Energy Conservation Consultant

Atlanta Public Schools (APS), an independent school system operating 129 facilities encompassing approximately 60.7 million square feet in Fulton County, Georgia, is seeking a qualified Energy Conservation Consultant through Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26-121202-P-AR. The consultant will serve as the owner's representative for planning, development, and implementation of a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC), with primary responsibilities including conducting comprehensive energy audits, developing strategic energy plans, reviewing investment-grade audits and financial analyses, overseeing measurement and verification (M&V) protocols, managing project documentation, facilitating stakeholder communication, and leveraging federal and state incentives and grants. The deliverables encompass monthly progress reports, engagement across three primary project phases (IGA oversight, construction, and post-installation M&V activities), and coordination among Energy Services Companies, designers, contractors, and regulators. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with Energy Savings Performance Contracts, Energy-as-a-Service, and Power Purchase Agreements; expertise in energy efficiency, renewable energy, microgrids, resilience technology, battery energy storage systems, and electric vehicle infrastructure; and proven experience serving federal, state, local municipal government, and local educational agencies. Vendors must provide three customer references for comparable projects, comply with Georgia House Bill 87 E-Verify requirements, maintain appropriate licensing and certifications, carry comprehensive general liability insurance ($2,000,000 general aggregate), automobile liability ($1,000,000), workers' compensation, and umbrella liability coverage, and submit to criminal background checks at a cost of $47.23. The evaluation process occurs in two phases: Phase 1 scoring based on company qualifications and experience (40 points), methodology and operations (50 points), and cost (10 points) for a total of 100 points; Phase 2, at APS's discretion, evaluates shortlisted offerors on presentation and interview performance (100 points) with Phase 2 scores replacing Phase 1 scores unless Best and Final Offers are requested. Key deadlines include the mandatory pre-proposal conference on February 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET via Microsoft Teams, written questions deadline of February 25, 2026, responses posted by March 5, 2026, proposal submission deadline of March 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET through the Bonfire portal, administrative review on March 16, 2026, initial shortlist evaluation on March 17, 2026, Phase 2 interviews on March 30, 2026, and board recommendation anticipated by May 4, 2026.

The contract includes local preference designation for businesses registered in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, or Gwinnett counties for at least twelve months, earning five additional evaluation points in RFP processes or serving as a tiebreaker in sealed bid scenarios. APS is committed to inclusive procurement practices and encourages participation of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), requiring vendors to disclose MWBE certification status and submit Offeror Inclusion Forms addressing supplier diversity commitments. Vendors must complete comprehensive administrative compliance forms including Solicitation Acknowledgment Forms, Offeror Compliance Forms, E-Verify affidavits, and Promise of Non-Discrimination agreements, with all submissions received through the Bonfire electronic submission platform by the designated due date. The contract structure provides for an initial one-year term with four optional one-year renewals, with pricing remaining firm for one year from award and price adjustment requests permitted at annual renewal based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or justified business justification submitted ninety days prior to contract expiration. Pricing must be submitted as hourly rates for three primary labor categories—Project Manager, M&V Specialist, and Energy Engineer—along with a sample "not-to-exceed" (NTE) figure based on assumed scope of twenty buildings with $25 million in energy conservation measures; while no specific budget range is stated in the procurement documents, APS's current annual energy and utility costs average $5.6 million across its facility portfolio, indicating the significant scale and potential value of the energy conservation initiative. APS reserves the right to award to a primary and alternate offeror or to make multiple awards based on experience, qualifications, and district needs.