Firm Natural Gas Supply and Capacity Management

The City of Norwich Purchasing Agent, on behalf of Norwich Public Utilities (NPU), is soliciting proposals for firm natural gas supply and capacity management services through Request for Proposals (RFP) Number 26-69. NPU, a municipal utility serving approximately 9,700 gas customers in Norwich, Connecticut, seeks qualified natural gas suppliers and asset managers to provide comprehensive supply and asset management for its gas utility division. The scope of services includes full requirements gas supply on a firm basis, optimization of swing natural gas supply at competitive prices, daily nomination and scheduling of gas supplies to receipt points on the AGT/TE/MPC/EGTS pipeline systems, responsibility for all imbalances and penalties assessed by interstate pipelines, and management of NPU's pipeline transportation assets, storage assets, and operational balancing agreements to maximize financial benefit. Proposals must address management options including monthly baseload nominations on three pipeline receipt points, storage contracts for injection and withdrawal activities, operational balancing agreements, daily balancing with swing supply and buyback mechanisms, and price risk management with hedging options based on NYMEX Henry Hub or other representative indices. The Asset Manager shall propose a monthly or annual Asset Management Payment fee for the right to manage and utilize NPU's excess pipeline transportation capacity and storage assets. Qualified vendors must demonstrate financial strength with a minimum credit rating of Baa3 (Moody's), BBB- (S&P), or BBB- (Fitch), and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, general liability, commercial automobile liability, and umbrella coverage with NPU named as additional insured. Proposals are due by 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on June 5, 2026, submitted via the City of Norwich Procurement Portal. The contract is intended to commence on November 1, 2026, and run through October 31, 2027, with the option for negotiated renewals not to exceed a total contract term of six years.

The solicitation documents do not identify any set-aside designations, restrictions on organization types, or specific provisions for disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. NPU's annual natural gas requirements have averaged 1,186,500 MMBtu per year over the past three years, providing context for the scope of gas supply needed. The procurement requires integration with existing pipeline transportation assets on the AGT/TE/MPC/EGTS pipeline systems and NPU's current storage contracts and operational balancing agreements. Interested vendors should direct inquiries to Karl Klein, City of Norwich Purchasing Agent, at 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360, via phone at 860-823-3706 or email at kklein@cityofnorwich.org. The estimated total contract value is not disclosed in the available solicitation documentation.