4 CCR 723-3-3616 - Request(s) For Proposals

(a) Purpose of the request(s) for proposals. The proposed RFP(s) filed by the utility shall be designed to solicit competitive bids to acquire additional resources pursuant to rule 3611. To minimize bidder exceptions and to enhance bid comparability, the utility shall include in its proposed RFP(s) a model contract to match each type of resource need, including contracts for supply-side resources, energy storage systems, renewable energy resources, or Section 123 resources as required by the approved resource plan.

(b) Contents of the request(s) for proposals. The proposed RFP(s) shall include the bid evaluation criteria the utility plans to use in ranking the bids received. The utility shall also include in its proposed RFP(s): details concerning its resource needs; reasonable estimates of transmission costs for resources located in different areas pursuant to rule 3608, including a detailed description of how the costs of future transmission will apply to bid resources; the extent and degree to which resources must be dispatchable, including the requirement, if any, that resources be able to operate under automatic dispatch control; any physical and performance requirements for energy storage systems or instructions for bidders to explain characteristics of energy storage systems, including but not limited to discharge rates and durations, charging rates, response time, and cycling losses and limitations; and methodologies or credit mechanisms to value energy storage services provided to the utility system; the utility's proposed model contract(s) for the acquisition of resources; proposed contract term lengths; discount rate; general planning assumptions; and, any other information necessary to implement a fair and reasonable bidding program.

(c) Employment metrics. The utility shall request from bidders the following information relating to best value employment metrics for each bid resource:

(I) the availability of training programs, including training through apprenticeship programs registered with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and Training;

(II) the employment of Colorado workers as compared to importation of out-of-state workers;

(III) long-term career opportunities; and

(IV) industry-standard wages, health care, and pension benefits.

(d) When issuing its RFP, the utility shall provide potential bidders with the Commission's order or orders specifying the form of nondisclosure agreement necessary to obtain access to confidential and highly confidential modeling inputs and assumptions provided by the utility pursuant to paragraph 3613(b). The utility shall also provide potential bidders with an explanation of the process by which disputes regarding inputs and assumptions to computer-based modeling will be addressed by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 3613(b).

(e) The utility shall require bidders to provide the contact name of the owner or developer designated to receive notice pursuant to paragraph 3613(a).

(f) The utility shall inform bidders that certain bid information submitted in response to the RFP will be made available to the public through the posting of certain bid information on the utility's website upon the completion of the competitive acquisition process pursuant to paragraph 3613(k).

Notes

4 CCR 723-3-3616

38 CR 17, September 10, 2015, effective 9/30/2015 39 CR 06, March 25, 2016, effective 4/14/2016 39 CR 08, April 25, 2016, effective 5/15/2016 40 CR 22, November 25, 2017, effective 12/15/2017 42 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/2/2019 42 CR 07, April 10, 2019, effective 4/30/2019 42 CR 09, May 10, 2019, effective 5/30/2019 43 CR 08, April 25, 2020, effective 5/15/2020 43 CR 12, June 25, 2020, effective 7/15/2020 43 CR 20, October 25, 2020, effective 11/14/2020 44 CR 13, July 10, 2021, effective 7/30/2021 44 CR 24, December 25, 2021, effective 1/14/2022 45 CR 18, September 25, 2022, effective 10/15/2022 46 CR 02, January 25, 2023, effective 2/14/2023