17-43-RFP 2017 LSW Solarize Mass Plus
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The communities of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland (each an “LSW Town”, together “LSW” or the “LSW Towns”) are releasing a request for proposals (“RFP”) from solar photovoltaic (“PV”) installers and solar hot water (“SHW”) installers (“Installer(s)”) to participate in the 2017 Solarize Massachusetts Plus Pilot Program ("Solarize Mass Plus” or the “Program”), a Program run in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (“MassCEC”) and the Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”). This pilot program pairs the Solarize Mass model with a SHW technology offering. The Program will deepen community adoption of PV technology and stimulate market awareness and interest in SHW technology through a group purchasing model that includes a tailored community-based marketing effort within the three Massachusetts communities (each a “Community”, together the “Communities”).
Solarize Mass Plus LSW seeks proposals from Installers that can provide residential and small-scale commercial solar PV installations under both direct purchase and third-party ownership models, and one or more Installers that can provide residential and, if available, small-scale commercial SHW technology installations.
As part of this RFP, Installers will submit separate proposals for Solar PV installations and SHW installations, and LSW will select installer partners for these two technologies separately. However, Installers may clarify as part of their proposal that they have pre-formed partnerships with Installers of the other technology. If an Installer offers both technologies as part of its in-house services, they may submit one proposal that includes both technologies. Additionally, multiple Installers of the same technology may elect to apply as a partnership, but will still be asked to collaborate on marketing with an Installer of the other technology as part of the Program.
The proposed relationship for project opportunity development and lead sharing is to ask prospects to specify which technology(s) they would like to explore. If the prospect indicates a single technology, the Installer of that technology takes that lead. If the prospect indicates interest in both technologies, the lead will go first to the PV Installer, and then once the PV opportunity has been evaluated, they would subsequently be forwarded to the SHW Installer. As part of their proposal, Installers are requested to react to this proposed relationship and, if preferred, provide alternate recommendations on partnering with the Installer of the other technology, including methods for collaboration and lead sharing.
The purpose of the Program is to enable customers in the LSW Towns who purchase a system or enter into Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) or leases under the Program to receive competitive (discounted) fixed pricing that is lower than average industry prices. The quality of the Installer proposal, proposed equipment, proposed pricing, ability to partner with the community, previous performance providing similar services, installation practices, and reference checks will be factors in the selection process. It is expected that Installers will be deeply familiar with all existing incentives for their technologies as well as the Mass Solar Loan program.
The three LSW Towns have elected to offer a program jointly, just as we did previously in our 2012 Solarize Mass LSW program. We foresee benefits to both the LSW Towns and their residents, as well as to the selected Installer(s), from the three towns working together on a single, coordinated Solarize Mass program. These benefits include a significantly larger high-value target population, enabling additional installer savings on marketing costs that in turn enables installers to offer more attractive pricing. The 2012 Solarize Mass LSW program resulted in 1,281 kW of residential solar capacity installed - one of the most successful Solarize programs in the state that year. The LSW Towns have a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively to achieve the goals of the program, including broader coverage and knowledge of the technical aspects of solar PV systems and their attendant economics, and a higher quality coordinated marketing effort to residents. Shared outreach events attended by residents of multiple towns and shared meeting points, e.g, grocery stores, mean both easier lead generation and faster follow-up. Moreover, residents of additional neighboring towns, such as Natick, have expressed interest in the forthcoming 2017 Solarize Mass Plus LSW Program, and may attend the marketing events of the Solarize LSW Program. If Installers would value such additional leads generated through Solarize LSW Program events and referrals, the LSW Towns welcome Installer suggestions on how non-LSW residents can access the Solarize LSW Program’s pricing.
For this 2017 program, the LSW Towns have elected to request simple fixed priced proposals from Installers, rather than the tiered pricing proposals often used by Solarize Mass programs, due to the expectation that total amount of solar PV installed during this Solarize Mass Plus LSW program will exceed the 200 kW level often used as “Tier 5” in tiered pricing RFPs. This expectation is based on preliminary web based surveys of residents recently conducted by the LSW Towns to gauge the expected level of participation in a 2017 Solarize program. Responses to these surveys indicated that at least 251 homeowners in the three towns are interested in installing roof or ground mounted solar and a further 114 homeowners know their roofs are not suitable but are interested in “sharing an array elsewhere”. In addition, 44 condo unit owners, 4 nonprofits, and 2 business owners expressed an interest in installing solar. This level of pre-Solarize program interest is similar to or greater than the engagement seen prior to the LSW Town’s prior 2012 Solarize Mass LSW program. As noted above, that program ultimately resulted in 1,281 kW of installed PV, with an average installation size of 9.35 kW.
Proposals must be received on or by 2pm on June 21, 2017. Late proposals will not be accepted. Proposals shall be submitted via email. "2017 Solarize Mass Plus LSW Installer Proposal" must appear in the subject line of the email submission.