Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · PASADENA
AI Summary
The City of Pasadena seeks qualified firms for design-build services to install solar and energy storage systems at city-owned properties, supporting its goal for 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030. The project includes design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance, with evaluation based on technical, financial, and local business criteria. Proposals due September 30, 2026.
The City of Pasadena (“City”), through Pasadena Water and Power (“PWP”), is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide Design-Build services by a Design-Build Contractor (“Design-Builder,” “D-B,” “Contractor,” or “Proposer”) for the design, procurement, construction, installation, interconnection, commissioning, and, if authorized by the City, operations and maintenance of solar and energy storage installations at Category 1 City-owned properties (the “Project”).
The Project includes Category 1 priority sites identified in this RFP that are intended to support near-term implementation and completion by June 2028. Solar is desired at all sites, and energy storage is highly desired where feasible based on site-specific conditions, technical constraints, cost, and City direction. The site capacities identified in this RFP are estimated and are provided for planning and proposal purposes only. Final system size, configuration, and inclusion of energy storage will be determined based on site-specific evaluation, design development, feasibility, cost, and City direction.
The Scope of Work includes site evaluation and feasibility assessment, engineering and design, permitting, procurement of equipment and materials, construction, installation, interconnection, commissioning, stakeholder engagement support, and ongoing operations and maintenance of the selected improvements, as applicable to the awarded contract. The Scope of Work also requires the selected Proposer to evaluate existing electrical infrastructure and account for future electric vehicle (“EV”) charging expansion as part of the site evaluation and design approach, including where EV-related load assumptions may affect equipment sizing, panel capacity, and related system components.
The City reserves the right to award one contract, multiple contracts, by individual site, by combination of sites, or in whole, as determined to be in the best interest of the City. Proposers may submit proposals for any individual site or any combination of Category 1 sites identified in this RFP. Proposers will be evaluated only for the sites included in their proposals. The City also reserves the right to remove one or more sites from the awarded scope or otherwise modify the awarded scope based on feasibility, cost, funding, schedule, City priorities, or other considerations identified during the Project.
A Selection Committee shall review the Proposals received and complete final scoring based on the City’s Design and Performance Criteria for the Project and the evaluation criteria identified in this RFP, pursuant to Pasadena Municipal Code (“P.M.C.”) section 4.08.047, competitive selection, using the Design-Build alternative project delivery method. Proposers recommended for award will be evaluated and determined on a best-value basis, based on qualifications, organization/team composition, technical proposal, financial strength, safety record, local business, small business, price proposal, and, if applicable, interview scores.
On January 30, 2023, the Pasadena City Council adopted Resolution 9977, establishing a goal for Pasadena Water and Power (“PWP”) to source 100% of Pasadena’s electricity from carbon-free resources by the end of 2030, while optimizing affordability, rate equity, system stability, and reliability. In furtherance of that goal, on December 15, 2025, the City Council unanimously approved PWP’s Optimized Strategic Plan (“OSP”), a forward-thinking framework outlining the pathways, investments, and decision points that will position Pasadena to achieve a carbon-free future.
A key component of the OSP is the expansion of locally sited renewable generation and energy storage resources within Pasadena. This approach is intended to reduce long-term costs, maximize the use of public assets, and equitably distribute the benefits of carbon-free energy across all customer classes. Locally developed solar resources also reduce reliance on external energy markets and enhance grid resilience by generating electricity closer to where it is consumed.
To support implementation of the OSP, PWP has coordinated with City departments to identify City-owned properties that may be suitable for future solar and energy storage development. This RFP is limited to Category 1 priority sites that are more advanced in project development and better positioned to support near-term implementation. These sites are intended to support completion by June 2028.
The City reserves the right to award one contract, multiple contracts, by individual site, by combination of sites, or in whole, depending on the proposals received and the City’s evaluation of project delivery, cost, schedule, and overall fit for the program, in its sole discretion.
Points will be assigned based on Ease of Use; Mobile Capability/Support; Data Queries and Reporting; Support and Maintenance; Integration with existing systems; Training and Documentation; Software and Workflow Requirements.
Points will be assigned based on how effectively and efficiently the product can fulfill the requirements in the SCOPE OF WORK. The demonstration will be scored based on it's ability to successfully demo a Script of agreed upon items including but not limited to: System overview; Menus; Features; System navigation; Customization capabilities; Reports; Security features; and Support.
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s qualifications, organizational capacity, relevant experience, and demonstrated ability to successfully perform work of similar scope, size, complexity, and delivery method. Evaluation may include consideration of the Proposer’s experience with comparable solar and energy storage projects, experience with design-build or similar alternative project delivery methods, experience with public agencies and utilities, the qualifications and relevant experience of the proposed key personnel, the quality and relevance of the reference projects provided, and the Proposer’s demonstrated capacity to manage multiple sites, groups, or categories concurrently.
Proposals will be scored on the following:
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s qualifications, organizational capacity, relevant experience, and demonstrated ability to successfully perform work of similar scope, size, complexity, and delivery method. Evaluation may include consideration of the Proposer’s experience with comparable solar and energy storage projects, experience with design-build or similar alternative project delivery methods, experience with public agencies and utilities, the qualifications and relevant experience of the proposed key personnel, the quality and relevance of the reference projects provided, the Proposer’s demonstrated capacity to manage multiple-site implementation successfully, and the Proposer’s demonstrated financial capacity and organizational stability to support construction, commissioning, and the required five (5) years of operations, maintenance, and monitoring services.
The City will evaluate the extent to which the Proposer demonstrates a clear, practical, and well-coordinated approach to performing the Scope of Work, including site evaluation and feasibility assessment, engineering and design development, permitting, procurement, construction execution, commissioning, and five (5) years of operations, maintenance, and monitoring services. Evaluation may include the Proposer’s understanding of site-specific constraints, coordination requirements, EV infrastructure considerations, stakeholder engagement support, and the City’s objectives for solar deployment and energy storage where feasible.
Points will be awarded based on the following factors:
1. The Proposer has clearly identified a reasonable financing structure for the overall Project Site that allows the City to ground lease the City Property to the Proposer.
2. The reasonableness of the proposed Project Budget and assumptions of construction costs.
Points will be awarded based on the following:
The City will evaluate the reasonableness, completeness, and feasibility of the Proposer’s preliminary Project schedule for the sites included in its Proposal, including sequencing, milestone identification, critical path awareness, long-lead procurement planning, and the Proposer’s ability to support timely implementation of the proposed scope. Evaluation will include the Proposer’s ability to support completion by June 2028.
Points will be awarded for projects that maximize the site potential and capitalize on the site constraints. This includes neighborhood continuity:
The City will evaluate the quality, completeness, and technical credibility of the Proposer’s conceptual layouts and preliminary design information for the Project sites included in its Proposal. Evaluation may include the Proposer’s demonstrated understanding of site conditions, available space, equipment arrangement, electrical interconnection approach, EV infrastructure coordination, and the feasibility of proposed solar and energy storage configurations.
Points will be awarded if the project’s timeline is reasonable and project can move from predevelopment to construction quickly. Points will be awarded as follows for schedules deemed reasonable:
The City will evaluate the suitability, quality, and technical appropriateness of the proposed major equipment and systems, including the extent to which the Proposal demonstrates compatibility with the Project requirements, operational objectives, conceptual design approach, and long-term performance expectations.
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s understanding of external risks that may affect Project cost, schedule, feasibility, equipment availability, or delivery. Evaluation may include the Proposer’s identification of relevant regulatory, legislative, tariff, supply chain, and sourcing-related risks, together with the quality and practicality of its proposed mitigation strategies.
The City will evaluate the extent to which the Proposer’s pricing for the proposed work, including design-build services and required operations and maintenance services, is reasonable, complete, and appropriate for the services required. Evaluation may include the clarity and reasonableness of pricing by site, any additive pricing associated with energy storage, the reasonableness of operations and maintenance pricing, and any assumptions or qualifications affecting proposed pricing.
The City will evaluate the credibility, completeness, and reasonableness of the Proposer’s basis of estimate and pricing transparency. Evaluation may include consideration of whether the Proposer demonstrates a sound understanding of probable project costs, pricing assumptions, exclusions, contingencies, major cost drivers, and the clarity and usefulness of the pricing support provided.
To be awarded a 5 point preference for this category, the proposer must have an official business address within the City of Pasadena at the time that this RFP is posted on the City’s Website.
To be awarded a 5 point preference for this category, the proposer must be certified by the State of California as a small or micro-business. Refer to the State of California Department of General Services Division for further information. https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/sbdvbe-index.aspx
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s demonstrated understanding of the Project, site-specific considerations, implementation approach, and the City’s objectives for solar deployment, energy storage where feasible, and EV infrastructure coordination for the sites for which the Proposer has been shortlisted.
The City will evaluate the qualifications, preparedness, and coordination of the proposed key personnel who will be responsible for delivering the sites for which the Proposer has been shortlisted.
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s ability to explain and support its approach to cost control, schedule management, procurement planning, risk mitigation, equipment availability, and timely delivery of the proposed scope. Evaluation may include the Proposer’s ability to support completion by June 2028.
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s responsiveness, clarity, communication, and ability to address City questions in a clear, practical, and well-coordinated manner during the interview.
The City will evaluate the Proposer’s ability to explain how award of multiple sites to that Proposer, if determined to be in the City’s best interest, could provide implementation benefits to the City. Evaluation may include consideration of the Proposer’s approach to coordinated mobilization, sequencing, procurement, staffing, schedule management, construction consistency, reduced disruption to City operations, and efficiency in long-term operations and maintenance support.
By submitting this bid the proposer hereby certifies under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of California that all representations made in the documents that comprise the proposal for Design-Build Services for Solar and Energy Storage Installations at Category 1 City-Owned Properties due on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of the proposal’s submission.
By confirming, the vendor is acknowledges the following:
The entire proposal must be formatted on standard-size 8½”x11” pages; 12 point font only. The "Technical Proposal," "Additional Data," and "Statement of Qualifications" can be no more than 100 grand total pages.
Subsequent to the closing of this solicitation, the selected vendor will be required to provide the following documents within 10 calendar days of being notified, otherwise the submitted proposal may be deemed non-responsive.
All Insurance Required by this Solicitation (If Required) #Insurance Requirements
Proposers must provide a response for all requirements detailed in the Scope of Work and in the General Development Requirements.
Upload your Cover Letter and Table of Contents :
“Cover Letter” shall be a maximum one-page letter including the name and address of the organization submitting the proposal; whether the proposing firm is an individual, partnership, corporation or joint venture; and the name, mailing/e-mail addresses, and telephone/fax numbers the contact person who will be authorized to make representations for the organization.
“TECHNICAL PROPOSAL” should demonstrate the PROPOSER’S full understanding of the SCOPE OF WORK and the effort needed to complete the Project on time and within the budget through the submittal of a proposed work plan including project deliverables (identify specifically and thoroughly for each portion of and phase). No pricing shall be included in this section.
The TECHNICAL PROPOSAL shall include a proposed work schedule to indicate duration and completion dates, including the dates of Deliverables/Milestones and estimates of the amount of time to be spent with City Staff during each phase of the project.
The entire proposal must be formatted on standard-size 8½”x11” pages; 12 point font only. The "Technical Proposal," "Additional Data," and "Statement of Qualifications" can be no more than a grand total of 100 combined.
Upload a separate file titled “Price Proposal.” The Price Proposal must be submitted separately from the technical proposal and must contain all pricing information required by the RFP. Do not include cost information in the technical proposal unless expressly requested by the City.
“Additional Data” shall include any other data the PROPOSER deems essential to the evaluation of the proposal, i.e., letter of reference, other related projects, etc., or other required documents.
The entire proposal must be formatted on standard-size 8½”x11” pages; 12 point font only. The "Technical Proposal."
If this preference is applied to the solicitation, and your company is seeking this preference, you must provide a copy of the certification from DGS.
Please upload a copy of your: Class A (General Engineering Contractor) or Class B (General Building Contractor), or, where sufficient for the full scope of Work of a particular site, Class C-10 Electrical (Specialty Contractor). Lead Architects and/or Engineers must hold an active license and registration in the State of California.
Solely for the purpose of verification. Please enter your Public Works Contractor Registration Number. This will be verified against the state database for the Department of Industrial Relations Registration.
Upload the Statement of Qualifications and Relevant Experience required by Section 2, General Instructions, subsection 4 of this RFP. This submittal shall include all information required by that section, except for the separate uploads required below.
*Response required
Upload the surety letter required by Section 2, General Instructions, subsection 4, Statement of Qualifications and Relevant Experience. The surety letter shall confirm the Proposer’s ability to obtain the payment and performance bonds required by the final contract for the applicable construction scope.
Please upload financial statements for the most recent three (3) fiscal years, whether audited or otherwise prepared in the ordinary course of business, sufficient to demonstrate financial capacity, as required by Section 2, General Instructions, subsection 4, Statement of Qualifications and Relevant Experience. If the Proposer is relying on the financial strength of a parent company, affiliate, or other entity, this upload shall also include the supporting financial information for that entity.
Please download, complete and submit any required forms below.
If your proposal does not include all of the below items, it may be deemed non-responsive.
Evidence of certification by State of California as a small or micro-business, if claiming such preference – https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/PublicSearch/supplier-search.aspx
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT
For RFP/RFQ where the selected vendor/contract will require City Council approval (check with City project manager for clarification), the following requirement applies:
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Complete and submit the attached Relevant Experience Form with your Proposal to demonstrate the Proposer’s qualifications, organizational capacity, and relevant experience in performing projects of similar scope, size, complexity, and delivery method to those required under this RFP.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
This form is only required for the purchases of technology. If selected, proposers will be required to complete the Pasadena Department of Information Technology Technical Questionnaire. The questionnaire is included in the #Attachments. When completing the questionnaire, please note:
In order to comply with the section named “Data Security for Printers/Copiers/Scanners,” My company will:
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
In addition to the items listed above, the following list is provided for the convenience of both you and the City and to help eliminate errors and omissions which may render your bid unacceptable. The following forms are required to be submitted with your bid: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/finance/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/HUD-Federal-Forms-under-200k.pdf?v=1674593673378
HUD Federal Forms (under $200k)
In addition to the items listed above, the following list is provided for the convenience of both you and the City and to help eliminate errors and omissions which may render your bid unacceptable. The following forms are required to be submitted with your bid: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/finance/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/HUD-Federal-Forms-over-200k.pdf?v=1674593673378
HUD Federal Forms (Over $200k)
All vendors responding to this solicitation must provide a copy of their Active SAM Registration with their proposal.
Select a general funding source
For Example: "Homeland Security"
This amount is the dollar value of the award from HUD. Contact Housing if you have questions.
Do not erase the text below. Enter the number after the text that reads "FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NUMBER:"
Below is a list of potential attachments that may or may not apply to your procurement. Please review the attachments in the section named "Attachments" to ensure they are relevant and appropriate.
Goods/Equipment, Services, SAAS, Printers, Copiers/Scanners)
If any of the following items apply, please contact HR (Jaime Arellano, jarellano@cityofpasadena.net; (626) 744-7301) for approval before you proceed. DO NOT SUBMIT BEYOND THIS POINT UNTIL YOU HAVE OBTAINED APPROVAL FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.
This particular question is to be answered for the company (or their subcontractors) not their employees.
Please enter the specific License or Certification required to be eligible to compete on this solicitation. For example, "CPA - Certified Public Accountant."
State of California Definition: Construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work done under contract and paid in whole or in part out of public funds. It can include preconstruction and post-construction activities related to a public works project.
Choose your evaluation factors. Below are example factors you can consider for your Evaluation Criteria. It is important that your actual evaluation of proposals is consistent with the factors and criteria you include in the RFP document. You will be able to add or edit any custom criteria along with the point values (using a 100-point-scale) while you are editing the Evaluation Section of this project.
General definitions and parameters of each approach.
Used for development projects typically by Housing or Economic Development.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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