/ A PROGRAM OF:

Solarize Westchester

RFP #SW2017-2

Request for Proposals from Contractors for Residentialand/or Commercial

Photovoltaic Systems

Proposal Submission Checklist, Core Proposal and
PV Contractor Signature Page

Proposal Submission Checklist

Company Name:
Contact Name:
E-mail:
Phone:
Additional PV Contractors (if submitting as a consortium)
For further details about all required proposal elements see section 2.1 of the RFP / Check (X) if included
  1. Core Proposal Document with the file name: CompanyName_Core_Date.pdf.This file contains the following documents in this order:

  • Proposal Submission Checklist

  • Completed Core Proposal

  • Signed and completed PV Contractor Signature Page

  1. Customized Proposal for each Solarize Campaign for which you are applying each with file name: CompanyName_Community/OrganizationName_Date.pdf

Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
  1. Completed Attachment 1for each Solarize Campaign for which you are applying as the Residentialand/or Commercialinstaller each with the file name: CompanyName_Att1_Community/OrganizationName_Date.xls

Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
Indicate Community/Organization Name:
  1. If applying as a residential Contractor, a template version of a PV Contractor’s direct residential purchase contract and/or a lease or PPA agreement with the customer with the file name: “CompanyName_ResidentialContract_Type_Date.pdf”

  1. If applying as a commercial Contractor, a template version of a PV Contractor’s direct commercial purchase contract, lease and/or PPA agreement (all options that are offered in the attached proposal) with the customer with the file name: “CompanyName_CommercialContract_Type_Date.pdf”

  1. PV Contractor’s balance sheet and income statement for most recent fiscal year (audited, if available), together with balance sheet and income statement for most recent fiscal quarter, as well as verification of available lines of credits from financial institutions and/or equipment suppliers. Submit these documentssaved in one PDF file with the file name: “CompanyName_Financials_Date.pdf

  1. If applying for Westchester campaign(s), copy of Westchester Home Improvement license or documentation of Master Electrician with NABCEP certification with the file name: “CompanyName_License_Date.pdf”. For campaigns in other counties, provide any license required by those counties.

CORE PROPOSAL

Note: for all sections, provide information for relevant to residential and commercial markets if applying for both – clarify which market the information applies to as necessary). Provide your answer under each question (A.1 – A.11).

A.1 Company and Project Team Experience

  • Include description of the applying PV Contractor(s): Highlight relevant experience, skills, and capabilities necessary to undertake Solarize, including, but not limited to, ability to handle a large number of leads and projects over a short timeframe. (Do not repeat information provided in Attachment 1)
  • Identify all key individuals and/or organizational membersof the project team, including, but not limited to, all subcontractors and/or partners assisting in project financing, customer service, outreach, and project installations. Include the location of each project team member, a brief description of each member’s experience and role.

A.2Program Implementation Plan

  • Elaborate on the specific intake process for customer leads, method for screening sites and follow-up with those homeowners and/or commercial property owners, and data tracking systems for leads, customers and installations.
  • Describe an anticipated installation schedule based on your expectations for the Solarize Campaign, any anticipated bottlenecks in the flow of Solarize installations, and the PV Contractor’s strategy for completing installations within 120 days of incentive approval for each customer.
  • Describe the staff who are responsible for managing the permit, inspection, and interconnection processes and any other procedures that your company employs to manage these processes.
  • Describe your company policies and procedures for ensuring safety for the workers on site and for the customers who are present at the worksite.
  • Describe the operation and maintenance agreement that will be offered to customers, and describe the provisions to address scheduled and corrective maintenance, system monitoring and communications protocols, as well as associated customer costs for each, if applicable.
  • Describe quality assurance provided for the solar PV equipment and installations, including any PV Contractor warranties on equipment installed and/or labor. Manufacturers’ warranties for equipment components should be listed in Attachments 1.3 (residential) and 1.6 (commercial).

A.3Customer Experience

Describe the process a potential customer will experience from inception as a lead to either project completion or determination that the customer site is not viable for solar. Please include:

  • All aspects of customer experience, including site evaluation, incentives applications, securing of any financing or leasing arrangements, installation, and any follow-up;
  • Information on quality assurances to customers and examples that might indicate exemplary customer experience;
  • An expected timeline for a typical customer under Solarize.

A.4Considerations for Increased Workload

Indicate a plan for ensuring that PV Contractor has adequate capacity to accommodate the anticipated increase in volume of leads, site visits, follow-up visits, outreach events, and installations. Estimate the number of residential and commercial solar PV projects the PV Contractor could reasonably complete on a monthly basis. Describe a contingency plan if outreach results in a workload exceeding the PV Contractor’s expectations and staff capacity.

A.5Interest in Sub-Contracting with Other Solarize PV Contractors

Solarize PV Contractors may choose to sub-contract out a portion of their work to other PV Contractors to avoid strains in capacity. Please indicate if you are interested in being on a list of PV Contractors willing to step in and sub-contract with another Solarize PV Contractor if such a need arises.

A.6Financial Strength and Credit Relationships

Briefly describe the financial health of the company. These comments may supplement the financial statements that you provide as a separate attachment. If the PV Contractor utilizes a line of credit or has access to other credit facilities, please describe these and provide the contact information for the lending institutions. If equipment suppliers provide the PV Contractor with trade credit, please describe these trade credit arrangements and provide contact information for the suppliers. This information will be shared with the community installer selection teams.

Note that the other financial information requested, including financial statements, will be used by the Solarize Teamand the technical advisor solely for evaluating the PV Contractor’s RFP submission. This information will be kept confidential and not otherwise be disclosed, including to the Community installer selection teams, without the written consent of the PV Contractor.

A.7Financing Options

Include a narrative of all residential and/or commercial financing options you will present to Solarize customers. Include existing relationships with banks or financial institutions, and any other access to financing tools and products that you’ve listed in Attachment 1. Comment also on any mechanisms for financing that you know of which you have recommended or could recommend to customers.Note: do not simply duplicate information provided in Attachment 1; this narrative is a supplement tothat attachment.

A.8Offerings for Homes Not Feasible for Solar PV

Solarize Westchester aims to help guide customers unable or uninterested in moving forward with a solar electric installation toward other energy-related resources as appropriate (e.g., solar hot water, home energy efficiency). Please briefly outline how you might be able to support this aspect of the project. This may include existing relationships with other energy service companies, in-house expertise related to other energy services, etc.Please also indicate interest in collaborating with Program Administrator on potential community solar opportunities.

A.9Low-to-Moderate Income Customers

Detail your experience working with LMI customers and specify if you have completed projects that have received the NY-Sun LMI Added Incentive.

PV Contractor Signature Page

The undersigned is the duly authorized representative of the company or entity identified below (the “Company”), with full authority to sign this document and to submit the Company’s proposal pursuant to Sustainable Westchester’s RFP SW2017-2 relating to Solarize Westchester (the “RFP”).

I hereby certify:

  • The Company is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized. The financial statements are true, correct and complete and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of their date. Since the date of the most recent financial statements, there has been no material adverse change in the Company’s financial condition. All tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction have been duly filed, and all taxes due in respect of the Company have been duly paid.
  • The Company has read the RFP, understands it and is familiar with its requirements.
  • The information contained in this proposal, and any correspondence or other documentation relating to this proposal, are all true, correct and complete. The information disclosed by the Company in this proposal relating to corporate partnerships, affiliations and other relationships is true, correct and complete.
  • The Company understands and acknowledges that, until a final selection is made under the RFP, the Solarize Team and the Community Team may enter into discussions with the Company to negotiate the terms of its proposal in an effort to reach the most favorable arrangement for the relevant Community. Moreover, the Solarize Team and the Community Team reserve the right (i)to reject any or all proposals; (ii)to waive defects or irregularities in any proposal; (iii)to discontinue discussions at any time and for any reason; (iv)to correct inaccurate awards; (v)to change the timing or sequence of activities related to Solarize campaigns under RFP SW-2017-2of the Solarize Westchester Program; (vi)to modify, suspend or cancel the Solarize Westchester Program; and (vii)to condition, modify or otherwise limit the mandate awarded pursuant to the RFP.
  • By submitting this proposal, the Company represents and warrants that, if it is selected under this RFP, it will comply with the terms of the RFP and will perform all of the duties and obligations of the “PV Contractor” under the RFP.

Installer:______

(Printed Name of Installer Organization)

By: ______Title: ______

(Printed Name of Authorized Representative)

Signature:______Date: ______

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