Energy Saving Technologies - Vendors & Contractors

The City of Cincinnati's Office of Environment & Sustainability has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking Statements of Qualifications from vendors, contractors, installers, engineering firms, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), and other project delivery partners with expertise in clean energy and energy-efficiency technologies. The procurement targets expertise in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), geothermal district heating and cooling systems, renewable energy installations, electric vehicle infrastructure, and professional services including accounting, financial modeling, architectural and engineering design, energy auditing, and feasibility analysis. Respondents must submit detailed 3-5 page Statements of Qualifications addressing organizational overview, relevant licenses and certifications, experience, and capacity to deliver projects at various scales, along with recommended project delivery approaches and methodologies. Submissions must be made via the City's Bonfire portal at https://cincinnati-oh.bonfirehub.com/ by March 5, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, with questions due by February 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET directed to Jennifer Sherman at jennifer.sherman@cincinnati-oh.gov. No site visits, bidders' meetings, or award dates are specified. This RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation or offer to contract, nor does it request pricing or reimburse response preparation costs. The information gathered will support the City's efforts to build a network of qualified clean energy firms and advance projects aligned with the Green Cincinnati Plan and Greater Cincinnati Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

Future procurement solicitations resulting from this RFI will be subject to Cincinnati Municipal Code provisions regarding economic inclusion programs (Chapters 323 and 324) and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements (Chapter 325), indicating that disadvantaged enterprises and diverse organizations are encouraged to participate. The RFI is part of Phase 1 of the Municipal Investment Fund (MIF) grant award effort and does not establish specific budget allocations or award values at this time. Selected respondents may be offered future opportunities including participation in contractor networks, workshops, and subsequent procurement activities; no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in this informational stage. The collected RFI data will be shared with ICLEI USA, the Coalition for Green Capital, and potentially the Cincinnati Green Bank to demonstrate investment potential and attract public and private funding for clean energy initiatives. Respondents should provide detailed information regarding near-term project pipelines, including project titles, descriptions, specific project addresses with census tract codes, comprehensive cost breakdowns, financing gaps, and identification of other capital providers to demonstrate readiness and capability to execute clean energy projects within the Cincinnati jurisdiction.