OPC S27003

The Maryland Office of the People's Counsel is requesting proposals for expert engineering, economic, and accounting consulting services to support OPC's participation in Public Conference 78 on the development of Maryland's successor net energy metering program (NEM 2.0), with proposals due July 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Selected contractors must be registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation as a business licensed to conduct business in Maryland, with active registration and good standing status required for corporations and LLCs. Bidders must submit signed proposals on company letterhead by the deadline to OPC.RFP1@maryland.gov.

The scope encompasses engineering, economic, and accounting analysis of NEM 2.0 program design issues, including the value of distributed generation, ratepayer costs and benefits, impacts on nonparticipating customers, and stakeholder proposals. Deliverables include review and analysis of utility applications and supporting documents, preparation of data requests and discovery materials, review of discovery responses, attendance at position development and settlement meetings, preparation of direct and rebuttal expert testimony, preparation of responses to data requests, and preparation for and attendance at hearings with associated briefing and cross-examination assistance.

The contract continues until services are completed, with OPC retaining the unilateral right to extend the term for up to three additional successive one-year calendar terms. Personnel identified in the contractor's proposal must remain assigned to the OPC account for the contract term unless employment ends. Payment shall not exceed the amount specified in the contract, including both labor and expenses; invoices are due monthly with detailed expenditure reports describing work performed with dates and hours worked by personnel, identification of labor categories, and supporting receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. Reimbursable travel expenses conform to Maryland state regulations and include automobile mileage, meals, hotel costs, airfare at coach rates, train fares, and tolls.

Evaluation criteria are Technical Expertise (40%), Quality of Issue or Policy Identification (40%), and Price (20%). OPC reserves the right to cancel the RFP, reject any or all proposals, waive minor irregularities, conduct discussions with qualified offerors, and award based solely on written proposals without negotiations. The solicitation is related to pending litigation and requires confidentiality regarding services to be performed. Questions should be directed to OPC Procurement Officer Sarah DeMaio at Sarah.DeMaio@maryland.gov or 410-767-8155.