Electric Vehicle Charging Program RFP 2

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), is soliciting proposals via Request for Proposal (RFP 605 2400000175) to design, build, operate, and maintain Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) stations along Federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors throughout Kentucky, including I-24, I-65, I-264, I-275, I-64, I-165, the Mountain Turnpike, and the Hal Rogers Parkway. Each EVSE station must include a minimum of four charging ports capable of simultaneously delivering 150 kilowatts per port, supporting both SAE Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors, with optional additional ports and pull-through configurations receiving higher evaluation scores. Proposers may bid on one or more candidate sites within fifteen designated zones, with requirements that include submission of a technical proposal (maximum 1,400 base points plus up to 400 additional technical points), a cost proposal (600 points), and compliance with all National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program requirements, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage standards, Buy America/Build America materials standards, and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. The Project Agreement term extends five years following final completion and commissioning, with developers responsible for operations and maintenance throughout this period. A pre-bid networking event was held on March 5, 2024, with questions due by March 20, 2024, and responses posted as Addendum No. 1 on March 28, 2024, followed by Addendum No. 2 on April 9, 2024, and Addendum No. 3 on April 10, 2024; the proposal submission deadline is April 19, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, with Notice of Award anticipated by May 20, 2024, a kick-off meeting scheduled for May 30, 2024, and Project Agreement execution and Notices to Proceed anticipated on or before July 25, 2024. Proposals must be submitted electronically via MoveIt/Secure File Transfer at https://ftp.ky.gov to the KYTC Division of Planning, 200 Mero Street, 4th Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40622, with inquiries directed to Laura Hagan at 502-782-3980.

Proposers must provide a minimum 20 percent non-federal match of total project costs, with the Commonwealth reimbursing up to 80 percent of eligible capital and operational expenses through NEVI Formula Program funding. Eligible expenses include EVSE equipment, utility interconnection and upgrades, site construction, design, permitting, cybersecurity measures, operations and maintenance costs, utility energy and demand charges, and Battery Energy Storage Systems for peak-shaving or supplementing utility feeds below 150 kW per port at designated zones, with solar equipment eligible only if 100 percent of output is dedicated to charging vehicles. Developers must maintain a 97 percent annual uptime requirement for each charging port and are subject to liquidated damages of $75 per port for each percentage point below this threshold, with total annual liquidated damages capped at 20 percent of maximum annual operating expenditure reimbursements plus withheld capital reimbursements. Developers' internal rate of return may not exceed 20 percent, and no site acquisitions or real property purchases are reimbursable. The Commonwealth will receive approximately $69.5 million in NEVI Formula Program funding between Fiscal Years 2022-2026, with approximately $24.5 million currently available for this RFP expansion, resulting in total available funding of approximately $87 million when combined with the required private match. Awards will be made on a best-value basis to one or more sites per designated zone based on highest combined scoring across technical and cost criteria, with electronic submission accepted and online bidding prohibited.