Energy Saving Technologies - Project Pipeline Development

The City of Cincinnati's Office of Environment & Sustainability has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to develop a comprehensive project pipeline for clean energy and sustainable infrastructure initiatives across Hamilton County, Ohio. This is an information-gathering procurement seeking project proposals at various stages of development—from conceptual through advanced planning—across multiple technology categories including solar installations (rooftop and ground-mounted), battery energy storage systems, ground-source heat pump systems, geo-exchange districts, energy efficiency and electrification retrofits, EV charging stations, e-bike stations, virtual power plants, and demand response programs. Eligible respondents include developers, institutions, nonprofits, houses of worship, community development corporations (CDCs), utilities, and other relevant entities. Submissions must include a cover letter (1-2 pages) providing firm introduction and project description, plus a completed project pipeline spreadsheet using the City's provided template; projects should be described with maximum available specificity and include information on proposed structure, project titles, addresses with 11-digit census tract codes, capital requirements, financing gaps, and the respondent's relationship to the investment (developer, proponent, land owner, or building owner). The deadline for submitting questions is February 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET, and all responses must be submitted electronically through the City's Bonfire portal at https://cincinnati-oh.bonfirehub.com/ by March 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. The RFI is being managed by the City of Cincinnati as a secondary subgrantee under a Phase 1 Municipal Investment Fund (MIF) grant in coordination with ICLEI USA and the Coalition for Green Capital, with the goal of developing a robust project pipeline aligned with the Green Cincinnati Plan and Greater Cincinnati Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

If this RFI leads to subsequent procurement solicitations, all respondents will be subject to the City's economic inclusion programs under Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapters 323, 324, and 325, which include Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) requirements and set-asides. No specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in this information-gathering phase, and submissions do not obligate respondents to pursue projects or constitute binding procurement solicitations; moreover, no reimbursement will be made for response preparation costs. The information gathered through this RFI may be shared with the Cincinnati Green Bank and used to support future capital mobilization efforts. The RFI template accommodates portfolio submissions with capacity for up to 50 projects, enabling organizations to present multiple initiatives simultaneously, with illustrative examples showing project costs ranging from $45,000 for EV charging infrastructure to $13.2 million for multifamily affordable housing with all-electric features. Technical support for submissions is available through Bonfire at support@gobonfire.com or 1-800-354-8010, extension 2, with a maximum file upload size of 1,000 MB.