Professional services - procurement administration

The State of Illinois, through the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), is seeking qualified and responsible experts or expert firms to serve as a Procurement Administrator to support the IPA in meeting the power supply and Renewable Energy Credits procurement needs of Illinois utilities, including Commonwealth Edison Company, Ameren Illinois Company, and MidAmerican Energy Company. The selected firm will be expected to manage competitive procurement processes, develop benchmarks, serve as the interface between the utilities and suppliers, administer request for proposal processes, and provide other support services. Qualified respondents will be invited to respond to a subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP), and the selected firm will be awarded a one-year contract with the possibility of four annual renewals, subject to approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The RFQ outlines specific qualifications and experience the Agency is seeking, including direct prior experience administering large-scale competitive procurements, advanced degrees in relevant fields, 10 years of electricity sector experience, and expertise in wholesale electricity market rules, credit protocols, and resource adequacy.

The current year estimated budget for Procurement Administration is $3.85 million, which includes funds set aside for contingency events. The average annual budget over the last five years is $1.9 million, which is indicative of future anticipated spending levels. The RFQ does not mention any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, and there are no details provided regarding incumbent vendors or current contractors. The evaluation of responses to this RFQ will form the basis for determining recipients of the subsequent RFP, which is expected to be issued by September 15, 2023, with a contract start date of January 1, 2024.