Scope of Work
1. We understand MassCEC is looking for the Provider to develop and design a web-based resident-facing Pre-qualification Tool to support MA residents in understanding their MASFA program eligibility. Could you provide additional detail on the requirements of this Tool, beyond the information in the RFP?
The MASFA coalition is seeking a tool that residents can utilize to determine what Solar For All options or support may be available to them. Applicants are encouraged to propose tools that will best assist in this goal. As described in the RFP, it is anticipated that the tool will likely consist of a lookup function where residents can preview program eligibility based on basic data such as their zip code, household income and size, or other program eligibility features. It is not intended to include the input of any PII and is not intended to facilitate actual documentation upload or eligibility verification. The tool may be embedded into an existing program website or may link out from a program webpage to a separate webpage, depending on the functionality of existing program webpages and evolving program webpage design decisions.
2. I see this listed among the potential materials that could be included: “Trainings or webinars to educate sub-awardees, contractors, and other key partners and stakeholder groups using the educational products;” Can you clarify what “sub-awardees” refers to?
The prime recipient of the MASFA grant is the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Sub-awardees include members of the MASFA coalition which are implementation partners for the program, namely MassCEC, the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, and the Boston Housing Authority, as well as other potential partner organizations receiving funding through RFPs or other funding offerings should the role or entity meet EPA’s Subaward definitions.
3. I see that the Decision-Support Provider’s work is focused on small residential building owners, and they would use the materials created by the Educational Materials Provider. However, I see that the MASFA initiatives also include “third party and direct ownership initiatives for solar systems on public and private affordable multifamily housing properties.” How much of the Educational Materials Provider’s work is expected to be focused on small residential initiatives vs. on multifamily housing initiatives?
The Educational Materials Provider will support all intended SFA initiatives (Small Residential, Community Shared Solar, and Multifamily Affordable Solar). It is anticipated that the majority of the work may be small residential focused since by nature this segment has a higher volume of participants and stakeholders (and therefore greater need for thoughtful supporting materials). Deliverables pertinent to MASFA multifamily initiatives may include general resources for building owners as potential participants as well as training materials, e.g., for contractors or installers.
4. Can you clarify what is meant by “multiple media types” in this bullet under the Program Goals and Description section: “Create materials using multiple media types and an array of communication tools to best reach eligible MASFA participants and thus drive program adoption. Media should be made available in the most spoken languages in Massachusetts.”? Is this referring to a mix, for example, of print materials, online advertising/social media materials, educational videos, etc.?
Many program materials will be in written format for posting on the MASFA website and formatted to enable the printing of physical copies. Additional media types may include direct web content, flyers, educational videos, promotional content for social media or advertising more generally, and any additional formats which are well suited for reaching potential Solar for All participants. Applicants are encouraged to propose ideas based on their experience. The selected provider will engage and iterate with MassCEC on which formats and types of content are likely to be engaging and have broad viewership among eligible residents.
5. What is the responsibility of the Educational Resources Provider for distributing the materials they create? For example, is the provider expected to ensure that materials make it to all solar installers in the state, or that public materials are turned into advertising campaigns or other large-scale public distribution strategies? OR will the MassCEC and its partners be helping to distribute materials and the Educational Resources Provider is responsible for creating them for distribution? OR are there some types of distribution that fall within his scope (e.g. sharing with all solar installers) and others that do not (e.g. running large-scale public advertising campaign)?
The primary responsibility of the Provider will be to create materials which can then be leveraged by both MassCEC and community-based organizations and other key stakeholders involved in the localized sharing of information about the MASFA small residential offerings, as well as educational and informational materials or training content geared at contractors or installers which may be engaged by the program. For residents who have indicated interest in the program, the Decision Support Provider will also leverage core educational materials in their one-on-one consultations to help residents understand the available MASFA offerings and which, if any, would suit their needs; some materials may be designed specifically for the context of these consultations, as needed. The Provider may partake in some limited and targeted distribution of educational materials, and 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. MassCEC would also look to the selected Provider as a thought partner in identifying and engaging with impactful networks for greater outreach.
6. I see that task 2 includes the following: “Support contractors and installers as needed in meeting qualification requirements for MASFA programming through tailored program materials and workforce-related trainings, especially for small contractors” Where can we find more information about the “qualification requirements for MASFA programming” for contractors and installers to better understand this part of the scope?
Qualification requirements for contractors and installers under MASFA are still under development, but as a reference, you may view the Mass Solar Loan Program Manual, which includes qualification requirements from the Mass Solar Loan program (MassCEC’s most recent solar program, active from 2015-2020).
7. Task 2 also lists “Help partners access relevant educational materials and training offerings to better serve constituents in target communities. Partners may include community-based organizations; energy efficiency delivery organizations; local lenders such as banks, credit unions, and community development financial institutions; and municipalities.” Who is responsible for developing these partnerships and how will these relationships be communicated to the Educational Materials Provider so they may help serve their needs? Are these partners receiving any sort of compensation to support with the outreach and education around the MASFA programs or how are these partnerships structured with the MassCEC and other key MASFA designers/stakeholders?
MassCEC is undertaking a multi-phased approach to stakeholder engagement with existing “partner” organizations (i.e., collaborators and peers), and is developing new stakeholder relationships on an ongoing basis in response to stakeholder outreach and emerging public interest in the MASFA program. MassCEC will assist the Provider in liaising with any partner organizations as is necessary, but the Provider is encouraged to leverage any existing relationships and networks which may enhance their work. MASFA partners which are carrying out program implementation itself are financially compensated, including the members of the MASFA coalition, additional program vendors or consultants, and Community Based Organizations receiving funding through additional planned Education and Outreach offerings.
Language Access:
1. Your website is translated into 12 different languages - are we expected to provide materials in all of those languages? How much discretion do we have in how much of the material we support in other languages? For example, can we do some promo in all those languages but make clear that all support transactions are only supported in English, Spanish, and one or two others? That way we are promoting widely but not setting expectations that customer/partner/contractor interactions will be supported in all those languages. We are worried that the solar industry partners will also struggle to provide support in 12 languages and so we want to make sure that even if we provided materials in multiple languages the support for later on in the process would be there too.
While we wanted to ensure as wide a reach as possible to different linguistic communities for the slide deck describing the MASFA program offerings, we generally base our list of top languages spoken in MA on the Massachusetts State Government Language Access Plans, which list the top five languages spoken at home as:
- English
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese)
- Haitian Creole
MassCEC recognizes that, particularly for smaller or more localized applicants, offering full services in all twelve languages currently on the website, or all five listed above, may not be feasible. The MASFA program has budget and resources for translation and transcreation, should they need to be accessed. We encourage applicants to describe their existing capacity for translation and transcreation services and apply even if they do not possess full capacity in-house. MassCEC will work with the chosen provider to finalize a plan for language access services.
Website and Data Sharing
1. Multiple instances within the RFP mention integrating educational material into a website and I'd like to clarify whether we should have our own website or rely on MASFA's and MassCEC websites?
Educational materials will be integrated into MASFA coalition program websites, with the potential exception of the pre-qualification tool, which may be hosted on its own website if needed depending on the functionality of the existing web pages and ability to embed the tool. The primary program website is currently hosted through DOER, and additional program specific websites will be created by coalition partners over the course of program launches.
2. Would MassCEC and DOER be open to a data sharing agreement? given that we are expected to liaise with both of those department's marketing staff and their web contractors to obtain key web metrics for any materials posted publicly on program web pages.
MassCEC and DOER may consider limited data sharing as is determined necessary to support program management and reporting and depending on the functionality of existing MassCEC and program webpages. Applicants should be aware that both MassCEC and DOER are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and, unless a legal exception applies, information held by either agency may be subject to public disclosure.
Funding and Contract
1. What potential circumstances outside of MassCEC's control may require that you delay, or cancel, awarding funds under this RFP?
Changes to MassCEC’s planned awarding of funds may potentially occur due to shifts in the federal or state funding landscape, however, MassCEC will work diligently with vendors and other partners to ensure that they are apprised of any outside circumstances which may arise.
2. Would you be open in negotiating the wording in this paragraph? "This RFP does not commit MassCEC to award any funds, pay any costs incurred in preparing an application, or procure or contract for services or supplies, MassCEC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, waive minor irregularities in submittal requirements, modify the anticipated timeline, request modification of the application, negotiate with all qualified applicants, cancel or modify the RFP in part or in its entirety, or change the application guidelines, when it is in MassCEC's best interests."
Any proposed changes to contract, disclaimer, or waiver language may be discussed during contracting with the selected Applicant. However, MassCEC will not negotiate that specific language in the RFP itself with applicants.
How to Apply
1. This section notes that responses to this RFP are due no later than April 18, 2025. Could you confirm that the due date is May 23, 2025, as specified elsewhere in the RFP?
The deadline for applications to this proposal is May 23, 2025; the aforementioned instance of the April 2025 date has been corrected in the RFP.
