Request for Renewable Offtake Pricing

Agency:	Cuyahoga Community College
State:	Ohio
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Posted:	Sep 22, 2023
Due:	Nov 1, 2023
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

Customer Information

Contracting Entities:

Corporate Address:

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Cuyahoga Community College

Northeast Ohio Sewer District

3900 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Cuyahoga Community College

700 Carnegie Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Energy Edge Contacts:

Neal Hendrix

rfp@energyedge.com

nhendrix@energyedge.com

214-923-5447

Andrew Kyle

akyle@energyedge.com

214-529-3733

Start Date:

As early as 6/1/2025

Annual Usage/Supply Type: Total Combined Usage = 120,000 MWh annually

Cuyahoga Community College = 30,000 MWh annual

estimated usage

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District = 90,000 MWh

annual estimated usage

Introduction

Energy Edge Consulting (“Energy Edge”) is issuing this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) on behalf of

its clients, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (“Sewer District”) and Cuyahoga

Community College (“Tri-C”).

The Sewer District and Tri-C are seeking proposals for options to purchase renewable energy.

Both organizations are seeking options for renewable energy purchases to reduce the impact of

emissions from operations as well as provide long-term cost stability and budget certainty. The

Sewer District and Tri-C have created this joint request from these common goals to bring a larger

electricity consumption profile to market. This strategy was developed to increase the probability

of locating and securing a meaningful renewable energy purchase to make the impact that each

organization is seeking. This is the first time these organizations have sought to purchase energy

from a renewable asset, as prior electricity procurement efforts have been traditional short-term

grid purchases where Sewer District and Tri-C entered into an agreement with Energy Edge, a

Public Utilities Commission Ohio (PUCO) licensed electricity broker, for renewable energy project

and procurement consulting services in May 2023. Energy Edge will provide technical, managerial,

and financial expertise to develop an RFP for an offsite solar or wind PPA, evaluate, educate on,

recommend, and assist with implementing renewable energy procurement for both entities’

operations. Energy Edge’s fee for its services in connection with preparing and administering this

RFP will be paid by the Sewer District and Tri-C. The selected transaction counterparty will pay an

ongoing fee for Energy Edge’s services after one or more contracts are entered into between a

selected supplier and the Sewer District and/or Tri-C.

Administrative

Contact

Energy Edge Consulting, serving on behalf of both consumers, Sewer District and Tri-C, will be the

central point of contact during this process, including intentions to respond, questions pertaining

to the RFP, submission of RFP proposals, and the additional contact rules, listed below:

Additional Contact Rules: Restrictions

From the issue date of this RFP until a project developer is selected and the selection is announced,

proposers are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any Sewer District or Tri-C

employee and/or Board Member except (1) through the “Organizational Contact” (2) during the

pre-proposal conference or (3) as provided by existing work agreement(s). For violation of this

provision, the Sewer District and Tri-C shall reserve the right to reject the proposal of the non-

complying proposer. All questions concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail to

RFP for Renewable Purchase

September 22, 2023

Page | 2

the “Organizational Contact.” No questions other than written will be accepted. Answers to all

questions will be provided to all proposers.

No Obligation to Contract

The Sewer District and Tri-C each reserves the right to not make an award or enter into any

contract with a proposer, to enter into two separate contracts with a selected proposer or for one

entity to enter into a contract with a selected proposer and the other entity to not enter into a

contract.

Organizational Contact

Neal Hendrix

rfp@EnergyEdge.com

nhendrix@EnergyEdge.com

214-923-5447 mobile

Response Format

Proposals and responses should be emailed directly to the Energy Edge contacts listed on page 1

of this document. Proposals and responses must be in electronic format only (proposals delivered

via postal mail or in person will not be considered). Further, responses must be limited to no more

than 25 pages of material with a font size 12 or larger as long as it includes all requested

information.

Vendor Registration

Each participating organization submitting a proposal on this request must:

1) Identify any possible conflicts of interest your organization may have with the Sewer

District or Tri-C, including individual Board of Trustees members, executive personnel,

and/or individual staff members.

2) Must register with the Sewer District at:

https://www.neorsd.org/businesshome/isupplier/

3) Must register with Tri-C at:

https://forms.tri-c.edu/Player/NewVendors

4) Registrations must be completed prior to proposal submission

RFP for Renewable Purchase

September 22, 2023

Page | 3

RFP Schedule of Activity

Description

Date

Request for Proposal Release Date Friday, September 22, 2023

Pre-Proposal Call

Thursday, October 5, 2023, 11 am ET

Questions / Intentions to Bid Due Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 3 pm ET

Answers Provided

Friday, October 13, 2023

Responses Due

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 5 pm ET

There will potentially be a follow-up and interview period in the weeks following the due date. Any

follow-up is expected to be ahead of any calendar holiday periods. The consultant’s goal is to

perform the evaluation and provide a recommendation to the two organizations before the end of

2023, with selections being announced by the end of 2023 or by January 2024. The bulk of the

contract negotiation is expected to occur in Q1 2024.

Pre-Bid Conference Details

- Link for the Pre-bid Conference

The pre-bid conference requires that attendees register ahead of the conference to receive

information and reminders about the conference. Clicking the link above navigates to the pre-bid

conference page with a registration link.

Following the pre-bid conference, respondents are asked to submit any additional questions and

the intent to respond by the due date of October 10, 2023, at 3 pm ET. If a proposer chooses not

to participate in the RFP process after registering, they are asked to provide reasons for not doing

so.

RFP for Renewable Purchase

September 22, 2023

Page | 4

Background Information

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (“Sewer District”) protects public health and the

environment by leading effective wastewater and stormwater management. As the largest

wastewater treatment provider in the State of Ohio, the Sewer District spans 380 square miles,

serves 62 communities and one million residents, treats 90 billion gallons of wastewater a year,

and manages more than 400 miles of streams. The Sewer District is currently rated Aa1 by

Moody’s Investors Service and AA+ by Standard & Poor’s.

In addition to its award-winning treatment plant and laboratory performance, the Sewer District’s

Project Clean Lake construction program will reduce annual Lake Erie pollution by 4 billion gallons

by 2035, while its Regional Stormwater Management Program addresses widespread inter-

community problems like flooding, pollution, and erosion.

The Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse

and inclusive workforce, recognizing the full range of human differences and similarities. Through

our unwavering efforts to leverage the potential of our diversity, we continually strive to build and

foster an environment that respects each individual. We encourage and promote innovation and

provide opportunities for all employees to interact, communicate, and realize the full potential of

their talents.

Cuyahoga Community College Background Information

Mission

To provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services,

including university transfer, technical and lifelong learning programs, that promote individual

development and improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural community.

Vision

Cuyahoga Community College (“Tri-C” or “College”) will be recognized as an exemplary teaching

and learning community that fosters service and student success. The College will be a valued

resource and leader in academic quality, cultural enrichment, and economic development

characterized by continuous improvement, innovation, and community responsiveness.

Values

To successfully fulfill the mission and vision, Cuyahoga Community College is consciously

committed to diversity, integrity, academic excellence, and achievement of individual and

RFP for Renewable Purchase

September 22, 2023

Page | 5

This is the opportunity summary page. You are currently viewing an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation. For more information, please visit the Publication URL Web page.

Request for Renewable Offtake Pricing

Attachment Preview

See also