Summary

Tompkins County is seeking energy consulting services to evaluate actions to be included in the Tompkins County Energy Strategy: Second Report. The energy consultant will perform quantitative analyses on financial feasibility, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions of specific proposals generated by focus groups and other sources during the development of the Energy Strategy: Second Report.

Project Background

In 2016, Tompkins County completed its Energy Roadmap (Executive Summary and Recommendations). The purpose of which was to evaluate local energy resources and develop scenarios to meet the County’s 80% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal and projected energy needs through 2050.

Project Description

The analysis, conclusions and recommendations of the Energy Roadmap are the basis for the County’s Energy Strategy: Second Report, which will identify concrete action steps to achieve the goals and recommendations in the Energy Roadmap. We are proposing to include in the Energy Strategy: Second Report approximately ten high-impact, locally-driven, proposal-ready Ideas that range from project implementation to program feasibility to policy development. These Ideas will be generated from topical focus groups, staff and other resources, on topics such as energy storage, renewable energy, energy efficiency and electrification of existing buildings, energy efficiency of new construction, and transportation. The consultant selected through this RFQ process will provide advice on how best to evaluate these Ideas, which may include some high-level quantification of feasibility and impacts. Once the list of Ideas is narrowed down to approximately 15-20, the consultant will perform additional quantification to assist the County in selecting approximately 10 Ideas to bring to the point of the being “proposal-ready” The consultant will then perform quantitative analyses on these approximately 10 Ideas to determine financial feasibility, cost-benefit analysis, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Idea selection process may be an iterative one where the analyses performed by the consultant would cause modifications to some Ideas and abandonment of others.

Project Management

The Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability will be the administrative agency for the Project.  As such, management of and contract administration for the Project are the primary responsibility of the staff of the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability, and staff will be directly involved at all stages of the Project.

Consulting Services Requested

The Project deliverables will be, for each Idea that is generated: A written report that includes the financial feasibility, cost-benefit analysis, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. In addition to the deliverables, the consultant will be tasked with advising TCDPS staff on evaluation of early Ideas, including high-level analysis of feasibility and impact of early Ideas, as well as a deeper analysis of approximately 15-20 Ideas.

Consultant Selection Process

The County will review qualifications and may invite several consultants to be interviewed. Final decisions regarding consultant selection will be based on interviews and the list of Evaluation Criteria

specified below. Once a consultant is selected, the consultant will work with the County Department of Planning and Sustainability to negotiate a final contract document, including a scope of work. All contract documents will be executed with Tompkins County and will conform to the County’s policies and procedures. The selection process should be completed within 21 days of the submission of responses.

Fee Structure

We anticipate the project contract will be based on an hourly rate for services provided, with a maximum fee not to be exceeded.

Submission Contents

Responses to this Request for Qualifications should include the following:

1. Lead Consultant Information. For the lead (or sole) consulting firm, provide the following information:

   1. Firm name

   2. Mailing address

   3. Telephone

   4. Website (if applicable)

   5. Contact name, email, phone number

   6. Form of Organization (partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, etc.)

   7. Where Organized

   8. Names of principals, officers, and directors

2. Sub-consultants (if applicable). For each member of the consultant team, provide the following:

   1. Firm name

   2. Mailing address

   3. Telephone

   4. Website (if applicable)

3. Key Personnel. For key personnel to be involved in the project, please provide names, titles, period of service with the firm, and a resume or description of experience. Please limit responses to no more than two pages per person.

4. Statement of Qualifications. Provide a narrative description (up to five pages) of the qualifications of the consulting firm, or consulting team, for the proposed project.

5. Statement of Availability. Provide a brief statement on the availability of key personnel to undertake the proposed project, starting on or about December 1, 2018 and finishing within one year of start date.

6. List of Relevant Projects. Provide a list, with brief project descriptions, of no fewer than three and up to eight projects similar in size or nature to the proposed project that have been successfully completed within the last seven years by the consulting firm, consulting team, or key personnel.

7. References. Provide names, telephone numbers, and emails of persons to be called for references regarding past performance of the consulting firm, consulting team, or key personnel on similar projects.

8. Statement indicating that if selected, the contractor shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend Tompkins County and its officers, employees, agents and elected officials from and against any and all claims and actions brought against Tompkins County and its officers, employees, agents and elected officials for injury or death to any person or persons or damage to property arising out of the performance of this contract by the Contractor, its employees, subcontractors or agents except all actions and claims arising out of the negligence of Tompkins County.

9. Fee structure. 

10. All County Required Forms listed in this RFQ.

Evaluation Criteria

Consultant(s) will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Experience evaluating the energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions for a variety of renewable resources and demand reduction projects.

• Experience in costing out renewable projects, energy storage, energy efficiency work on existing building retrofits and upgrades, energy efficient new buildings of varying sizes and uses, and transportation projects and programs.

• Knowledge of Tompkins County energy plans and community goals.

• Ability to accomplish projects in a professional, thorough and timely manner.

• Qualifications of people assigned to the project.

• Cost effectiveness of services provided.

• Ability to work well with County Planning and Sustainability Department staff.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submission of proposals is 10:00 AM (EST) October 22, 2018. Responses must be submitted on the Tompkins County Purchasing website, www.tompkinscountyny.gov/purchase by the above stated date and time.

A copy of the Request for Qualifications may be obtained from the following website:

http://contract.tompkinscountyny.gov/bid/list/rfp

The County reserves the right to reject any or all responses and to negotiate with any individual or company submitting a response. Responses will not be accepted by mail, fax or electronic file transfer.