2026-0159-CMO Utility Feasibility Study

Location:	New Mexico
Posted:	Dec 22, 2025
Due:	Feb 5, 2026
Agency:	Santa Fe County
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	A - Research and development B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

SANTA FE COUNTY

MANAGER’S OFFICE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Utility Feasibility Study

NM Commodity Code(s): 91827, 91832,

91846, 91897

RFP NO. 2026-0159-CMO

December 2025

RFP No. 2026-0159-CMO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO.

PAGE

ADVERTISEMENT .......................................................................................................4

II.

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................5

A. PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ............................................5

B. BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................5

C. SCOPE OF WORK……. ......................................................................................5

D. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................7

E. PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST ..........................................................................7

F. DEFINITION OF TERMINOLOGY.....................................................................8

III.

CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE PROCUREMENT...............................................10

A. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ..................................................................................10

B. EXPLANATION OF EVENTS...........................................................................11

1. Issuance of RFP ..........................................................................................11

2. Pre-Proposal Conference ...........................................................................11

3. Acknowledgement of Receipt Form Due..................................................11

4. Deadline to Submit Additional Written Questions ...................................11

5. Response to Written Questions .................................................................12

6. Submission of Proposals ...........................................................................12

7. Proposal Evaluation...................................................................................12

8. Selection of Finalists .................................................................................13

9. Best and Final Offers from Finalists (If applicable) .................................13

10. Oral Presentations by Finalists (If applicable)..........................................13

11. Contract Negotiations................................................................................13

12. Contract Award .........................................................................................13

13. Right to Protest .........................................................................................13

C. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................14

1. Acceptance of Conditions Governing the Procurement .............................14

2. Incurring Cost ............................................................................................14

3. Prime Contractor Responsibility ...............................................................14

4. Subcontractors ...........................................................................................14

5. Amended Proposals...................................................................................15

6. Offerors’ Rights to Withdraw Proposal ....................................................15

7. Proposal Offer Firm ..................................................................................15

8. Disclosure of Proposed Contents ..............................................................15

9. No Obligation ............................................................................................15

10. Termination...............................................................................................16

11. Sufficient Appropriation ...........................................................................16

12. Legal Review ............................................................................................16

RFP No. 2026-0159-CMO

13. Governing Law .........................................................................................16

14. Basis for Proposal………………………………………………….. …...16

15. Contract Terms and Conditions ................................................................16

16. Contract Deviations ..................................................................................17

17. Offeror Qualifications..............................................................................17

18. Right to Waive Minor Irregularities ........................................................17

19. Change in Contractor Representatives.....................................................17

20. Notice.......................................................................................................17

21. County Rights ..........................................................................................17

22. Right to Publish .......................................................................................17

23. Ownership of Proposals .........................................................................18

24. Electronic Mail Address Recommended .................................................18

25. Preference in Procurement by Santa Fe County ......................................18

26. Double-Sided Documents ........................................................................19

27. Living Wage ............................................................................................20

IV.

RESPONSE FORMAT AND ORGANIZATION ........................................................21

A. NUMBER OF RESPONSES...............................................................................21

B. NUMBER OF COPIES .......................................................................................21

C. PROPOSAL FORMAT .......................................................................................21

1. Proposal Organization ...............................................................................21

2. Letter of Transmittal..................................................................................22

SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................23

A. INFORMATION .................................................................................................23

1. Time Frame ...............................................................................................23

B. EVALUATION CRITERIA ................................................................................23

1. Introduction ...............................................................................................23

2. Technical Competence and Specialized Experience .................................23

3. Evidence of Understanding Scope of Work ..............................................23

4. Capacity and Capability ............................................................................24

C. COST PROPOSAL .............................................................................................24

VI.

EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS ...............................................................................25

A. EVALUATION SCORING.................................................................................25

B. EVALUATION PROCESS .................................................................................25

APPENDICES

A. Acknowledgement of Receipt Form....................................................................27

B. Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form............................................................28

C. Resident Veterans Preference Certification ……………………………………31

D. Cost Proposal .......................................................................................................32

E. Sample Agreement ..............................................................................................33

I. ADVERTISEMENT

RFP No. 2026-0159-CMO

SANTA FE COUNTY

Utility Feasibility Study

RFP NO. 2026-0159-CMO

Santa Fe County requests proposals from qualified vendors or firms to provide consulting services

for the feasibility of a County-owned public electric utility. All proposals submitted shall be valid

for ninety (90) days subject to action by the County. Santa Fe County reserves the right to reject

any and all proposals in part or in whole. A completed proposal shall be submitted in a sealed

container indicating the proposal title and number along with the Offeror's name and address clearly

marked on the outside of the container. All proposals must be received by 2:00PM on Thursday,

February 5, 2026 at the Santa Fe County Purchasing Division, 102 Grant Avenue, (First Floor),

Santa Fe, NM 87501. The submission of Proposals will also be accepted electronically utilizing

a DropBox. Please utilize this link to upload your proposal submission.

https://www.dropbox.com/request/4QunmoZAvWiX2WcGsuq3.

By submitting a proposal for the requested services each Offeror is certifying that it is a qualified

firm and its proposal complies with the requirements stated within the Request for Proposals.

A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at 9:00am on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 online via

Microsoft Teams Meeting Link Meeting ID: 239 904 027 777 54 Passcode: dk9DR2hY or in

person 102 Grant Ave, Lamy Conference Room downstairs, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The pre-

proposal meeting is not mandatory but is highly recommended.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: All qualified Offerors will receive consideration of

contract(s) without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin, ancestry, age, physical and

mental handicap, serious medical condition, disability, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation or gender

identity.

Request for Proposals will be available by contacting Ben McCormack, Procurement Specialist Sr.,

102 Grant Avenue, (First Floor) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, or by telephone at (505) 986-6337.

or by email at dmccormack@santafecountynm.gov

or on our website at

http://www.santafecountynm.gov/finance/purchasing-division/current-bid-solicitations.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED AFTER THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED ABOVE WILL NOT

BE CONSIDERED AND WILL BE REJECTED BY SANTA FE COUNTY.

Santa Fe County

Published December 21st and 22nd, 2025

RFP No. 2026-0159-CMO

II. INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners has initiated a sustainable energy

utility project to be placed on present or future county property and that the County shall

begin to investigate the feasibility of the creation and implementation of a County-owned

public electric utility, (Project).

The County shall procure the services of a consultant to undertake the feasibility study as

described in the subject RFP. In evaluating the qualifications of potential contractors for

the feasibility study described in this RFP the County shall give weight to vendors who: (a)

have experience working with local, rural, and Tribal governments on sustainable utility

development; and (b) demonstrate an understanding of the unique context of New Mexico

and the Southwestern United States.

The feasibility study shall be completed within 365 days of the adoption of Resolution No.

2025-124.

B. BACKGROUND

Our nation’s top scientists released the Fourth national Climate Assessment (NCA) in

November 2018, and their key message on Energy for the Southwest region stated the

importance of renewable energy resources to meet the growing demands for energy in the

Southwest due to the impacts of climate change. These renewable energy resources offer

increased electricity reliability, lower water intensity of energy generation, reduced

greenhouse gas emissions, and new economic opportunities. This thinking underscores

many of the County’s endeavors to bring reliable, renewable, and affordable electric energy

and water to its residents according to the goals set forth in the Paris Climate Accord. Locally

generated and managed energy provides more affordable rates to constituents, resilience

over reliance on the large-scale grid system, promotes community well-being, public health

and economic prosperity. There are over 2,000 publicly owned electric utilities in the USA,

and several in the state of New Mexico, which successfully provide energy to their residents

at lower costs than their alternatives. The County actively develops energy-intensive

facilities that may be suitable for a solar electric micro-grid pilot project, which would

benefit the long-term health of the community, and the region.

C. SCOPE OF WORK

The contract is scheduled to begin February, 2025 timeframe. Santa Fe County intends on

awarding a contract with an initial term of four (4) years.

The selected Offeror shall provide the following analysis and reports:

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