Energy Sourcing Study

The City of Tucson, Arizona is seeking professional consulting services through Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 240069 for a comprehensive Energy Sourcing Study to analyze renewable power options for the community. The study will focus on four primary objectives: conducting a feasibility analysis for establishing a public power utility, exploring opportunities for a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program, investigating solar service agreements (SSAs) and virtual power purchase agreements (PPAs) for municipal operations, and assessing microgrid deployment potential. Evaluation of proposals will occur through a points-based system with four categories: Experience and Qualifications of Firm (45 points), Firm Experience on Similar Projects (40 points), Available Resources to Complete the Project (10 points), and Other Considerations (5 points). The pre-submittal conference is scheduled for November 17, 2023, with statements of qualifications due on December 15, 2023. The contract term will be one year with potential for four renewals, and the highest-ranked firm will be invited to negotiate contract rates. This study is part of Tucson's Resilient Together Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, with the ultimate goal of achieving city-wide carbon neutrality by 2045.

The procurement includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program provisions, requiring contractors to make good faith efforts to achieve DBE participation goals. DBE firms must be certified under the Arizona Unified Certification Program and perform a commercially useful function, executing at least 30 percent of the work with their own workforce. The estimated annual budget for this project is $300,000, with potential for comprehensive economic and environmental benefits projected at a net present value of $7.9 billion and potential carbon emissions reductions of 76 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent between 2023 and 2050. The current electric service provider is Tucson Electric Power (TEP), with an existing franchise agreement set to expire in 2025, which provides additional context for the timing and importance of this energy sourcing study. Proposing firms will need to demonstrate significant experience in renewable energy planning, utility infrastructure analysis, and complex municipal energy transition strategies to be competitive in this procurement.