REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. HPwES CONTRACTORS NH CORE UTILITIES NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR PROGRAM

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1 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS HPwES CONTRACTORS NH CORE UTILITIES NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR PROGRAM

2 New Hampshire Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Purpose New Hampshire electric and gas utilities seek to create a pool of qualified building professionals that may be drawn upon as program demand dictates to provide comprehensive weatherization services to NH Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) participants for the 2012 program year and beyond. Funding for this program is subject to approval by the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission. Funding for the 2012 program year is currently under review and therefore there is no guarantee that this program will exist as filed, or at all. Contracts may not be signed with Utilities until such time as the commission approves the program. Background: The NH Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program offers qualified 1-4 family households an opportunity to increase their home s energy efficiency through the delivery of a comprehensive, whole house assessment and the installation of energy efficiency improvements. Improvements may include, but are not limited to; sealing air leaks, adding insulation, improving heating and cooling systems, sealing ductwork, upgrading lighting, appliances and water heating systems, installation of health and safety improvements such as CO detectors and bath fans as well as recommending installation of renewable energy systems. For the 2011 program year, qualifying households paid a $100 audit fee and were eligible for rebates of up to 50%, capping at $4,000 to assist in paying for the total cost of installing qualifying improvements. Additionally, convenient Utility on-bill financing at zero percent interest was also available to qualifying households to assist with program co-payments. Homeowners are only eligible for rebates and loan funds if their home energy assessments and energy efficiency improvements have been completed by a NH HPwES contractor. Rebates and loan proceeds are paid directly to contractors. Improvements not completed by program contractors are not eligible for incentives or loans unless otherwise approved by the Utility Program Administrator. The program is available statewide to customers of the investor-owned electric utilities: Granite State Electric Company d/b/a National Grid, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc., Public Service Company of New Hampshire and Unitil Energy Systems, Inc., as well as the two natural gas utilities; Northern Utilities and National Grid NH (referred to throughout the remainder of this document as the NH CORE Utilities ). Customers must pre-qualify for the program by completing the Home Heating Index (HHI) screening tool ( Qualifying customers may select a qualified contractor to perform their work from the enrollment form or one will be assigned to them by the Utility Program Administrator.

3 Funding for the program comes from the System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid through electric utility rates and the Local Distribution Charge (LDC) paid through natural gas utility rates. Program funding is limited and is available on a firstcome, first-served basis to eligible applicants. The program may also receive funding from other sources including federal and state initiatives. The program budgets are developed annually and are submitted for approval through the NH Public Utilities Commission. Program delivery is administered by each of the utilities through a Program Administrator who maintain program budgets and coordinate all aspects of program implementation and delivery. In-home delivery of program services is provided by a network of statewide program certified home improvement contractors. Contractors must complete program training and become certified through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) to be eligible to become a program contractor. Contractors will work with Utilities to document all jobs through the use of approved program software. All program documentation must be completed in a timely and accurate manner. Request for Qualifications New Hampshire electric and gas utilities are requesting qualifications of organizations or individuals that would like to provide services to homeowners as NH Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (NH HPwES) contractors under this program. The qualifications process will identify contractors with licenses, training, insurance, and professional skills required to provide energy efficiency improvements services to participating homeowners within New Hampshire s regulated Utility territory. The objectives of the qualifications are to: Approve contractors that have knowledge and understanding of practical solutions to improving residential homes energy efficiency performance with a commitment to customer service and the ability to maintain commitment to the program s goals. Deliver a comprehensive assessment utilizing Building Performance Institute and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR procedures and protocols. Develop practical and cost effective recommendations and work scopes for the implementation of cost effective improvements. Deliver and install energy efficiency improvements professionally and by following all local, state and federal requirements, as well as BPI protocol. Effectively educate and inform homeowners on how to manage and control their energy consumption.

4 Services and Deliverables Program approved contactors may use subcontractors, so long as the approved contractor is acting as the general contractor on the job. Approved contractors will be held responsible for any and all program funded work performed including any performed by subcontractors of the approved contractor. Fee Schedule The utilities reimburse for contractor services based on fixed pricing for labor and materials. Fee schedules will be made available to contractors accepted into the program. Program Requirements Each contractor participating in the NH HPwES program must meet or maintain the requirements as outlined below: a. Perform turnkey audit and installation services. b. Possess Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification (minimum Building Analyst I) for all auditors working on Utility jobs. c. Possess EPA Lead Certification. See 40 CFR Part Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention in Certain Residential Structures. d. Ability to provide computer(s) capable of running Utility provided software. e. Willingness to abide by established state-wide pricing for audit and energy efficiency measures installation. f. New contractors agree to pay $300 per Quality Assurance Inspection and Analysis for up to three projects as determined by the Program Administrator. g. Agree to allow the use of its company name for PUC regulatory activities and data reporting. h. Provide references of which a minimum of three must be from homeowners that have had comparable work performed. i. Have an established business for not less than one year and be a registered business in the state of NH. j. Maintain a satisfactory or no rating with the Better Business Bureau. k. Maintain adequate liability insurance levels as defined by each Utility s general terms and conditions Response Requirements Closing Date This RFQ will close at midnight on January 1, The CORE utilities reserve the right to revise or withdraw this RFQ prior to the close date, and may choose to stop additions to the Qualified Contractor list at any time.

5 Removal from the Qualified HPwES Contractor List The CORE utilities reserve the right to remove any Organization from the Qualified HPwES Contractor list for any reason, at any time. Contractors may request to be removed from the list at any time by submitting a written request to the contact below. Specific reasons for removal may include: Failure to comply with Federal, State and local laws and regulations including building codes. Failure to provide acceptable workmanship in the products and materials used, as required by the guidelines of the HPwES program. Failure to provide timely, courteous service to the HPwES program and it s participants. Failure to provide timely, clear and accurate reporting, work documentation or billing. Instructions To be considered for the Qualified HPwES Contractor List, complete the attached HPwES Contractor RFQ Response Form and submit it to the Program Administrator(s) via one of the following methods: Mail Attn: HPwES Contractor List c/o Joanne Robbins Address: 325 West Rd, Portsmouth, NH Fax Attn: HPwES Contractor List Fax #: (603) Scan and Subject: HPwES Contractor List stephenson@unitil.com All requirements must be met to qualify for the list. Upon qualification you will be notified by letter. General Conditions Contractors who are ultimately approved for the program may be asked to sign specific Terms & Conditions statements, customer privacy documents, Hold Harmless statements and other documents as required by the contracting Utility.

6 Contractors will contract directly with each Utility individually and may be required to sign separate agreements with each Utility. This RFQ is not in itself an offer and shall under no circumstances be construed as an offer nor does it guarantee any work will be awarded by the CORE utilities. Attachments HPwES Contractor RFQ Response Form