Request for Proposals: MASFA Decision-Support Provider

Scope of Work and Eligibility

Regarding the “Alternate: Outreach and Engagement” portion of the scope, and associated eligibility area…

1. Who are the “Complementary MASFA Partners”?

This refers to other Technical Assistance providers, grantees, and collaborators under the MASFA program. This may include, but is not limited to, members of the MASFA Coalition (MA DOER, Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, Boston Housing Authority), recipients of MASFA Education and Outreach Grants (Grant opening/RFP to be released Q2-Q3 2025), municipalities engaging in home decarbonization and energy efficiency outreach, recipients of funding under complementary MassCEC programs, and more.

2. What types of outreach will they be conducting? How would the MASFA Decision-Support Provider interact with these MASFA partners? How would their outreach efforts be connected to the Decision-Support Provider’s custom support?

The outreach conducted by these partners will vary. In general, MASFA partners and grantees will likely conduct localized outreach distributed across the state, supplemented by educational and informational resources that are applicable statewide. As currently scoped, we anticipate that outreach efforts conducted by MASFA Partners will make contact with potential program participants and educate them about opportunities available under MASFA, as well as provide them with general educational and informational resources about solar PV, incentives, and consumer protection. This would include referring potential program participants to the Decision-Support Provider, should they be interested in pursuing financial assistance under the MASFA initiatives. We additionally will provide solar installers participating in our initiatives with informational resources about the Decision-Support Provider services. We anticipate that a portion of residents will be directly referred by their installer prior to applying for MASFA financial assistance. The Decision-Support Provider would then provide the 1-on-1 support described in the RFP.

3. What type of “support for outreach and engagement efforts” are you anticipating might get woven into the scope of the Decision-Support Provider? How would decisions about those adjustments to the scope be made?

The Decision-Support Provider would not be expected to lead outreach efforts. If the Decision-Support Provider’s scope of work must be adjusted to include the “alternate” scope of support for outreach and engagement efforts, the MASFA Program Administrators will discuss this collaboratively with the contracted provider to ensure that the specific tasks fit within the Provider’s areas of expertise, capacity as an organization, and spirit of the service.

4. How would budget considerations about adjustments to the scope be made? (For example, if a budget is built to accommodate staffing for the Decision-Support Provider, but then outreach support is needed but that is a different skill set or requires additional capacity from the Decision-Support Provider, how would this be evaluated and adjustments be made?)

As we cannot guarantee participant uptake or engagement with the Decision Support Provider, we included this alternate task in the scope of work to be transparent about potential adjustments over time. This is meant to ensure that the contracted budget is used in an efficient manner that continues to serve MA residents.

We anticipate that many applicants may have complementary skillsets such as education, communication, and engagement experience with LIDAC populations that would be able to bolster outreach and engagement efforts.

If budget adjustments are necessary over the contracted term, these will be negotiated between the Provider and Program Administrators.

Funding

1. How much of the funding for this RFP is dependent on federal funding?

The entire budget for this RFP is part of the Massachusetts Solar for All award from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

2. How much of this federal funding has already been received by MassCEC vs. how much is expected to be received in the future?

The Massachusetts Solar for All Coalition has fully executed our award and workplan with the Environmental Protection Agency. The full $156 M award to support MASFA programs has been obligated to Massachusetts. MassCEC has fully executed our subaward agreement with the MA Department of Energy Resources, which is the prime recipient of MASFA funding. The MASFA coalition is excited to move forward with the implementation of the Massachusetts Solar for All Program as laid out in our workplan with the EPA.

Solar For All funding is structured as a ‘draw down’ program where program awardees request funding as needed to make payments to sub awardees and contractors. Applicants are welcome to propose structures for this service agreement that would help mitigate any concerns with the draw down structure.

3. What flexibility exists in the model for funding? For example, does everything need to be billed based on time and materials, or is there the potential for a “launch phase” fee and/or a “retainer” style fee to cover the staff costs to make Decision-Support staff available, even if volume of outreach or uptick of the use of the service are low?

Respondents are welcome to propose alternative pricing structures to account for their organizational needs. Any alternative pricing structures should be itemized. If proposing an alternative pricing structure, applicants should provide details about their needs and reasoning behind the alternative structure in the Budget Narrative.

Timeline

1. The RFP notes that MassCEC is seeking a Provider for up to 5 years. We understand the program period for SFA awardees to be 2024-2029. Could you confirm the envisioned end date of the requested services?

The total length of the Massachusetts Solar for All program is five years, with the EPA period of performance beginning in September 2024. Decision-Support services will be offered while programming is open to applications from the public; this currently is anticipated to be mid-2025 through mid-2029 (4 years). Contracted service may extend beyond this 4-year period to account for flexibility, should work be needed to finalize reports, turn data from the Program into informational resources, or otherwise wind down programming.

2. How soon after a June 2025 award announcement would you expect work to begin on this project? How long is the allowed ramp-up time between starting the work and actually offering the service to residents?

MassCEC anticipates that Task 1 “Scoping and Capacity Building” will begin upon finalization of a contract between MassCEC and the selected Provider. We recognize that contracting takes time and will adjust anticipated timelines for the capacity building phase and anticipated launch responsively.

As noted in the RFP, MassCEC anticipates that the Decision-Support Provider will begin offering services concurrently with the launch of MASFA Small Residential Financial Assistance initiatives in late Summer 2025. Given MASFA programming and outreach efforts will roll out in phases, the Provider may be able to begin offering services before reaching full capacity. Applicants that feel they are strong providers but are unsure if they could build out capacity on the aforementioned timeline should include in their proposal an anticipated timeline to reach full capacity, while also noting what services the applicant would be able to provide by late Summer-early Fall 2025.

3. What is the timeline for the outreach that the “complementary MASFA partners” will be conducting?

We anticipate that outreach for the MASFA Programs will take place over the full course of the program period, from Summer 2025-Summer 2029.

4. Where are MassCEC and their partners in the timeline for developing the MASFA Small Residential Financial Assistance Initiatives?

We currently anticipate that the MASFA Small Residential Financial Assistance initiatives will launch late Summer 2025. This timeline may change in response to procurement and coordination with partners, staff capacity, funding changes, or other factors.