Small & Medium Bldg. Energy Efficiency & Decarb Initiative

The State of Colorado Energy Office is requesting proposals for a pilot and evaluation of technical assistance offerings for small and medium commercial buildings (10,000–50,000 square feet) under RFP EFAA 27-17, with proposals due September 2, 2026 and written inquiries due August 10, 2026.

The initiative will serve approximately 20–30 building owners and operators across Colorado, with prioritized focus on non-investor-owned utility markets. Scope includes stakeholder outreach, application development and participant selection, delivery of technical assistance for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, program evaluation, and development of scalable resources and blueprints for replication. The contractor must demonstrate a minimum five years of direct experience providing or coordinating technical assistance to commercial building owners; five years of experience with design, engineering, permitting, and implementation of energy efficiency and electrification retrofit projects; proven outreach and marketing capabilities; and demonstrated ability to support financing access through C-PACE and CCEF programs. Personnel must hold relevant certifications in architecture, mechanical or electrical engineering, MEP installation, and commercial construction.

The contract term runs through December 31, 2027, with potential extension at the State's discretion, anticipated to begin October 15, 2026, or upon execution, whichever occurs first. The maximum budget is $350,000 on a firm-fixed-rate basis. Pricing must include all labor, travel costs (reimbursed at half the labor rate per State Fiscal Rule 5-1), and delivery-related expenses and remain firm throughout the contract term. A public virtual proposal opening is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM, with an Intent to Award anticipated September 17, 2026.

All deliverables must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA digital accessibility standards and Colorado's artificial intelligence governance requirements, including written disclosure of AI tool usage and human review and verification of all work product. Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business offerors must provide U.S. Small Business Administration certification. The State reserves the right to award based on best overall value rather than lowest cost alone.