Plumbing Quotes for Heat Pump Water Heater Installation

San Mateo County's Sustainability Department is seeking plumbing quotes for heat pump water heater installation through an informal Request for Proposals (RFP No. 2026-RFP-Informal-00030). The procurement focuses on obtaining quotes for installing heat pump water heaters at three commercial kitchen sites: a taqueria in San Mateo, an American restaurant in Burlingame, and a steakhouse in Colma. Qualified proposers must have a business license and a minimum of four years of plumbing services experience within the last seven years. The project is part of a comprehensive study analyzing the costs of transitioning from methane gas appliances to electric cooking equipment in commercial kitchens, with key deliverables including detailed quotes for materials and labor, site visits, and installation assessments. Evaluation criteria will weight proposals 80% on price, 10% on relevant experience with commercial kitchens and heat pump water heater installations, and 10% on preferential points for local businesses and non-profits. The RFP was released on August 5, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for August 11, 2025, at 3:30 PM via Microsoft Teams. Proposals are due by August 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM through the County's eProcurement system, with an anticipated contract award date of August 20, 2025.

The procurement includes procurement preferences for local businesses, with additional percentage preferences for small and micro businesses or non-profits. The project is coordinated through the San Mateo County Energy Watch (SMCEW) program, a Local Government Partnership funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) ratepayers under the California Public Utilities Commission's oversight. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract template indicates it is for agreements under $200,000. The study's results will be publicly shared to advance industry knowledge of commercial foodservice electrification and support greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. Site visits are scheduled for August and September, with quotes required within two weeks of each site visit. The contract term is one year, and the broader objective is to provide the County with a comprehensive analysis of upfront and ongoing costs associated with transitioning to electric cooking equipment, which will inform future planning and decision-making regarding kitchen electrification initiatives.