Request for Proposals - posted August 24, 2009 (RFP CLOSED)
RFP Questions and Answers - 9/18/09 (RFP CLOSED)
Many of New Hampshire's businesses, commercial enterprises, institutions and nonprofits operate in inefficient buildings, and use more energy for heating and electricity than is optimal. These businesses and institutions seek to reduce their energy use and cost through a variety of measures, including more energy efficient processes. Employers need to reduce costs wherever possible, but to make the investment in energy efficiency to save jobs and enterprises, financial and technical assistance is needed. This program will distribute loan and grant funds through a partnering agency selected through a formal RFP, which will then be targeted to large enterprises seeking to make their buildings and/or industrial processes more energy efficient. Funds may also be used for onsite renewable energy generation. The primary goal of this program is to reduce energy usage and emissions, save money, and create and retain jobs by installing EE and RE products or technologies in business and commercial facilities. OEP has received many inquiries about this program.
OEP will subcontract administration of the loan/grant program. OEP is coordinating a Request for Information meeting to discuss the overview of ARRA-SEP, this particular program, and the Small Business EE/RE Loan/Grant Program, and solicit advice from lending and granting professionals regarding feasibility of award sizes, grants versus loans, revolving loans, recommended eligibility requirements, breakdowns of EE versus RE projects, and how they recommend the program to be delivered. The administrator will be chosen through a competitive RFP process. We anticipate that funds will be granted on a first-come, first served basis.
OEP will create a scorecard to evaluate the proposals submitted in response to the RFPs to determine which entity will administer this program. The administrator, working with OEP, will determine evaluation criteria for who receives the funding for the EE upgrades or RE systems. The program will be evaluated and monitored throughout the program for energy saved, emissions reduced, and jobs created. These criteria will be developed by OEP and the administrator prior to the start of the program. Energy efficiency upgrade proposals will include energy use data, commissioning, and agreements for follow-up data monitoring. Details on this part of the program will be determined in the coming months as OEP and its subcontracted partner ramp up the program.
As stated in OEP’s Comprehensive Application of May 12, 2009, OEP does not anticipate these programs or projects to negatively affect the environment. However, if any of the proposed projects potentially impact the environment, a DOE EF1 will be submitted. In each Request for Proposals or Memoranda of Agreement, OEP will include statements about NEPA compliance and reporting. Similarly, Davis Bacon, Historic Preservation, Buy American, reporting requirements, and other important factors will be included in the RFPs.
OEP anticipates partnering with the subcontracted administrator of this program to promote these funding opportunities and the importance of energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy as a means to save energy, reduce emissions, and create jobs. The program will be promoted through existing OEP events such as conferences and speaking engagements.
To Be Awarded: $2,500,000.00 Overall Program Total: $2,534,893.09
July 15, 2009, Request for Information Meeting  - to prepare OEP for writting the Request for Proposal for the administration of this program.
For more information about this program, contact Laura Richardson. (271-6092)
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