Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · PASADENA
AI Summary
The City of Pasadena seeks proposals from local banks and credit unions to implement a low-interest solar and energy storage loan program targeting low-income residential electric customers. The program includes a $3 million loan buydown fund over three years, aiming to serve 175 customers, with optional loans for non-low income customers.
The City of Pasadena, through Pasadena Water and Power ("PWP"), is seeking proposals from qualified local banks and credit unions to partner in implementing a Low-Interest Solar and Energy Storage Loan Program. This program will primarily target low-income PWP residential electric customers enrolled in one of PWP's Electric Utility Assistance Programs (e.g., EUAP, CARES, CARES Plus). The Public Benefit Fund will subsidize, or "buydown," each loan to allow the successful Proposing Entity to offer a target interest rate within the range of 0% to 3% APR.
Public Benefit Fund Allocation: PWP has tentatively allocated $3,000,000 for loan buydowns over three years.
Target Participation Goal: PWP's goal is to fund loans for 175 customers over the program's initial three-year period.
Optional Component: Proposing Entities are also encouraged to present options for offering similar loans to PWP's regular, non-low income electric customers.
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.
Points will be assigned for “Functional and Technical Merit” based on the capability of the proposer to satisfy the City requirements identified in the SCOPE OF WORK and as delineated. Points will be assigned for “Completeness of Proposed Solution” based on the vendor submitting a proposal that follows the guidelines specified in the SCOPE OF WORK.
Points will be assigned for “Experience with Projects of this Size and Scope in an Agency of Similar Size” based on a vendor’s previous experience with municipal agencies, as delineated in the SCOPE OF WORK, and CLIENT REFERENCES. Relevant experience, and technical expertise of the Consultant and sub-Consultants (if allowed) to perform the work. Points will be assigned based on references that named professionals are responsive to requests for analyses and information, have met or exceeded all performance expectations, and would be contracted with again. Nature and quality of completed work for other governmental agencies.
Points will be assigned based on an implementation timeline and milestone plan in the form of a Gantt chart that includes but is not limited to dates for installation, training, project rollout, and payment milestones.
Points will be assigned for the proposed schedule to complete the project. .
Proposals will be scored on the following:
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:
Points will be awarded for projects that maximize the site potential and capitalize on the site constraints. This includes neighborhood continuity:
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 selection panel will qualitatively evaluate the proposer’s institutional capacity, institutional stability, and depth of specialized experience over the past five years. Grading will be based on:
The proposer's demonstrated track record in designing, launching, and managing clean energy, energy efficiency, solar, or utility-aligned residential lending portfolios.
The qualifications, technical background, and historical performance of the designated Program Manager and essential staff assigned to project oversight and customer service coordination.
Verification of compliance with local requirements, ensuring the entity is a fully functional bank or credit union with an active, physical retail branch presence inside Los Angeles County.
Proposers will be evaluated on the operational feasibility, consumer accessibility, and responsiveness of their lending program design. This category examines:
Customer Intake and Verification: The clarity and efficiency of the workflow designed to verify PWP residential account status and seamlessly vet applicants for low-income eligibility through enrollment in PWP Electric Utility Assistance Programs.
Underwriting Alignment: The flexibility of the proposed credit underwriting framework (such as minimum credit score floors, debt-to-income limits, and the utilization of progressive alternative credit metrics) designed to safely optimize approval rates for low-to-moderate income borrowers.
Contractor and Customer Service Coordination: The approach for managing contractor interactions, scheduling prompt loan closings, and tracking customer inquiries or friction points to ensure resolution within the mandatory 24-hour window.
This section evaluates how effectively the proposer structures and optimizes the allocation of public funds to maximize value for the utility and its consumers. Evaluation includes:
The efficiency and structural integrity of the financial model demonstrating the utilization of the Public Benefit Fund allocation over the initial three-year term.
The pricing competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and real-world scalability of the tier structures provided in Table 1A (Standard Customers) and Table 1B (Income-Qualified Customers) to meet or exceed the program participation goals.
The selection panel will review the proposer's technological infrastructure and compliance protocols to ensure public data integrity and transparency. Evaluation is centered on:
The architecture and data privacy standards of the secure data transfer interface or web portal used to exchange customer information with PWP.
The capability of the portal to provide authorized PWP administrators with real-time, self-service tracking visibility over key variables (including PWP account numbers, project sites, real-time application tracking status, and lifecycle Public Benefit Fund invoicing data).
The comprehensive nature and layout of automated monthly data extractions and annual reporting packages built to audit participation milestones.
Points will be assigned based on a “Ratio Method.” The proposer’s cost must include the delivery of the proposed solutions, as well as any recurring costs (if any) as delineated in the Scope of Work and the PRICE PROPOSAL.
With this method, the proposal with the lowest cost receives the maximum points allowed. All other proposals receive a percentage of the points available based on their cost relationship to the lowest price. This is determined by applying the following formula:
Lowest Price / Evaluated Price X maximum points available = Awarded Points
Example: The cost for the lowest proposal is $100,000. The next lowest proposal has a cost of $125,000. The total points available for cost = 30 points.
( $100,000 / $125,000 ) X 30 = 24 points
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
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 Low-Interest Solar and Energy Storage Loan Program due on Friday, August 21, 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 50 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 50 combined.
Pricing Proposal Instructions
Bidders must complete the revised pricing spreadsheet titled SolarStorage_Loan_RFP_Pricing_Table_Revised.xlsx in accordance with the instructions below. Altering the structure of the spreadsheet, modifying pre-populated participant volumes, or damaging the embedded evaluation formulas may result in the immediate disqualification of the proposal.
1. Table 1A: Loan Buydown Scenarios - Standard Customers
Objective: Proposers must define the exact, one-time upfront interest rate buy-down subsidy payment (expressed as a flat dollar amount) required to lower the consumer APR to the targets listed (0.0%, 1.5%, and 3.0%) for 10-year and 15-year terms.
Baseline Metric: All calculations must be based on the provided standard reference project: a 7 kW solar and battery storage system with a total contract value of $36,000.
Submission Requirement: Replace the placeholder text $ [Proposer to complete] with a specific dollar value for all 35 intersections of credit tiers and loan configurations.
2. Table 1B: Loan Buydown Scenarios - Income-Qualified Customers
Objective: Proposers must independently define the one-time upfront buy-down subsidy payment required for residential customers enrolled in Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) income-qualified bill assistance programs.
Context for Proposers: These customers meet specific low-to-moderate income thresholds defined by the city but possess varied credit profiles that do not automatically correlate to lower credit scores. Proposers should utilize this matrix to reflect any specialized risk premiums, adjusted debt-to-income underwriting flexibilities, alternative credit metrics, or secondary market execution adjustments specific to this segment.
Submission Requirement: Proposers must completely fill out this matrix. If a proposer does not offer distinct pricing for income-qualified individuals, the values entered here must match Table 1A exactly. Do not leave this section blank.
3. Table 2 & Table 3: Administrative Fees and Marketing Budgets
Table 2 (Administration Fee): Input the fixed annual cost required to manage, service, and administer the loan program. These fees are funded separately by PWP and will not be deducted from the direct consumer interest buy-down pool.
Table 3 (Program Marketing): Input the estimated annual budget required for program-specific co-marketing, institutional outreach, and consumer education materials.
4. Table 4: Total Cost Scenario Evaluation (Proposer Read-Only)
No Data Input Required: Proposers must not enter data or modify any values within Table 4.
Evaluation Mechanism: This table utilizes a standardized, hypothetical annual volume split (51 Standard participants and 24 Income-Qualified participants) across credit tiers to calculate a projected total program cost.
Verification: Proposers should review this section prior to submission to verify that their inputs in Tables 1A, 1B, 2, and 3 generate accurate, non-error automated totals across all loan terms and interest rate options.
5. Treatment of Unsupported Terms or Credit Tiers
If a bidding institution is legally or structurally incapable of extending credit to a specific tier (e.g., Sub-580) or offering a specific loan term (e.g., 15-year term at 0% APR), the proposer must enter "N/A" in those specific cells. Proposers are advised that omitting entire credit tiers or terms may reduce the competitive score of the proposal during evaluation, as PWP favors comprehensive programmatic coverage.
PRICE PROPOSAL shall be submitted in this upload apart from the proposal.
Reference PRICE PROPOSAL.
Each Proposer must submit a PRICE Proposal containing all costs associated with the technical proposal. Using the attached Price Proposal in this RFP, provide Proposer’s lump-sum price for performing all services and work called for in the SCOPE OF WORK. The Proposer’s lump-sum price shall include, without limitation:
“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," "Additional Data," and "Statement of Qualifications" can be no more than a grand total of 50 combined.
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: TBD
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.
The Statement of Qualifications should highlight your company’s most applicable products, services, and experience.
Please download, complete and submit any required forms below.
Disclosures:
Respondents are invited to disclose any current contracts, subcontracts, or agreements with DHS, including any related data-sharing arrangements. If provided, respondents may include:
If no such relationships exist, respondents may indicate “No.”
Questions related to the disclosure shall be asked and answered through the solicitation Question and Answer process. The completed disclosure form will be reviewed by and shared with the City Manager’s office. Please upload this form as part of the submittal checklist and email a copy to CMOContractsAssessement@cityofpasadena.net.
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 bid to demonstrate experience with projects of similar scope and size to that which is to be performed.
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"
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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