Network Providers for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems

The County of Orange, California is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) on network providers for electric vehicle charging systems to inform development of future Requests for Proposals, with RFI responses due August 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. This is a market-research instrument; responses do not constitute an offer for contract and will be used solely to shape final RFP scope and terms.

The RFI encompasses three distinct scopes: Scope A (furnish EV chargers); Scope B (network solution with warranty and maintenance services); Scope C (EV charging as a service). The County anticipates awarding competitively bid contracts with terms ranging from 5 to 10 years.

Respondents must provide comprehensive vendor background including ownership structure, business model, financial capability, supply chain dependencies, and competitive differentiators. Pricing approaches should accommodate economic uncertainty while demonstrating best value, with consideration of bid discounts from annual catalog or MSRP pricing.

For Scope B, vendors must demonstrate hardware flexibility and interoperability with existing county-owned ChargePoint chargers, transparent pricing models across multiple fee categories, and comprehensive service and support capabilities including warranty periods for hardware components, uptime guarantees, response times, and spare parts stocking practices. For Scope C, vendors must identify County property locations suitable for publicly accessible charging stations and describe commercial models including subscription, revenue-share, concession, and lease structures, along with risk-allocation frameworks addressing utilization shortfalls, vandalism, utility delays, and equipment obsolescence. All responses must address data ownership rights, exit strategies, and the ability to preserve charger operability after contract expiration or provider transitions.

The RFI covers both Orange County and San Francisco City jurisdictions. Questions are due August 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. All responses must be submitted electronically through the County's Online Bidding System; fax submissions are not permitted.