IRA HOMES AND HEAR REBATE PROGRAM IMPL.

The South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority, through the South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO), is seeking a turn-key implementation contractor for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebates programs, specifically the HOMES and HEAR rebate programs. The solicitation seeks a contractor to manage comprehensive program delivery, including rebate processing, home energy assessments, installation incentive coordination, stakeholder engagement, contractor training, income verification, data collection, and reporting. Contractors must design and implement both rebate programs, establish technology platforms for rebate processing, and coordinate with utilities and community partners. Key deliverables include developing a program website, establishing a multilingual call center, creating educational materials, and implementing robust consumer protection and privacy protocols. The solicitation requires offerors to submit detailed technical and price proposals, including qualifications documentation, financial statements, key personnel resumes, comparable contract references, and a detailed technical solution addressing program goals. A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for October 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, with written questions due by October 9, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET. Proposals are due November 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET, with award notification expected on January 14, 2026.

The procurement has specific allocation requirements, mandating that at least 39.9% of rebate funds be directed to low-income households (earning less than 80% of area median income) and at least 10% supporting low-income multifamily buildings. While no specific minority business participation goals are established, offerors must disclose minority business certification status. The total federal funding for the programs is $137.2 million, with $68.7 million designated for HOMES and $68.5 million for HEAR. Contractors will be reimbursed through federal Department of Energy funding, with the state approving up to 95% of the total grant award prior to final reimbursement. The evaluation criteria will prioritize contractor qualifications and experience (40 points), technical solution quality (30 points), pricing (20 points), and proposed timeline and milestones (10 points). Joint bids are not permitted, but subcontractor experience will be considered. The contract term is initially one year with four potential one-year renewal options, contingent upon DOE approval of South Carolina's State Implementation Plan and Blueprints.