REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Sharing California’s Energy Innovations:
Communicating EPIC Research through
Special Events, Forums, and Multimedia Production
RFP-17-301
www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/
State of California
California Energy Commission
August 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction 5
Purpose of RFP 5
Available Funding and How Award is Determined 11
Bidder Requirements 12
Key Activities and Dates 13
Pre-Bid Conference 14
Questions 14
Contact Information 15
Responses to this RFP 15
Reference Documents 15
II. Scope of Work and Deliverables 16
About This Section 16
Format/Reporting Requirements 16
Background/Problem Statement 17
Goal And Objectives Of The Agreement 17
III. Proposal Format, Required Documents, and Delivery 46
About This Section 46
Required Format for a Proposal 46
Number of Copies 46
Packaging and Labeling 46
Preferred Method for Delivery 46
Organize Your Proposal As Follows 47
IV. Evaluation Process and Criteria 53
About This Section 53
Proposal Evaluation 53
Notice of Proposed Award 55
V. Business Participation Programs (Preferences/Incentives) 60
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) 60
Compliance Requirements 60
DVBE Incentive 62
Small / Microbusiness / Non-Small Business 63
Non-Small Business 65
Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) 65
VI. Administration 66
RFP Defined 66
Definition of Key Words 66
Cost of Developing Proposal 66
Printing Services 66
Confidential Information 67
Darfur Contracting Act of 2008 67
Iran Contracting Act of 2010 67
California Civil Rights Laws 67
RFP Cancellation and Amendments 68
Errors 68
Modifying or Withdrawal of Proposal 68
Immaterial Defect 68
Disposition of Bidder’s Documents 68
Bidder’s admonishment 68
Grounds to Reject a Proposal 69
Protest Procedures 69
Agreement Requirements 70
Attachments1 / Contractor Status Form
2 / Darfur Contracting Act
3 / Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Form Std. 843
4 / Bidder Declaration Form GSPD-05-105
5 / Contractor Certification Clauses
6 / Client References
7 / Budget Forms
8 / Standard Agreement Example
9 / Commitment and Support Letters Form
10
11 / Iran Contracting Act Form
California Civil Rights Laws Certification
I. Introduction
Purpose of RFP
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to select one contractor that will provide technology transfer services and expertise to ensure that the results of projects funded through the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) are effectively disseminated and communicated to stakeholders.
Up to $6 million is available for the contract resulting from this RFP. The contract which results from this RFP is expected to run through March 2022.
The contractor must have expertise and knowledge in a wide range of California energy topics and markets to effectively design and develop technology transfer activities and products described in this RFP. Additionally, the contractor must have skills and experience in producing public events and creating effective multimedia communications tools to share information with stakeholders and the public.
The contractor, working in collaboration and consultation with Energy Commission staff, will:
● Conduct three forums per year on key topics affecting the electricity sector in California’s investor-owned utility (IOU) service territories. These forums will provide opportunities for researchers and grantees to discuss energy trends and issues in achieving California’s energy policy goals; and identify how EPIC-funded projects can play a critical role. The forums will be held in various locations throughout the state.
● Plan, produce, and manage one annual EPIC Symposium every February from 2019 to 2021 (three total). The Symposium will showcase EPIC-funded projects to connect research and technologies to investors, customers, local governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders capable of transferring the results into market and policy actions.
● Develop digital multimedia materials, including videos and podcasts, to communicate the impact and results of EPIC-funded projects to stakeholders and facilitate increased technology transfer for energy research and technologies.
The California Energy Commission seeks a contractor with skills, knowledge, and experience in:
● Creating, managing, and coordinating high-profile public events.
● Contracting with audio visual experts, photographers, videographers, graphic designers, web designers, and IT professionals.
● Managing audio visual experts, photographers, videographers, app developers, and IT professionals.
● Coordinating with speakers, presenters, and subject matter experts.
● A wide range of California energy topics including energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart grid, energy storage, and electric transportation.
● Building coalitions to increase attendance and raise awareness within the research community.
● Conducting outreach to underrepresented communities as potential attendees.
● Designing and producing materials for Forums and Symposiums. A contractor may consider using match funding for printing deliverables.
● Creating professional video and compelling photographs.
● Curating and archiving photos and video coverage.
● Leveraging social media marketing for media coverage.
● Working with utility and energy organizations to promote all events.
● Marketing research conferences with creativity.
● Managing conferences from planning to event to post-event review.
● Researching and writing content on EPIC research projects for various platforms including, but not limited to, articles, podcasts, and blogs.
● Conducting on-camera interviews and producing finished video packages.
Background
1. Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program
This solicitation will result in a contract funded by EPIC, an electricity ratepayer surcharge established by the California Public Utilities Commission in December 2011.[1] The purpose of the EPIC program is to benefit the ratepayers of three investor-owned utilities including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co. The EPIC program funds clean energy technology projects that promote greater electricity reliability, lower costs, and increased safety.[2] In addition to providing IOU ratepayer benefits, funded projects must lead to breakthroughs to overcome barriers that prevent the state from achieving its statutory energy goals.[3]
The EPIC program is administered by the California Energy Commission and the IOUs.
2. Program Areas, Strategic Objectives, and Funding Initiatives
EPIC projects must fall within the following program areas identified by the CPUC:
● Applied Research and Development;
● Technology Demonstration and Deployment; and
● Market Facilitation
In addition, projects must fall within one of the general focus areas (“strategic objectives”) identified in the Energy Commission’s 2015-2017 EPIC Investment Plan[4] and within one or more specific focus areas (“funding initiatives”) identified in the plan. Below are all program areas, strategic objectives, and funding initiatives targeted by this solicitation:
● Investment Plan: 2015-17 EPIC Triennial Investment Plan - FINAL
● Program Area: Market Facilitation
● Strategic Objective S18: Foster the Development of the Most Promising Energy Technologies into Successful Businesses
· Funding Initiative S18.1: Facilitate a Commercialization Assistance Network to Foster Successful Clean Energy Entrepreneurship
3. Applicable California Laws, Policies, and Background Documents
This RFP addresses the energy goals described in the following laws, policies, and background documents. Please see footnotes to discussion above for links to laws, policies, and background documents specific to EPIC.
Laws/Regulations
● Assembly Bill (AB) 32 - The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
AB 32 created a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California. GHG reduction strategies include a reduction mandate of 1990 levels by 2020 and a cap-and-trade program. AB 32 also required the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop a Scoping Plan that describes the approach California will take to reduce GHGs. ARB must update the plan every five years.
Additional information: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm
Applicable Law: California Health and Safety Code §§ 38500 et. seq.
● AB 758, Building Efficiency (Skinner, Chapter 470, Statutes of 2009)
AB 758 requires the Energy Commission to collaborate with the California Public Utilities Commission and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in existing residential and nonresidential buildings. The Energy Commission developed an Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan in 2015, and plans to develop voluntary and mandatory strategies and approaches to achieve energy savings.
Additional information: http://www.energy.ca.gov/ab758/
Applicable Law: California Public Resources § 25943, California Public Utilities Code §§ 381.2 and 385.2
● AB 327, Distribution Resource Planning (Perea, Chapter 611, Statues of 2013)
AB 327 requires submittal of a distribution resource plan proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission, identifying optimal locations for the deployment of distributed resources and planning for integrating distributed resources into the electrical grid.
Additional Information: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/general.aspx?id=5071
Applicable Law: California Public Utilities Code § 382, § 399.15, § 739.1, § 739.9 § 745, § 769, § 2827, § 2827.1, § 2827.10, relating to energy.
● Senate Bill (SB) 96 (Chapter 356, Statutes of 2013)
Senate Bill 96 directs the Energy Commission to award EPIC funds for projects that will benefit electricity ratepayers and lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome the barriers that prevent achieving the state’s statutory energy goals. SB 96 directs the Energy Commission to ensure EPIC funds are strategically focused and sufficiently narrow to make advancement on the most significant technological challenges, advancing energy technologies and strategies that can benefit electric ratepayers through innovation in the agriculture, industrial, and water sectors.
Additional information: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB96
Applicable Law: California Public Resources Code §25711.5.
● Appliance Efficiency Regulations
The Energy Commission promulgates appliance efficiency regulations that require manufacturers of various new appliances sold or offered for sale in California to test them using specified test methods. Covered appliances include refrigerators, air conditioners, heaters, plumbing fittings/fixtures, lighting, washers, dryers, cooking products, electric motors, transformers, power supplies, televisions, and battery charger systems.
Additional information: http://www.bsc.ca.gov/; http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/
Applicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, §§ 1601 et. seq.
● California Energy Code
The Energy Code is a component of the California Building Standards Code, and is published every three years through the collaborative efforts of state agencies including the California Building Standards Commission and the Energy Commission. The Code ensures that new and existing buildings achieve energy efficiency and preserve outdoor and indoor environmental quality through use of the most energy efficient technologies and construction.
Additional information: http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/
Applicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6, and associated administrative regulations in Part 1.
● Renewables Portfolio Standard (SB X1-2, Statutes of 2011-12, First Extraordinary Session)
SB X1-2 requires that all California electricity retailers adopt the goals of 20 percent of retail sales from renewable energy sources by the end of 2013, 25 percent by the end of 2016, and 33 percent by the end of 2020.
Additional information: http://www.energy.ca.gov/portfolio/index.html
Applicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6 and associated administrative regulations in Part 1.
● Senate Bill 350 (Statutes of 2015)
SB 350 requires the Energy Commission to establish annual targets for statewide energy efficiency savings and demand reduction that will achieve a cumulative doubling of statewide energy efficiency savings in electricity and natural gas final end uses of retail customers by January 1, 2030. The law also requires the CPUC to establish efficiency targets for electrical and gas corporations consistent with this goal and requires local publicly owned electric utilities to establish annual targets for energy efficiency savings and demand reduction consistent with this goal.
SB 350 also increases the amount of electricity generated and sold to retail customers per year from eligible renewable energy resources be increased to 50% by December 31, 2030, as provided. The bill would make other revisions to the RPS Program and to certain other requirements on public utilities and publicly owned electric utilities.
Additional information: Energy Commission business meeting agenda January 13, 2016, item 05 OIR-SB 350, http://www.energy.ca.gov/business_meetings/. Also see,
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/sb350/
Applicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Health and Safety Code Section 44258.5; Labor Code Section 25310 and 25943; Public Resources Code Sections 25302.2 and 25327; and Public Utilities Code 359, 399.4 et. seq., and 454.55 et. seq.
● Assembly Bill (AB) 2514 - Energy Storage Systems (Statutes of 2010)
AB 2514 required the CPUC to determine targets for the procurement of viable, cost-effective energy storage systems by load-serving entities. The CPUC adopted the procurement targets in Decision 13-10-040, issued on October 17, 2013 (see the summary of Decision 13-10-040 in the “Policies/Plans” section below).
Additional information:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedfiles/cpuc_public_website/content/about_us/annual_reports/smart_grid_annual_report_2016_final.pdf
Applicable Law: California Public Utilities Code §§ 2835 et. seq., and § 9620
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100AB2514
● Public Utilities Code Section 8360
This sets out the state’s policy to support the development of a smart grid.
Additional information:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedfiles/cpuc_public_website/content/about_us/annual_reports/smart_grid_annual_report_2016_final.pdf
Applicable Law: Public Utilities Code § 8360.
Policies/Plans
· CPUC’s Order Instituting Rulemaking Regarding Policies, Procedures and Rules for Development of Distribution Resources Plans Pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 769.(R. 14-08-013) (2013)
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish policies, procedures, and rules to guide California IOUs in developing their Distributed Resource Plans. Under this rulemaking, “distributed resources” includes distributed renewable generation resources, energy efficiency, energy storage, electric vehicles, and demand response technologies.
Additional information: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/general.aspx?id=5071
· CPUC’s Alternative-Fueled Vehicle Programs, Tariffs, and Policies Order Instituting Rulemaking (R.13-11-007) (2013)
The AFV Rulemaking includes two policy focused tracks, including evaluation of the potential and value of vehicle-grid integration and the development of new alternative fuel vehicle tariffs in each of the three largest investor-owned utilities.
Additional information:http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/zev/
● CPUC Decision 13-10-040, “Decision Adopting Energy Storage Procurement Framework and Design Program” (2013)
The Decision establishes policies and mechanisms for energy storage procurement, as required by AB 2514 (described above). The IOU procurement target is 1,325 megawatts of energy storage by 2020, with installations required no later than the end of 2024.