will have the opportunity to score proposals and participate in interviews for sites they have submitted. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the EV charging infrastructure project suggests a potentially significant investment. The county receives over 1.5 million visitors annually and is home to three major educational institutions (Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College), indicating a strong potential market for EV charging services. No incumbent vendors are mentioned, and the RFP appears to be establishing a new EV charging infrastructure network from the ground up.