Maryland Energy Administration Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Technical Assistance Pilot Program - MBE 25%

The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to procure technical assistance services for the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Technical Assistance Pilot Program. The program will provide comprehensive support to commercial and multi-family buildings 35,000 square feet and larger in Maryland to help them comply with state energy performance and emissions reduction standards. Specific services include energy benchmarking assistance, energy audits, decarbonization planning, bid review support, and connecting building owners with qualified third-party service providers. Offerors must demonstrate at least two years of experience administering technical assistance programs for commercial buildings and have at least one team member with relevant certifications such as Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Professional Engineer (PE), or Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP). A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for January 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, with written questions due by February 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM, and proposals due on February 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM through the MES Procurement Portal.

The contract includes a mandatory 25% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontractor participation goal, which is a critical requirement for potential bidders. The total contract budget is not to exceed $1,900,000, with MES intending to make a single award and anticipating a final contract award by April 1, 2026, with work beginning April 27, 2026. The contract will be cost-reimbursable on a not-to-exceed basis, with hourly labor rates capped at $75 per hour and fixed fee markups limited to 10 percent. Offerors must submit minimum qualifications documentation, financial statements, and demonstrate compliance with insurance requirements, including Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Vehicle Liability Insurance of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate. Rates will be firm for the first contract year, with potential increases not exceeding 2% for the second year. All service information and deliverables developed under the contract will become the property of MEA, and the contractor must maintain compliance with state data security and privacy standards.