Ground Mount Solar and Battery Storage Installation at Prudence Island - DEM

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) are soliciting proposals for the installation of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array and battery storage system at the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NBNERR) located on Prudence Island. The procurement seeks qualified firms to design, install, and commission a comprehensive solar energy infrastructure project. Vendors must submit detailed technical and cost proposals electronically through the Ocean State Procures system, with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for September 30, 2022, and proposals due by October 14, 2022, at 3:30 PM GMT. The initial contract period is expected to begin approximately November 1, 2022, and will run for two years. Evaluation criteria will include technical merit, cost proposal, and the vendor's proposed Innovative/Small Business Enterprise (ISBE) participation rate. Bidders must provide a bid surety bond or certified check for 5% of their proposed cost and demonstrate technical capabilities for solar PV array and battery storage system installation.

The procurement strongly encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Disability Business Enterprises (DisBEs), with vendors receiving evaluation points based on their proposed ISBE utilization rates. Vendors must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating their ISBE participation plan, with the state aiming to maximize involvement of these enterprise types. Insurance requirements are stringent, mandating $1 million in liability coverage, $100,000 in workers compensation, and $1 million in automobile liability coverage. The successful bidder will be required to furnish 100% payment and performance bonds prior to contract award. While no specific budget range was explicitly stated, the project involves a complex solar and battery storage installation, suggesting a potentially significant investment. Funding for the project is contingent on the availability of appropriated state funds, and the state reserves the right to award based on cost alone or reject any and all proposals if deemed in the state's best interest.