Contractors responding to the Consumers Energy RFP #3 should submit their questions in writing to Fred Alatalo, aaalatalo@cmsenergy.com. Please include the RFP number (#) in the subject line of your email submission.
Question period closes: March 18, 2009
Questions and answers will be posted at this location. The identity of the person or firm asking the question will remain anonymous when posted at this site.
Q#1: In RFP #3, on page 27, section 2 – General Company Information, item a, a reference is made to Appendix G: General Company Information. Unfortunately, we were unable to find Appendix G in the body of the RFP, nor on the http://client.summitblue.com/ConsumersEnergy site.
Is there an Appendix G form that we need to fill out, or was this reference instructing bidders to create an Appendix G and insert our general company information there?
ANSWER Disregard any reference or requirement as it pertains to Appendix G specifically, however, do include general information about your company as part of your response.
Q#2: Section 7: Budget- Can bidders submit a non time and materials price—lump sum – for part(s) of the bid?
ANSWER: Bidders must submit a time and materials budget as requested in Section 7. If bidders would like to submit an alternative pricing scenario, they may do so, as an alternative option.
Q#3: Section 10.2 Bidder’s Conference Call- Will a list of attendees for the 3/5 conference call be provided?
ANSWER: No
Q#4: Section 10.12 Minimum Qualifications - Does the 5+ years of experience apply to subcontractors as well?
ANSWER: Only the prime contractors are expected to have at least 5+ years of experience.
Q#5: Appendix C- How will the Residential Awareness Campaign, Customer Outreach, Website, and On-line Energy Assessment be bid?
ANSWER: These programs will be delivered in-house by Consumers Energy and are not part of this RFP process at this time.
Q#6: Overall: How does a vendor who can provide a key residential pilot program best provide a proposal to Consumers…as a sub to prime bidders, as a stand-alone bid only addressing the pilot program, or both?
ANSWER: Vendors who have capability to provide only one component of the requested services are advised to approach other firms who are responding as prime contractors and inquire about subcontractor opportunities.
Q#7: If the Consumers Energy filing to the Michigan
PSC contains inconsistencies between the annual savings goals and budgets
specified in the tables versus those specified in the text, may the contractor
choose whether to use the tables or text as the basis for meeting the annual
savings goals and budgets for each program?
ANSWER: If contractors
encounter areas of inconsistency between values as reported in tables versus
the narrative text, the correct values to use are those as detailed in the
tables, and Consumers would appreciate this inconsistency being brought to our
attention.
Q#8: We think there may be an
inconsistency in the Existing Home Retrofit Program. On page 84 of the filing
it specifies that the Phase 2 walk-through energy analysis shall be available
starting Jan 2010. However, the tables on page 86, as well as Table 5-6 on page
32, show a modest budget for the Existing Home Retrofit Program in 2010 with no
participation or associated energy savings. Given your response, is our
understanding correct? Does Consumers Energy’s intend to offer the Phase 2
walk-through starting in 2011?
ANSWER:The plan is to
gradually launch the program over several years. For 2009, our plan includes no
budget and no projected savings. For 2010, the plan includes budget for
start-up activities, however, we forecasted no savings. For 2011, we
anticipate the program will be ready for full-launch, and we do anticipate
savings. With that said, if contractors would like to propose alternative
scenarios (e.g. realizing savings in 2010), they are free to do so, and will be
considered by Consumers Energy
