Municipal Virtual Net Metering (VNM) Offtake Solar Developer

The Town of Stratford, Connecticut, in Fairfield County, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 2026-01) seeking qualified solar developers to design, develop, and deploy municipal Virtual Net Metering (VNM) offtake solar photovoltaic systems located within United Illuminating (UI) territory. The proposed system or systems must be capable of offsetting up to 5,300,000 kWh annually of the Town's electrical load and will participate in either the August/September 2025 bid round of Year 4 or the February/March 2026 bid round of Year 5 of the Connecticut Non-residential Renewable Energy Solutions (NRES) Program, which administers VNM for State, Agricultural, and Municipal (SAM) properties. Key qualifications for proposers include demonstrated experience in solar photovoltaic system development, expertise in virtual net metering programs, and the ability to navigate the NRES Program requirements and UI's interconnection processes. Proposals must be submitted in hardcopy format only—electronic submissions are explicitly prohibited—and are due by August 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM EDT. A vendor question and answer period is available from July 22, 2025, at 10:45 AM EDT through August 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM EDT, with all requests for information (RFI) submitted in writing via email to Phillip Ryan, Purchasing Agent, at pryan@townofstratford.com. Payment terms are Net 30 Days upon approval by all relevant Town boards.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses, indicating the opportunity is open to all qualified solar developers. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The proposed systems must integrate with United Illuminating's existing infrastructure and comply with UI's interconnection standards and the NRES Program's technical and administrative requirements for SAM property VNM. While the RFP does not explicitly state a budget or award value, the scope of offsetting 5,300,000 kWh annually suggests a substantial solar development project with corresponding financial investment and long-term operational value to the Town.