Notice of Intent to use an Alternative Procurement Method

The City of Eugene in Lane County, Oregon, is seeking proposals for a Design-Build contract to develop a Solar and Battery Storage Project at Roosevelt Yard, utilizing an alternative procurement method under ORS 279C.335(5)(c). The project involves designing and constructing a solar photovoltaic and battery storage system to provide emergency backup power for a critical city facility currently served by multiple utility power feeds. The City will issue a Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals and advertise through the Daily Journal of Commerce and OregonBuys, with a pre-proposal vendor conference open to all interested parties. Evaluation criteria will focus on contractor experience, qualifications, value engineering experience, and cost, with the contract to be awarded to the highest-ranked firm. Key project requirements include beginning construction within 12 months of January 13, 2025, and completing the project by January 12, 2028. Interested vendors must submit any written requests for a public hearing to Eugene.Purchasing@ci.eugene.or.us by 3:00 PM on November 21, 2025.

The procurement appears to be open to all qualified design-build contractors without specific set-aside designations or enterprise restrictions. The project is funded through a $1,000,000 Community Renewable Energy Grant Program award from the Oregon Department of Energy, with the City providing approximately $400,000 in matching funds. The City anticipates utilizing the federal Investment Tax Credit direct pay option for reimbursement of a portion of the matching funds. The design-build method was specifically chosen to compress the project timeline and reduce overall risk, enabling compliance with the grant's strict construction deadlines. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the project involves integrating a new solar photovoltaic and battery storage system with existing utility power infrastructure at the Roosevelt Yard. The total project budget appears to be approximately $1.4 million, with the primary goal of establishing a renewable energy backup power solution for a critical city facility.