RFQ-25-401 - Energy Code Compliance Evaluation Support

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Energy Code Compliance

Evaluation Support

RFQ-25-401

www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/

State of California

California Energy Commission

May 2026

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment Number	attachment TITLE
1	Contractor Status Form
2	Darfur Contracting Act Form
3	Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Declarations Form (Std. 843)
4	Bidder Declaration Form (GSPD-05-105)
5	Contractor Certification Clauses
6	Standard Agreement Example (informational, this attachment is not required in the Statement of Qualifications)
7	Client References
8	Iran Contracting Act Form
9	California Civil Rights Laws Certification

I. INTRODUCTION

Background Summary

The Warren-Alquist Act, Public Resources Code (PRC) section 25000 et seq., established the California Energy Commission (CEC) as California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. It also mandated that the CEC adopt and periodically update the Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which include building efficiency requirements in the Energy Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6) and voluntary building efficiency standards in the California Green Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11).

The CEC serves as the state of California’s (State) primary energy policy and planning agency. A core responsibility of the CEC is the adoption and implementation of California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards which apply to newly constructed single-family residential buildings, multifamily buildings, nonresidential buildings, and certain processes, as well as additions and alterations to these buildings across California.

The overarching statutory requirements of the Energy Code are to reduce wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary energy use, and its goals are to lower energy costs for Californians, improve energy affordability, advance energy efficiency, and contribute to California’s climate action goals. The 2022 Energy Code is estimated to provide California with $8.8 billion in statewide benefits over its lifetime, and the 2025 Energy Code is estimated to provide $4.8 billion in statewide benefits over its lifetime. Since inception, energy efficiency standards for both buildings and appliances have saved Californians over $200 billion in energy costs. However, the realization of these projected energy savings is contingent upon all design and construction activities complying with State regulations, including the Energy Code.

The Challenge: Lack of Comprehensive Compliance Data

The State currently faces significant challenges validating statewide compliance rates due to the absence of standardized, representative, and field-verified compliance data across building types and jurisdictions. This includes a scarcity of information on regional variations in compliance and the underlying causes of noncompliance. This data gap limits the CEC’s ability to fully grasp the financial cost of noncompliance to the State, effectively implement State policy, and strategically allocate resources. The CEC published a report, “Energy Code Compliance Gap Analysis,” which elaborates on these conditions by identifying challenges and proposing solutions to enhance the State's understanding of Energy Code compliance evaluation going forward.

Overarching Study’s Principles

This Energy Code Study (also known as the Compliance Rates Study) is intended to produce a statewide snapshot of the current California Energy Code compliance practices and outcomes, reflecting conditions at the time of data collection.

The study will focus on:

• Observed compliance at design and construction stages.

• Common pathways, barriers, and failure points of Energy Code implementation.

• Variability across building types, jurisdictions, and compliance approaches.

• Actionable insights to inform the compliance improvements strategies, workforce development, and future work.

Unlike program evaluation designs that assess pre and post implementation impacts, this study will not attempt to estimate changes over time or causal impacts of specific interventions, due to cost, feasibility, and burden consideration.

Understanding Compliance: Key Definitions

To establish a clear framework for compliance evaluation, CEC staff propose the following clear fundamental compliance definitions:

• Process-Based Compliance: This addresses building construction projects that successfully obtain necessary permits, undergo the full permitting and inspection processes, and maintain accurate documentation from design through completion. It focuses on adherence to procedures and documentation but does not inherently guarantee that the project underachieves or overachieves the intended energy savings.

• Energy-Based Compliance: This focuses on the actual outcomes, meaning the completed project performs at or above the energy efficiency levels intended by the Energy Code. Unlike process-based compliance, it does not strictly require all procedural steps to be completed.

Full compliance is achieved when a project satisfies both process-based and energy-based criteria.

While the State aims to improve full compliance, evaluating energy-based compliance presents a fundamental challenge because the Energy Code is a performance-based standard, as required by the Warren-Alquist Act. This structure allows multiple compliance pathways and design tradeoffs for each building, resulting in highly project-specific compliance outcomes. In addition, many Energy Code measures are only observable or verifiable during specific construction phases, once a building is occupied. Access to intermediate measures (such as envelope assemblies, concealed systems, or installed controls) is limited or infeasible without disruption. As a result, statistically representative field evaluation of energy-based compliance—particularly at a statewide scale—can become complex, costly, and resource-intensive.

Current Landscape of Compliance Evaluation in California

Previous studies in California have presented divergent findings regarding Energy Code compliance and do not necessarily provide a comprehensive statewide assessment.

• Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) Programs: Evaluations of IOU Codes and Standards (C&S) Building Code Advocacy programs, overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), have historically shown high "compliance" or "Energy Saving Factor" rates (over ninety percent [90%]). However, these studies were primarily designed to assess program-caused energy savings attributable to the IOU programs, rather than evaluating overall statewide adherence to the Energy Code. This distinction means their findings may not represent the broader state of code compliance of buildings in the State. In addition, prior IOU evaluations have therefore focused primarily on post-construction or readily observable measures, which are generally found to be satisfactory but do not capture the full scope of intermediate or construction-phase compliance.

• Regional Energy Networks (RENs): Some RENs, authorized by the CPUC, have conducted regional research. For instance, the 2015 Bay Area REN (BayREN) Permit Resource Opportunity Program (PROP) report revealed that only sixteen percent (16%) of projects in the Bay Area included complete compliance documentation, indicating a significant gap in understanding and adherence to the compliance process.

• Unpermitted Construction: A significant portion of construction activity occurs outside the building permitting process, representing an understudied segment. Studies indicate low permitting rates for certain activities, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) changeouts (eight to twenty-nine percent [8-29%] permitted) and newly constructed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in some cities (around twenty-five percent [25%] permitted). These low permitting rates suggest a lack of process-based compliance and potential negative impacts on energy-based compliance. The true extent and impact of unpermitted projects on noncompliance and associated costs to the State remain unclear due to significant data gaps.

Unpermitted construction occurs across a range of project types and may be performed by both licensed contractors and unlicensed installers. Licensed contractors are generally required to obtain permits for construction activities subject to local building regulations; however, in practice, work often is completed without permits. Unpermitted construction is also often completed by unlicensed installers performing work that requires licenses. Licensed contractors who do work under permits often view installers who do work without permits or without licenses as unfair competition, being underbid, potentially resulting from less attention to construction quality or compliance with building codes. By its nature, unpermitted construction operates outside of oversight and may not be visible to building departments or the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). CSLB protects consumers by regulating the construction industry through policies that promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public in matters relating to construction. Building owners that knowingly authorized the work to be done without permits or by unlicensed installers may not be willing to disclose or participate freely in field research regarding compliance with the Energy Code.

The CEC endeavors to evaluate compliance for both permitted and unpermitted projects, including work performed by both licensed contractors and unlicensed installers. The CEC recognizes the complexity and difficulty of studying unpermitted work. The objective is to produce compliance estimates that are as valid, accurate, and representative as possible across these market segments. The evaluation is expected to encounter challenges in recruiting participating buildings for unpermitted and unlicensed cases. This may result in difficulty in avoiding selection bias that would limit the validity of findings for unpermitted cases.

The Energy Code has long established requirements for system sizing, and for system quality installation (including duct sealing, refrigerant charge testing, airflow testing, and fan watt draw). Poor installation quality related to these requirements can compromise energy efficiency, particularly for air conditioning equipment including heat pumps. Several of these key requirements require field testing of equipment to demonstrate compliance. The performance of heat pumps, which are critical to accomplishing State building decarbonization and climate change goals, can be especially negatively impacted by continued failure to do work under permits, not only for space cooling but also for space heating. Residential water heater replacements also may frequently be completed without permits or by unlicensed installers. The performance of water heaters, particularly heat pump water heaters, may also be negatively impacted by failure to comply with system sizing and airflow requirements in the Energy Code. Failure to do such water heater or HVAC replacements without permits or without contractor licenses may also result in health and safety risks.

Seven Building Categories

This solicitation aims to address key gaps identified in the Gap Analysis report, specifically supporting the CEC to execute tailored field studies for the following seven (7) building categories:

1. Existing single-family residential buildings.

2. Existing multifamily residential buildings.

3. Existing nonresidential buildings.

4. Newly constructed single-family residential buildings.

5. Newly constructed multifamily residential buildings.

6. Covered processes.

The goal is to ensure accurate compliance assessment across seven (7) distinct building categories. The primary differentiators among them relate to the complexity of the building structure, the accessibility and nature of compliance documentation, the prevalence of the unpermitted market, and the appropriate tools for energy modeling. Because each building category has distinct characteristics, category-specific methodologies are required to achieve a comprehensive and defensible evaluation.

This solicitation seeks to identify qualified contractors to support the CEC in conducting comprehensive California Energy Code compliance evaluations and developing robust tracking systems, aligning both State and federal objectives for energy efficiency and effective building code implementation.

Purpose of this RFQ

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to select a Prime Contractor to lead a team of professional architectural and engineering consultants to provide technical support for:

• The California Energy Code compliance evaluation program, including the design and execution of methodologically defensible evaluations to address critical statewide data gaps and improve the CEC’s understanding of both process-based and energy-based compliance.

• Improving the State’s intelligence regarding Energy Code compliance through evidence-based identification of systemic challenges, regional variations, and root causes of noncompliance, informed by empirical field data rather than program attribution or advocacy-focused analyses.

• Establishing a technical foundation for future statewide Energy Code compliance rates analyses, including the development and validation of evaluation methodologies, sampling frameworks, data collection instruments, and analytical approaches that can be replicated and scaled in subsequent studies.

• Supporting implementation of recommendations from the “California Energy Code Compliance Gap Analysis” staff report by providing technical evaluation, feasibility assessment, and empirical evidence to inform enforcement strategies, compliance improvement priorities, and future policy development.

• Conducting comprehensive field studies across defined building categories and compliance definitions, recognizing the performance-based nature of the Energy Code, the existence of multiple compliance pathways, construction-phase access limitations, and the inherent complexity of evaluating energy-based outcomes at scale.

• Identifying and supporting technically grounded compliance implementation solutions, including evaluation-informed recommendations, pilot concepts, workforce-related technical assistance, and implementation-ready tools or frameworks that enable State, regional, and local partners to improve Energy Code compliance outcomes based on documented findings from the evaluation activities.

Key Activities and Dates

Key activities including dates and times for this RFQ are presented below. An addendum will be released if the dates change for the asterisked (*) activities.

Times listed are Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Time, whichever is being observed.

Activities	Action Date
RFQ release	May 5, 2026
Pre-Bid Conference*	May 19, 2026
Deadline for Written Questions by 5:00 p.m.*	May 19, 2026
Distribute Questions / Answers and Addenda (if any)	June 16, 2026
Deadline to submit SOQ by 11:59 p.m.*	July 14, 2026
SOQ Discussions with Firms*	August 10-11, 2026
Notice of Selection	August 26, 2026
Cost Negotiations	August 27, 2026 – September 11, 2026
Notice of Proposed Award	September 21, 2026
CEC Business Meeting	December 16, 2026
Contract Start Date	January 1, 2027
Contract End Date	December 31, 2029

Available Funding

There is a maximum of up to $11,500,000 available to fund the three (3) year contract resulting from this RFQ. This is an hourly rate plus cost reimbursement contract with a ceiling on the total contract amount.

Funding for the agreement is from the CEC’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Building Energy Codes Award from the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). The CEC reserves the right to reduce the contract amount to an amount deemed appropriate in the event the any of the grant awards from a federal agency of the United States (US) that provide funding for this agreement, do not appropriate sufficient funds for the work identified. In this event, the CEC shall have the option to either: cancel this agreement with no liability occurring to the State, or the CEC Contract Agreement Manager (CAM) and Contractor shall meet and reach agreement on a reduced Scope of Work commensurate with the level of available funding. See the terms and conditions in the Standard Agreement Example (Attachment 6) for more information.

Eligible Firms

This is an open solicitation for public and private entities. Each agreement resulting from this solicitation includes terms and conditions that set forth the Contractor’s rights and responsibilities. The University of California, California State University, or DOE National Laboratories must use either the standard or the pre-negotiated terms and conditions on the Department of General Services Office of Legal Services (DGS-OLS) website at (http://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources). All other entities must agree to use the Standard Terms and Conditions (Attachment 6). The CEC will not award agreements to non-complying entities. The CEC reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions prior to executing agreements.

All corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs), and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) that conduct intrastate business in California are required to be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State (SOS) prior to a project being recommended for approval at a CEC business meeting. If not currently registered with the SOS, applicants are encouraged to contact the SOS Office as soon as possible to avoid potential delays in beginning the proposed project(s) (should the application be successful).

For more information, visit the SOS website at (http://www.sos.ca.gov/). Sole proprietors using a fictitious business name must be registered with the appropriate county and provide evidence of registration to the CEC prior to their project being recommended for approval at a CEC business meeting.

Retainer Contract

Any contract awarded as a result of this RFQ will be a no-fee "retainer" contract. The selected Contractor will be held on retainer and will be assigned work via work authorizations. Work authorizations will be assigned by expertise, or project workload. The CEC makes no guarantee that any or all of the funds will be assigned in any given year.

Pre-Bid Conference

There will be one (1) Pre-Bid Conference. Participation in this meeting is optional but encouraged. The Pre-Bid Conference will be held remotely through Zoom at the date, time, and location listed below.

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Time, whichever is being observed)

Remote Access Only Via Zoom

Applicants may attend the workshop via the Internet (Zoom, see instructions below), or via conference call on the date and at the time listed below. Please contact the Commission Agreement Officer (CAO) listed on page 15 or refer to the CEC's website at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/funding-opportunities/solicitations) to confirm the date and time.

Zoom Instructions:

Zoom is the CEC's online meeting service. When attending remotely, presentations will appear on your computer/laptop/mobile device screen, and audio may be heard via the device or telephone. Please be aware that the Zoom meeting will be recorded and posted to the CEC website.

To join the Pre-Bid Conference, go to the Zoom Meeting Link , which is located at https://energy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kq5qIVzXRqOsBg25-1hfDA . Participants must register to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You may also access the conference by going to the Zoom website , which is located at (https://zoom.us/join) and enter the unique Meeting ID below. Select “join from your browser.” Participants will then enter the meeting password below and their name. Participants will select the “Join” button.

Meeting ID: 832 9739 6601

Meeting Password: 192979

Topic: Energy Code Compliance Evaluation Support Pre-Bid Conference

Telephone Access Only:

Call 1-888-475-4499 (Toll-Free) or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll-Free). When prompted, enter the meeting number above. International callers may select a number from the Zoom International Dial-In Number List at (https://energy.zoom.us/u/abEf4RINDr). To comment, dial *9 to “raise your hand” and *6 to mute/unmute your phone line.

Access by Mobile Device:

Download the application from the Zoom Download Center at (https://energy.zoom.us/download).

Technical Support:

• For assistance with problems or questions about joining or attending the meeting, please call Zoom Technical Support at 1-888-799-9666 extension 2. You may also contact the Public Advisor’s Office by email at publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov or by telephone at 1-916-269-9595.

• System Requirements : To determine whether your computer is compatible, visit (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-Windows-macOS-and-Linux).

• If you have a disability and require assistance to participate, please contact Erica Rodriguez by email at erica.rodriguez@energy.ca.gov or by telephone at
1-916-764-5705 at least five (5) days in advance of the Pre-Bid Conference.

Questions

During the RFQ process, questions of clarification about this RFQ must be directed to the CAO listed in the following Contact Information section. Potential Firms shall carefully examine the qualifications and specifications of this RFQ. You may ask questions at the Pre-Bid Conference, and you may submit written questions via electronic mail. However, all questions must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the date indicated in the Key Activities and Dates section.

The questions and answers will be posted on the CEC's website at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/funding-opportunities/solicitations).

Any verbal communication with a CEC employee concerning this RFQ is not binding on the State and shall in no way alter a specification, term, or condition of the RFQ. Therefore, all communication should be directed in writing to the CAO assigned to the RFQ and listed below.

Contact Information

Diana Grady Commission Agreement Officer

California Energy Commission

715 P Street, 3rd Floor, MS-18

Sacramento, California 95814

Email: Diana.Grady@energy.ca.gov

Responses to This RFQ

Responses to this solicitation shall be in the form of a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) according to the format described in this RFQ (See Section III: SOQ Format, Required Documents, and Delivery). The SOQ shall detail the Firm’s qualifications to perform the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work.

Reference Documents

Firms responding to this RFQ may want to familiarize themselves with the following documents:

• California Energy Code Compliance Gap Analysis Staff Report located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2025/california-energy-code-compliance-gap-analysis).

• 2022 Energy Code Low-Rise Multifamily Forms located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency-3).

• 2022 Energy Code Nonresidential, Hotel/Motel, High-Rise Multifamily Forms located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency-4).

• 2022 Energy Code Nonresidential and Multifamily Compliance Manual located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/2022-nonresidential-and-multifamily-compliance-manual-2022-building-energy).

• 2022 Energy Code Single-Family Residential Forms located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency-2).

• 2022 Energy Code Single-Family Residential Compliance Manual located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/2022-single-family-residential-compliance-manual-2022-building-energy-efficiency).

• 2022 Single-Family Residential Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/2022-single-family-residential-alternative-calculation-method-reference-manual).

• 2022 Nonresidential and Multifamily Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/2022-nonresidential-and-multifamily-alternative-calculation-method-reference).

• 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards website located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2025-building-energy-efficiency).

• Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider Program website located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/acceptance-test-technician-certification-provider-program).

• Home Energy Rating System Program website located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/home-energy-rating-system-hers-program).

• Energy Code Compliance Program website located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/energy-code-compliance-program).

• Style Manual for Preparing Contract and Consultant Reports for the California Energy Commission located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/funding-opportunities/funding-resources/formatting-reports-and-writing-style-consultants-california).

II. SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)

About This Section

In this section, the CEC describes the tasks the Firm (referred to as “Contractor” in the SOW) will be asked to perform under the direction of the CAM. This section also describes the work assignment process, deliverables, and due dates.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is for the Prime Contractor to lead a team of professional architectural and engineering consultants to provide technical support for:

• The California Energy Code compliance evaluation program to include the following work areas: evaluation, market research, and data analysis. This includes conducting compliance evaluations, identifying streamlined approaches, and assisting the CEC with improving compliance. The work will significantly enhance the CEC's understanding of compliance rates, regional variations, and the root causes of noncompliance, informing policy and resource allocation.

• Workforce development market research and program development recommendations related to improving Energy Code implementation.

• Supporting compliance improvement pilot solutions directly with local partners.

• Other related work that supports Energy Code compliance improvement.

Acronyms/Glossary

Specific acronyms and terms used throughout this SOW are defined as follows:

AcronymS & TERMS	Definition
ADU	Accessory Dwelling Unit
Agreement	Executed contract between the CEC and the Contractor
BayREN	Bay Area Regional Energy Network
C&S	Codes and Standards
CALGreen	California Green Building Standards Code (CCR, Title 24, Part 11)
CAM	Commission Agreement Manager, which is the CEC staff person who manages and oversees agreements after execution
CAO	Commission Agreement Officer, which is the CEC staff person from the Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office who oversees solicitations and the preparation of agreements before execution
CBECC	California Building Energy Code Compliance software for nonresidential and multifamily buildings
CBECC-Res	California Building Energy Code Compliance software for single-family residential buildings
CCR	California Code of Regulations
CEC	California Energy Commission
Contractor	Firm awarded an agreement from the CEC resulting from this RFQ
CPUC	California Public Utilities Commission
CSLB	Contractors State License Board
CSV	Comma-Separated Values
DGS-OLS	Department of General Services, Office of Legal Services
DOE	United States Department of Energy
DQAP	Data Quality Assurance Plan
DVBE	Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise
ECC	Energy Code Compliance
EM&V	Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification
Energy Code	CCR, Title 24, Part 6, and associated administrative regulations in Title 24, Part 1
FAQs	Frequently Asked Questions
Firm	Respondent to this RFQ
FY	Fiscal Year
GFO	Grant Funding Opportunity
HVAC	Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
IOU	Investor-Owned Utility
IRA	Inflation Reduction Act
ISPP	Information Security Program Plan
LLC	Limited Liability Company
LLP	Limited Liability Partnership
LP	Limited Partnership
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding
MS	Microsoft
NDA	Non-Disclosure Agreement
PDF	Adobe Portable Document Format
PM	Program Manager
PRC	Public Resources Code
Prime Contractor	Firm awarded an agreement from the CEC resulting from this RFQ
PROP	Permit Resource Opportunity Program
QA/QC	Quality Assurance and Quality Control)
REN	Regional Energy Network
Reviewer	Independent qualified technical advisor employed by a Qualified Subcontractor Firm with appropriate academic training and a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in statistics, biostatistics, econometrics, applied mathematics, or closely related field.
RFQ	Request for Qualifications (this entire document)
SOQ	Statement of Qualifications
SOS	California Secretary of State
SOW	Scope of Work
State	State of California
Stratification	Refers to dividing a population into different groups based on specific characteristics to ensure better representation and analysis. Stratification axes are the categories used to sort buildings into groups before sampling to get a balanced picture, such as dividing by climate zone, building type, or project scope under the Energy Code.
Technical Project Manager	A project lead who plans, coordinates, and oversees complex technical work by integrating subject-matter expertise with schedule, budget, quality control, and stakeholder management to ensure technical objectives are delivered accurately and on time.
US	United States
WA	Work Authorization
WAM	Work Authorization Manager
Warren-Alquist Act	The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act, PRC section 25000 et seq.
XLSX	Default file format for Microsoft Excel (2007 and later)

Work Authorizations

The agreement that results from this solicitation shall be conducted as a “Work Authorization” agreement. No work shall be undertaken unless authorized by the CAM through a specific written document called a “Work Authorization” (WA).

The CAM will prepare and issue the written WAs and shall set a maximum price, budget, and schedule for the work to be performed. The CAM will work, in consultation with the Contractor, to assign work to either the Contractor or a Subcontractor.

Retainer Contract

This is a no-fee "retainer" contract. The Contractor will be held on retainer and will be assigned work via WAs, which will be assigned by expertise or project workload. The CEC makes no guarantee that any or all the funds will be assigned in any given year.

No Work Guarantee

The CEC does not guarantee any minimum or maximum amount of work to the Prime Contractor or any Subcontractor under the agreement.

Workshops & Hearings

All workshops and hearings are sponsored, organized, and facilitated by the CEC. The CEC is responsible for any costs associated with a workshop or hearing. The Contractor shall provide labor only.

Incidental Services

Contractor shall provide incidental services to support the technical tasks that the CEC will undertake for Energy Code Compliance Evaluation Support in the general topic areas listed below. Technical Tasks 2 through 11 provide more detailed task activities for these areas:

• Graphic Design/Document Support for reports and other deliverables related to the Energy Code.

• Public Outreach and Communication/Marketing/Public Relations/Program Development necessary to complete the goals of this agreement.

Draft and Final Deliverables/Reports

The Contractor may be required to produce several iterations of draft deliverables to incorporate CEC’s comments and edits. A deliverable is considered final when the CAM or Work Authorization Manager (WAM) indicates in writing that the deliverable is considered final. When creating reports, the Contractor shall use and follow, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the CAM or WAM, the following:

• California Energy Commission Style Manual: Fourth Edition located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2020/style-manual-fourth-edition-used-california-energy-commission-staff-lead).

• Consultant Report Template located at (https://www.energy.ca.gov/media/2216).

The CEC typically requires the submission of products in an electronic format. If a hard copy deliverable is required, each final hard copy deliverable shall be delivered as one (1) original, reproducible, 8 ½” by 11”, camera-ready master in black ink, unless otherwise directed by the CAM or WAM. Illustrations and graphs shall be sized to fit an 8 ½” by 11” page and readable if printed in black and white.

Ownership of Work Product

All deliverables, reports, data, memoranda, and other supporting documents developed under this SOW, whether completed or not, shall become the property of the CEC.

Electronic File Format

The Contractor shall submit all required data and documents as products under this agreement in an electronic file format that is fully editable and compatible with the CEC’s software and Microsoft (MS) operating computing platforms, or with any other format approved by the CAM or WAM.

Unless otherwise specified by the CAM or WAM, the following describes the accepted formats of electronic data and documents provided to the CEC as agreement products and establishes the computer platforms, operating systems, and application versions that will be required to review and approve all application products.

• Data sets shall be in MS Access or MS Excel file format (version 2016 or later).

• PC-based text documents shall be in MS Word file format (version 2016 or later).

• Documents intended for public distribution shall be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file format and shall comply with the accessibility requirements of Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is located at (https://www.access-board.gov/about/law/ra.html#section-508-federal-electronic-and-information-technology). The Contractor shall also provide the native file format.

• Project management documents shall be in a file format specified by the CAM or WAM.

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