This solicitation is no longer active.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) seeks proposals from qualified vendors to provide technical and programmatic support for its Clean Heating & Cooling Programs (“CH&C Programs”), which provide financial support for the installation of renewable heating technologies at residential and commercial-scale facilities. MassCEC seeks to pre-qualify professionals that can provide the following services related to high-efficiency air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, central biomass heating, and solar thermal technologies:
- Conducting project design reviews for proposed projects;
- Conducting on-site inspections of rebated projects;
- Ad hoc technology-specific technical support, including evaluating emerging technologies, evaluating project performance data, and other efforts;
- Ad hoc advising on program design, including rebate/savings/economic modeling, greenhouse gas (GHG) savings accounting, and other efforts.
MassCEC encourages firms to apply for one or more of these roles. MassCEC anticipates selecting multiple vendors under this RFQ and entering into a contract with each selected vendor.
Potential Respondents may submit questions by email to Leslie Nash by November 8, 2016. All questions will be answered in writing and publicly posted on this webpage no later than November 15, 2016.
Responses to the RFQ will be accepted through December 2, 2016.
(Please note: the deadline for this RFQ has been extended to December 2, 2016)
Clean Heating & Cooling Technical Services – Request for Qualifications
Clean Heating & Cooling Technical Services – Request for Qualifications - Attachments
RFQ Questions & Answers:
Q: For three of the four categories, the field inspection scope seems to be very detailed and potentially costly. Would MassCEC consider options to the scope if it met the quality standards by other verification methods?
A: Yes, provided that the Respondent’s proposed scope allows for verification that the system is functioning properly and the installation meets program requirements and best practices. Such alternatives should be detailed in a suggested scope to be submitted with the response.
Q: With regard to inspections, are there are any specific certifications or selection criteria required for inspections?
A: Although there are no specific certification requirements, MassCEC will consider certifications when evaluating contractors’ qualifications. Training and experience related to HVAC technologies in general and to the design, inspection, and installation of the specific technologies covered by this RFQ will be considered.
Q: Are manufacturers, or engineers and staff employed by manufacturers, able to apply? What about conflict of interest/brand neutrality?
A: Product manufacturers, or engineers and staff employed by manufacturers, are eligible to apply. However, they should provide a description of the process for how they expect to maintain independence and avoid any conflict of interest. If the contractor were selected, MassCEC would only assign work where MassCEC felt confident that there would be no conflict of interest issues.
Q: Contracts are expected to last three years; does this apply directly to the individual Respondent, or could it transfer to other employee(s) at the Respondent’s employer? e.g. in an extended leave of absence(medical, travel, etc)
A: MassCEC will contract with companies for a time span of up to three years. Such a contract is not transferrable to other employees or companies. If an individual respondent were part of a company, MassCEC would sign a contract with the company. The company would be required to notify MassCEC if a given individual were no longer able to do work for MassCEC, and at that time, the Company could propose that another, similarly qualified employee be substituted. MassCEC would evaluate the employee and could approve that employee on the contract.
Q: Is it possible to provide a cost for a design review based on the size of the building? What guidance can you supply regarding pricing so all Respondents propose in a similar manner?
A: Respondents should propose rates that align with the fixed, hourly, or not-to-exceed structures presented on a task-by-task basis in Attachment C.
Q: As solar thermal design reviews can vary greatly in their depth and the wording “feasibility documents ranging from 5 to 50 pages” highlights the range. So, while I understand how that wording impacts reviews, I wonder if you can give some guidance as to how it would impact the cost of relative time spent on systems inspections where the construction varies that much.
A: The residential solar hot water reviews and inspections are considered to be a fixed rate, because of the similarity in size of systems. For small-scale and commercial-scale solar hot water reviews and inspections, the Respondent is to respond with the relative “not to exceed” rate; this will allow for flexibility based on project size and depth of inspection.
Q: The rate sheet seems to ask for fixed prices so I wonder how travel time should be dealt with. Example: Do two similar site inspections have the same fixed price when one is ten miles away, the other 100 miles away, and would there be a way to add travel expense or does it need to be included?
A: Yes, travel costs should be included in the fixed price provided. Please see Section B.7a: “Per project fixed fee price proposals, which include travel costs, should be provided for inspections for residential ASHP and residential/small-scale biomass heating, GSHP, and solar thermal.”
A: Yes, travel costs should be included in the fixed price provided. Please see Section B.7a: “Per project fixed fee price proposals, which include travel costs, should be provided for inspections for residential ASHP and residential/small-scale biomass heating, GSHP, and solar thermal.”
Q: What does the following language from the ad hoc biomass scope of services mean? “A specific aspect of this scope may include the review of a new biomass heating system model for the MassCEC program including their test data, performance, and other analysis.”
A: MassCEC may engage third-party technical consultants to review test data and conduct analysis to determine whether a particular biomass boiler or line of boilers meets MassCEC’s program requirements and is therefore eligible to participate in our grant program.
Q: Who is the incumbent for the program currently? Are there multiple vendors for inspections?
A: Currently, MassCEC has a contract with The Cadmus Group, Inc. and they have subcontracted for areas requiring specific expertise.
Q: What type of companies typically do the installations of the systems indicated in the RFQ?
A: Most systems are installed by mechanical/HVAC contractors, with certain specialized work being completed by subcontractors (e.g. ground-source loop fields are typically installed by drilling companies). To qualify, the installer must sign an installer agreement with MassCEC and submit proof of technology-specific certifications or training.
Q: Is a simple partnership between two companies with complementary services acceptable to MassCEC?
A: A partnership between two companies would be eligible to respond to this RFQ, however, as stated in the RFQ: “Consortiums, partnerships, or subcontracting arrangements that include significant overhead and management fees are discouraged from applying.”
Q: Please provide an approximate percentage of systems in each of the technologies that currently meet or exceed program installation guidelines upon initial inspection.
A: Approximately 50% of projects in each technology category fail to meet minimum required installation guidelines upon initial inspection and require follow-up work by the installer.
Q: Please provide an approximate percentage of the systems in each of the technologies that currently meet or exceed program design guidelines based upon initial review.
A: Approximately 40% of project design reviews across all technoloogy categories require corrective action by the designer or installer.
Q: What criteria does the MassCEC program use as a guideline for such design reviews and Installation/Operational inspections? Can you provide a link?
A: Detailed requirements for design reviews are listed in the Technical Scopes of Section 2.A. in the RFQ. Project designs must meet MassCEC program requirements and align with industry standards and best practices. Technical requirements are described in the Program Manuals for each program, which are posted on the Installer Resources page for each technology at:
Detailed requirements for inspections are listed in the Technical Scopes of Section 2.A. in the RFQ. For installation inspections, the inspector will verify that the system is functioning properly, meets local building codes and regulations, meets program requirements, and that installed equipment is consistent with the project application.
The Respondent may propose modifications to these scopes.
Q: Will inspections of biomass heating systems potentially require contractors to conduct performance review, such as environmental/air quality testing?
A: The inspection process is primarily intended to identify installation deficiencies, as detailed in the response above. Inspections of biomass heating systems have not historically included performance review, though MassCEC may consider implementing this review in the future. For purposes of submitting proposals for inspections, we recommend not including pricing for performance reviews. However, qualifications for this work may be submitted under the ad hoc biomass technical support category.
Q: Please provide an approximate geographic distribution of air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, biomass heating systems, and solar hot water systems in the current program.
A: Please see the maps below for the geographic distribution of projects across the state:
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