Revised 12/23/02 - changes in red Combined Heat & Power and Renewable Generation Technical Assistance Program Opportunity Notice (PON) No. 739-02

Revisions: Section IV has been modified to include progress payments up to the allowable percentage of the study cost, when appropriate.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), as administrator of the New York Energy $martSM program, is seeking proposals to study the feasibility of Combined Heat & Power (CHP) and renewable generation. See Appendix C for a definition of eligible CHP and renewable generation projects. As part of determining the feasibility of implementing a system, applications may seek funds to investigate the sale or distribution of excess energy.

• NYSERDA will cost-share up to $50,000 of the cost of selected Technical Assistance Studies performed by an independent Service Provider, as described herein.
  

Eligible participants include: industrial and commercial facilities, State and local governments, not-for-profit and private institutions, public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, multifamily buildings greater than 5 units, and health care facilities. NYSERDA is particularly interested in working with New York State electric distribution system customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Corp., Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., or Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.

Application Submission: Send eight copies of the application, one of which must contain an original signature to*:

Karen Whalen, PON 739-02
NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
17 Columbia Circle
Albany, New York 12203-6399

Technical Assistance questions should be directed to Mark Gundrum (518-862-1090, ext. 3256) or Scott Smith (518-862-1090, ext. 3344)
Contractual questions should be directed to Mary Sauvie at (518-862-1090, ext. 3229).

I. INTRODUCTION

PROJECT CATEGORIES AND OBJECTIVES

• Combined Heat & Power:
NYSERDA seeks applications for studies that will investigate the site-specific technical and economic feasibility of installing Combined Heat & Power (CHP). All applications must identify the specific uses for the recovered heat. See Appendix C for a description of eligible CHP projects.

• Renewable Generation:
NYSERDA seeks applications for studies that will investigate the site specific technical and economic feasibility of installing electricity generation capacity fueled by renewable resources. See Appendix C for a definition of eligible renewable generation projects.

AVAILABLE FUNDS

Up to $400,000 of System Benefits Charge (SBC) funds and up to $100,000 of State Energy Plan (SEP) funds are available for qualified applicants to this Program Opportunity Notice.

II. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS

All projects must include cost-sharing in the form of matching cash support. In-kind contributions are not allowable as matching funds. Cost-sharing may include funding from other organizations. NYSERDA's contribution to selected technical assistance projects is described below.

On most projects, for NYS electrical distribution customers other than those of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), NYSERDA will contribute fifty percent (50%) of study costs, up to the lesser of either $50,000 or ten percent (10%) of the applicant's annual energy costs, based on an approved scope of work.

If the applicant is an electric distribution customer of LIPA or NYPA, NYSERDA will contribute thirty three percent (33%) of the study cost, up to the lesser of $33,000 or ten percent (10%) of the applicant's annual energy costs, based on an approved scope of work.

LIMITATIONS

• Technical assistance provided and costs incurred prior to NYSERDA authorization in the form of a Purchase Order are not eligible.

• Detailed engineering design is not eligible for funding.

• Equipment purchases are not eligible for funding, except for metering equipment representing a small percentage of the requested funds.

• No Service Provider can apply for more than twenty five percent (25%) of the funds available through this program.

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS

The following applications are ineligible:

• Applications for studies of non-renewable generation without a heat recovery component.

• Applications seeking assistance with evaluating studies for which the potential renewable generation capacity would be larger than 10 MW.

• Applications seeking assistance with evaluating studies for which the potential CHP system would be larger in total prime mover capacity than 20 MW or mechanical equivalent.

• Applications seeking assistance with evaluating studies for which less than seventy five percent (75%) of the electricity generated would be used on-site.

III. APPLICATIONS

This solicitation has two application due dates. Applications will be accepted for Round I until the close of business on March 5, 2003. Applications will be accepted for Round II from March 6, 2003 until the close of business on June 11, 2003. Round I applications will be scored and ranked together. Round II applications will be scored and ranked together.

Late or incomplete applications will be returned. A complete application is comprised of Appendix A, a scope of work with an attached detailed budget (as defined in Appendix B) for the Technical Assistance study to be conducted and a two page list of the consultant's relevant project experience. The scope of work should be developed according to the instructions in Appendix B. Final reports must comply with the requirements in Appendix B. Applications containing scopes of work that do not expand upon the requirements in Appendix B to include site and project specific issues will not be favorably reviewed.

To apply:

• Send eight copies of the completed application (Appendix A with a scope of work attached) to the attention of Karen Whalen at the address on the front of this Program Opportunity Notice; at least one copy must contain an original customer signature. Faxed copies will be not be accepted.

IV. AWARDS

Applications will be evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Panel of NYSERDA staff members and outside technical/financial experts, with funding decisions expected approximately eight weeks after each due date. The review will involve a comparative evaluation of the criteria in Appendix D.

Upon approval, NYSERDA will issue a standard Purchase Order. Technical Assistance provided and costs incurred prior to the issuance of this Purchase Order will not be funded under this PON. Upon receipt and approval of two copies of the final report, receipt of a copy of the Service Provider's invoice to the applicant, and an invoice from the applicant to NYSERDA, NYSERDA will reimburse the applicant for NYSERDA's share of the actual Technical Assistance study cost provided in the issued Purchase Order. When appropriate, NYSERDA may issue progress payments up to the allowable percentage of the study cost.

V. REPORTING

A goal of this program is to share project successes with others who may gain from the transfer of technical information. In order to receive Reimbursement, applicants awarded funding will be required to provide two copies of a final report to NYSERDA at the conclusion of the Technical Assistance project. These reports must meet the requirements in Appendix B. A required one-page Project Summary Sheet will be provided by NYSERDA with the Purchase Order and must be completed and included with the final report. This document is also available online at www.nyserda.org/739pon.html. Further, a Technology Transfer sample sheet will also be included with the Purchase Order. This is to be used as a template for a one-page summary of the findings which the technical assistance study has provided, and must also be included with the final report. Other examples are available online at www.nyserda.org/techasst.html.

VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION - Careful consideration should be given before confidential information is submitted to NYSERDA as part of your application. The applicant should determine whether the information is critical for evaluating an application, or whether general, non-confidential information, may be adequate for review purposes. The New York State Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law, Article 6, provides for public access to information NYSERDA possesses. Public Officers Law, Section 87(d) (2) provides for exceptions to disclosure for records or portions thereof that "are trade secrets or are submitted to an agency by a commercial enterprise or derived from information obtained from a commercial enterprise and which if disclosed would cause substantial injury to the competitive position of the subject enterprise." Information submitted to NYSERDA that the applicant wishes to have treated as proprietary, and confidential trade secret information should be identified and labeled "Confidential" or "Proprietary" on each page at the time of disclosure. This information should include a written request to except it from disclosure, including a written statement of the reasons why the information should be excepted. See Public Officers law, Section 89(5) and the procedures set forth in 21 NYCRR Part 501.

MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS POLICY - OMNIBUS PROCUREMENT ACT OF 1992 - It is the policy of New York State to maximize opportunities for the participation of New York State business enterprises, including minority and women-owned business enterprises, as bidders, subcontractors and suppliers on its procurement agreements.

Information on the availability of New York subcontractors and suppliers is available from:

Empire State Development
Division For Small Business
30 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245
A directory of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises is available from:

Empire State Development
Minority and Women's Business Development Division
30 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245

CONTRACT AWARD - NYSERDA may award a Purchase Order based on applications without discussion, or following limited discussion, scope of work modifications or negotiations. NYSERDA may request additional data, or material to support applications. A sample Purchase Order is available on request.

PROJECT PAYMENTS - NYSERDA will reimburse successful applicants for NYSERDA's share of the actual Technical Assistance study cost provided in the issued Purchase Order, at the conclusion of the Technical Assistance project and upon receipt of copies of the invoices from the Service Provider, an invoice to NYSERDA from the applicant and two copies of the final report. Reimbursement will be based on services actually provided, as defined in the Scope of Work, and as documented by the successful applicant's technical assistance Service Provider's invoices.

LIMITATION - This solicitation does not commit NYSERDA to award a Purchase Order, to pay any costs incurred in preparing an application, or to procure or contract for services or supplies. NYSERDA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, to negotiate with all qualified applicants, or to cancel in part or in its entirety the solicitation when it is in NYSERDA's best interest.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT - The applicant shall disclose any indictment for an alleged felony, or any conviction for a felony within the past five years, under the laws of the United States or any state or territory of the United States, and shall describe circumstances for each. When an applicant is an association, partnership, corporation, or other organization, this disclosure requirement includes the organization and its officers, partners, and directors or members of any similarly governing body. If an indictment or conviction should come to the attention of NYSERDA after the award of a contract, NYSERDA may exercise its stop-work right pending further investigation, or terminate the agreement; the contractor may be subject to penalties for violation of any law which may apply in the particular circumstances.

VII. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

NYSERDA has a number of programs available to New York State businesses and industries. These include implementation assistance programs, as well as many others, some of which are provided here. More information can be found on our website at www.nyserda.org, by e-mailing info@nyserda.org or by telephoning toll free 1-866-NYSERDA

VIII. ATTACHMENTS

Included:
Appendix A - Customer Application
Appendix B - Scope of Work and Final Report Information
Appendix C - Projects Eligible for PON 739-02
Appendix D - Evaluation Criteria
Exhibit A-1 - Project Summary Sheet

17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399    Toll-Free: 1-866-NYSERDA or Local: 518-862-1090    Fax: 518-862-1091
New York City and Buffalo Regional Offices

© 2004 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority