Energy Services Providers (ESPs)

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Nov 18, 2025
Due:	Dec 17, 2025
Agency:	State Government of Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services Q - Medical Services
Solicitation No:	303-20251118084405 LCSD
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

ADVERTISEMENT FOR RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Notice is hereby given that Lowndes County School District shall receive responses from qualified Energy

Service Providers (ESPs) to provide energy conservation equipment and services under an Energy

Services Contract. Said responses are to be delivered to 512 Lehmberg Rd. Columbus MS 39702 in

accordance with this RFQ.

ESP qualifications will be submitted in accordance with Section 31-7-14 of the Mississippi Code, the

Mississippi Development Authority—Energy Division’s Policy and Procedures for Energy Service Providers

and the Request for Qualifications.

A detailed “Request for Qualifications” may be obtained from the Project Manager:

Matt Keith, Assistant Superintendent

Lowndes County School District

512 Lehmberg Rd.

Columbus, MS 39702

Matt.Keith@lowndes.k12.ms.us

(662) 244-5000

All correspondence should be directed to:

Matt Keith, Assistant Superintendent

Lowndes County School District

512 Lehmberg Rd.

Columbus, MS 39702

Matt.Keith@lowndes.k12.ms.us

(662) 244-5000

Publish: __________________ and _________________

8452612.1

Page 1

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Issued by

Lowndes County School District

For Energy Services

INTRODUCTION

Lowndes County School District (hereinafter referred to as “Customer”) seeks specific qualifications from

interested Energy Services Providers (ESPs) that are capable of providing a comprehensive energy

services contract that will reduce energy and operational costs across Customer facilities.

Section 31-7-14 of the Mississippi Code defines Energy services provider and Energy services contract as

the following:

“Energy services provider” means a person or business with a successful record of documented energy

savings projects that is experienced in the design, implementation and installation of energy conservation

measures; has the technical capabilities to verify that such measures generate energy and operational

cost savings or enhanced revenues; has the ability to guarantee the savings; has the ability to secure or

arrange the financing necessary to support the implementation of the energy conservation measures; and

is approved by the division.

“Energy services contract” means an agreement to provide energy services which include, but are not

limited to, the design, installation, financing and maintenance or management of the energy systems or

equipment in order to improve its energy efficiency. Payments for the contract are not contingent upon

the actual savings realized from the equipment.

At a minimum, the ESP must have met the following qualifications:

• Licensed in the State of Mississippi

• An approved general contractor by the State of Mississippi

• An approved ESP by the Mississippi Development Authority Energy & Natural Resources Division

• An – ESP that is headquartered in Mississippi will be given preference as allowed by law.

GENERAL RESULTS DESIRED

The Customer seeks a broad range of services and capital improvements in order to reduce the

consumption and related costs of energy use across customer facilities and infrastructure. These

services and capital improvements will be provided and financed through an energy services contract

under which the Customer: a.) incurs no initial capital costs;

b.) achieves significant long-term savings; c.) achieves energy savings and operations and maintenance

(O&M) savings which can include material, labor and avoided future equipment replacements; d.) obtains

consistent levels of occupant comfort and building functionality. All proposed O&M savings must be

clearly documented and will be rigorously reviewed by the Customer.

The Customer seeks to maximize energy savings and related improvements. Within the framework of

available financing, therefore, ESPs are encouraged to advocate the installation and implementation of

8452612.1

Page 2

improvements providing the greatest possible energy and O&M savings. Essential services and

improvements sought are those that will reduce energy consumption in the Customer's facilities, upgrade

capital energy-related equipment, improve building operations and save costs through fuel switching or

improved demand management, and aid in meeting environmental management responsibilities.

The payback period for the energy services contract shall not exceed twenty (20) years. The capital cost

avoidance coupled with the energy savings achieved by the installed energy efficiency measures (EEMs)

need to be sufficient to cover all project costs for the duration of the contract term including any desired

annual maintenance and monitoring at a minimum, the capital cost avoidance as well as the energy and

O&M savings should be structured to correspond to the annual financing costs associated with the

project.

REQUIRED SYSTEMS AND SERVICES CAPABILITIES

ESPs must have the demonstrated technical and managerial capabilities to address a broad range of

building energy systems and provide a comprehensive set of energy services. Energy systems include,

but are not limited to, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting, windows, insulation and

energy management controls, life safety measures that provide long-term, operating-cost reductions,

building operation programs that reduce operating costs, other energy-conservation-related

improvements, including improvements or equipment related to renewable energy, and other natural

resources conservation, including accuracy and measurement of water distribution and/or consumption,

and other equipment, services and improvements providing energy efficiency.

Energy services include, but are not limited to, an investment grade technical energy audit and report; the

design, acquisition, installation, modification maintenance, commissioning, monitoring and training in the

operation of new and/or existing energy systems which will reduce energy consumption associated with

the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the lighting system, building envelope, water usage,

and other energy using devices, as well as for savings which would not reduce consumption per se, but

are aimed at cost savings related to energy use, such as sewage, solid waste collection, fuel switching or

demand reductions.

Any stipulated energy and/or non-energy cost savings that may be attributed to this project will be

rigorously reviewed and, if agreed to, will be limited to those that can be thoroughly documented and

verified by the ESP and approved by the Customer. Additional services may include continuing O&M for

all improvements and/or training of the Customer's staff on routine maintenance and operation of systems

as well as training of occupants. Monitoring and verification (M&V) services include appropriate

measurement and reporting of the performance and savings from improvements.

OVERVIEW OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract Term. No payback period shall exceed twenty (20) years in duration and is subject to annual

appropriations.

Financial Review. Detailed financial projections of project benefits are dependent upon the scope of

technical retrofits finally selected and installed. It is premature to place a major emphasis on projected

financial benefits prior to the completion of a detailed engineering study and negotiation of the project

structure. During contract negotiations, the ESP shall disclose cost markups which will be applied during

the subsequent technical energy analysis and energy services contract. Open book pricing during the

construction stage will be required, such that pricing information or bids on individual products and

services will be available for review by the Customer. Respondents are encouraged to carefully review

the evaluation criteria in the RFQ under Financial Approach and to respond as fully as possible.

O&M Savings. Any O&M cost savings proposed by the selected ESP will be rigorously reviewed and, if

agreed to, will be limited to those that can be thoroughly documented and approved by the Customer.

8452612.1

Page 3

Investment Grade Technical Energy Audit Report. The technical energy audit report must include

estimates of savings for each measure and must include an estimate of all costs including design,

engineering, installation, maintenance, repairs and debt service.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

It is anticipated that the process for the procurement of these energy services will proceed in three stages.

1.) SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN QUALIFICATIONS: The Customer through its designated

representatives will review and evaluate the written responses to this Request for Qualifications

(RFQ) in accordance with the evaluation criteria identified in Attachment B. The Customer will

either select the most qualified ESP or request oral interviews from a shortlist of candidates of the

procurement process.

2.) ORAL INTERVIEW: If so desired following the review of the RFQ packages, a shortlist of

qualified firms may participate in an oral interview to more fully discuss how their qualifications to

this project satisfy the evaluation criteria set forth in Attachment B. ESPs will be required to

answer questions posed by the Project Evaluation Team. It will be the sole responsibility of the

Project Evaluation Team to make the final selection of an ESP based upon the evaluation of

written responses to the RFQ, client reference checking, and the oral responses received during

the interview process.

3.) SELECTION OF ESP TO ENTER INTO INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT AGREEMENT: Based on

the consensus of the Project Evaluation Team and approval by the Customer, the best qualified

ESP will be selected to perform the requested services. The Customer and the selected ESP

shall enter into an Investment Grade Audit Agreement. The ESP’s proposed contract terms must

include a complete set of proposed energy improvements, the timetable for completing

engineering and construction work, a detailed description of services to be provided, specific

financing arrangements and terms, and an estimate of energy savings, as well as special

conditions offered by the company. The Customer intends to negotiate a final Energy Services

Agreement (ESA) for these services. If the Customer decides not to enter into a contract after the

audit report has been accepted, the Customer agrees to pay the cost of the audit as stated in the

contract, provided that all contract terms and conditions of the audit have been met by the ESP. If

an acceptable contract cannot be reached within 90 days from the date of ESP selection,

negotiations with the second-ranked ESP may be initiated.

RESTRICTION OF CONTACT

From the issue date of this RFQ until the Customer selects a respondent for award, the contact person

listed below is the sole point of contact concerning this RFQ. Any violation of this condition may be cause

to reject the offending ESPs submission. If it is discovered that the ESP has engaged in any violations of

this condition, the offending ESPs response may be rejected or contract award rescinded. ESPs must

agree not to distribute any part of their submissions. An ESP that shares information contained in its

submission with other Customer personnel and/or competing ESP personnel may be disqualified.

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFQ to:

Matt Keith, Assistant Superintendent

Lowndes County School District

512 Lehmberg Rd.

Columbus, MS 39702

Matt.Keith@lowndes.k12.ms.us

(662) 244-5000

8452612.1

Page 4

SUBMITTAL FORMAT

Companies who wish to be considered by the Customer must submit an original and four (4) copies of

Attachment D (the ESP Profile Form and ESP Qualifications & Approach to Project). All submissions

become the property of the Customer and will not be returned to the ESP.

The Customer reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and to waive informalities and minor

irregularities in submissions received and to accept any submissions if deemed in its best interest to do

so. All costs associated with submission preparation will be borne by the submitting company.

TO AID ESPS IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ATTACHED:

OVERVIEW OF ATTACHMENTS

To aid companies in their response to this request the following items are attached:

Attachment A:

Attachment B:

Attachment C:

Attachment D:

Schedule

Evaluation Criteria

Contract Terms and Conditions

ESP Profile Form and Approach to Project

8452612.1

Page 5

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Smart Number	303-20251118084405 LCSD	Advertised Date	11/18/2025 5:00 PM
RFx #	3170034405	Submission Date	12/17/2025 3:00 PM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	CONSTRUCTION
RFx Opening Date	N/A	Sub Procurement Category	CONSTRUCTION - SERVICES
RFx Type	MDA - RFx
Agency	MPTAP
RFx Description	Lowndes County School District (hereinafter referred to as Customer) seeks specific qualifications from interested Energy Services Providers (ESPs) that are capable of providing a comprehensive energy services contract that will reduce energy and oper

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
28532	Fluoresce & HID Lamp