Procurement Call for Energy Efficiency Research. Invitation to Tender

Transcription

1 Procurement Call for Energy Efficiency Research Invitation to Tender 17 September 2015

2 1. Background Ireland, like all countries in Europe, is required to meet a 20% savings target in relation to energy efficiency by Residential dwellings account for 25% of national energy use and have significant potential for energy savings by retrofitting existing homes. The Better Energy Programme is the national upgrade programme to retrofit Ireland s building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency, thereby reducing fossil fuel use, running costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Research and Innovation Actions are needed to better understand how consumers take decisions, how technology solutions could help them to adopt more energy efficient behaviour, how they interact with the energy system, and which macro-economic impacts are related to consumers' decisions. Innovative strategies are therefore sought to increase public engagement in the energy transition, as well as supporting those stakeholders that need to be involved in the definition and/or implementation of sustainable energy policies and measures. Applicants are invited to tender under this call to develop smart solutions for promoting energy efficiency in Ireland as outlined in the challenge below. 2. The Challenge In meeting the Government sustainable energy targets to 2020, it will be essential to engage with our market to identify innovative means to stimulate the deployment of energy retrofits and so the economy along the necessary transition. The aims of this Call for energy efficiency research are to: Stimulate knowledge concerning innovative approaches to supporting the faster deployment of energy efficiency upgrades within the residential sector; and Achieve energy and carbon emission savings and fossil fuel displacement resulting in mass deployment. In meeting these aims it will be important that the programme is effective in producing durable models capable of application to the existing Better Energy Programmes.

3 Indicative examples of priority thematic areas identified for the 2015 research call include: - Awareness and engagement methodologies - Communications and marketing approaches - Novel and innovative solutions for deployment - Financial and other incentivisation - Quality and Skills Awareness and Engagement Propose tailored and effective engagement actions to motivate changes in consumers' sustainable energy behaviour that would result in reduced energy consumption in buildings, heating/cooling systems and/or appliances. The proposed actions should focus on homeowners (perhaps utilising market segmentation for proposed actions) to demonstrate an understanding of different types of behaviours and consider the different approaches needed to influence them. Proposals could also separately or additionally focus on the rental market and how to engage it. Communications and Marketing Proposals are sought in this area to provide insights using social and behavioural sciences to understand factors influencing consumer choices and the impact of consumer behaviour on the energy system. In addition gender, socio-economic, and demographic differences could be identified as a means of segmentation and tailoring actions to target groups. Novel and innovative solutions Research in this area could focus on the development of innovative user-friendly digital tools and applications or services making use of energy end-user generated information or captured from in-home equipment/sensors (e.g. smart meters, or smart appliances), in possible combination with intelligent controls and automation, with the purpose to significantly enhance energy efficiency by end-users taking informed decisions. The focus should be on empowering consumers (buildings managers, buildings owners including residents and housing associations) to engage and collaborate in achieving energy savings and allowing them to explore different means and measures to manage their energy needs over the longer term.

4 Financial and other Incentives This area should seek to provide a better understanding of the consumer's decision making process to improve the design of future energy efficiency policies in such a way that existing barriers can be removed. Many non-technological barriers hamper the implementation of energy efficiency improvements in homes. For example, diversity and fragmentation within the building value chain; inefficient and complex renovation processes; a lack of deep renovation packages; low development and uptake of financial packages or incentives (e.g. grants and loan products); unclear energy or environmental requirements in renovation processes; lack of clear performance guarantees. There may be other barriers not identified here, and proposals on identifying and finding solutions to these barriers are sought in this area. Quality and Skills This area should look at the wider consideration of engagement with providers of the various services in the market, to ensure that appropriate and properly installed solutions are proposed and deployed into homes. Consideration should be given here on how to facilitate such engagement and how to promote innovative solutions into the provider market so that they become the norm. 3. Scope of the Research Call The competition is open to all interested parties including research organisations, technical organisations, industry, various associations, NGOs, universities and service providers. Developments are 100% funded and focused on specific identified needs. Suppliers will be selected by an open competition process. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that their proposed solution can address the key areas as set out in the Application Form. 4. The Process and Funding Allocation The competition is open from 17 September 2015 and closes Friday 9 October 2015, with contracts expected to be awarded by end of October The contracts placed will be to December 2015 and of a value of up to 10,000 (inc. VAT where applicable) per project. It is anticipated that up to twelve contract awards may be made depending on the quality of applications.

5 Successful applicants will be advised according to the published key dates and companies will be expected to mobilise rapidly to start the project. It is important that Projects start soon after the contract has been issued so that all projects can be completed prior to the year end. This is not a grant. Payments will be made by SEAI against defined milestones. 5. Assessment Applications will be reviewed by a selected panel of experts and contracts will be awarded shortly thereafter. Feedback to unsuccessful applicants will be given after contracts are awarded. The assessment criteria are: Relevance to and alignment of the subject area with Better Energy goals 1. How well does the proposal meet the requirements of the Brief? (20 points) 2. Overall quality of the proposal? (20 points) Proposed solution 3. How valid is the approach that will be adopted? (10 points) 4. How innovative is this project? To what extent does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies for this area? (20 points) Resources, Skills and Experience and project management 5. How effectively will the project be managed? (10 points) 6. To what extent does the applicant appear to have the right skills, capabilities and experience to deliver the intended benefits? (10 points) 7. Are the costs appropriate and justified? (10 points)

6 6. Format of tender All proposals should contain the following: Completed Application Form; Valid insurance certificates to the required levels below or confirmation that these can be made available once the tenderer becomes the preferred bidder: Employer s Liability: 13,000,000 in any one event Public Liability: 6,500,000 in any one event Valid tax clearance certificate or confirmation that one can be made available once the tenderer becomes the preferred bidder; Tenderer s Statement as outlined in the attached in Appendix 003; Declaration as to Personal Circumstances of Tenderer as outlined in Appendix Submissions Proposals must be submitted electronically using the postbox available on no later than close of business on Friday 9 th October Contract Where relevant, the lead applicants will need to obtain consent from an authorised officer or appropriate signatory who will sign the contract if successful. A sample draft contract is attached as an appendix. The contract is a legally binding document and subject to the outcome of this competition. By submitting the application you are confirming that the information given, in this application, is complete and that you are actively engaged in this project and responsible for its overall management and agree to administer the award if made. Key Dates: Competition Launch 17 th September 2015 Deadline for queries 30 th September 2015 (noon) Deadline for applications 9 th October 2015 (noon) Applicants notified of decision and contracts awarded End of October 2015

7 Contact Points Questions and comments are very welcome while the competition is open and until the 30 th September Questions on the overall process, the challenge and scope of this competition should be posted on the electronic postbox available on Once the competition is closed, no further dialogue will be entered into. In order to streamline the process for this competition, feedback to unsuccessful applicants may not be available until after the contracts have been awarded.