Electricity & Natural Gas Supply

Rockford Public School District No. 205 is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) for district-wide electricity and natural gas supply services to serve approximately 50 school buildings and facilities. The District seeks a Retail Electric Supplier (RES) capable of providing competitive pricing and high-level customer service across an annual electricity consumption of 36,998,466 kWh and natural gas consumption of 2,568,471 therms. Respondents must demonstrate current financial stability through financial statements, provide references from similar work, and submit detailed qualifications addressing supplier capabilities, including multiple pricing options with fixed energy pricing and fixed line/market charges. The evaluation criteria include experience in electricity and natural gas sales in Illinois with ComEd (10% weight), pricing options over the full contract period (40% weight), risk management capabilities (10% weight), customer care approach and performance (10% weight), energy information solutions and services (20% weight), and commitment to ongoing value (10% weight). The contract term will run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 with two optional one-year renewal periods for a maximum five-year duration, with pricing remaining firm for the first 12 months and subsequent increases capped at the percentage change in the U.S. Department of Labor Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The deadline for proposal submission is April 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Daylight Time at the Rockford Board of Education, 501 Seventh Street; the last day for requesting information is March 31, 2026, with the final addendum issued by April 2, 2026, and the Board of Education to award the contract within 90 days of bid opening.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular enterprise categories or disadvantaged business enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documentation. The District has indicated plans for onsite solar generation at Jefferson High School, Marshall Middle School, and RESA Middle School (operational May 2026) and Auburn Campus (July 2027), as well as community solar credits, which will reduce electricity consumption during the contract period and represents existing infrastructure requiring supplier integration and coordination. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents, though the scope of services covering approximately 50 facilities across a three-to-five-year period suggests a substantial contract value.