POWER & WATER RESOURCES POOLING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS MANAGER. RESPONSE DUE: August 19, 2015

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1 POWER & WATER RESOURCES POOLING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS MANAGER ISSUED: June 26, 2015 RESPONSE DUE: August 19, 2015 SUBMIT TO: PWRPA Manager SOQ Banta- Carbona Irrigation District 3514 W. Lehman Road, Tracy, CA

2 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority ( Authority ), is a joint powers authority ( JPA ) formed by certain Western Area Power Administration ( Western ) customers in January This JPA, comprised of seven Member and seven Stakeholder agencies ( Participants ) was formed in order to aggregate load, manage power resources, and purchase supplemental power to serve the Participants power management needs. The Authority was also formed in order to more efficiently manage its water supplies, including, but not limited to, investigating the most efficient use of water and power resources when managed conjunctively. The Authority is issuing this request for qualifications ( RFQ ) to solicit statements of qualifications ( SOQ ) from persons in connection with serving in the position of either General Manager or Operations Manager for the Authority. 2.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Authority possesses those powers that are common among the parties to the Joint Powers Agreement, which are California Irrigation Districts, including the power under California law to provide wholesale and retail electric service. The Authority is a publicly owned electric utility as defined in California law and purchases electricity at wholesale from different sources and sells the energy to its public agency customers at retail. The Authority is comprised of several types of water agencies that use nearly all of their power to either distribute water for irrigation and municipal delivery or for water treatment operations. The Authority receives a Base Resource allocation from Western that is a daily non- firm product, from the hydropower generation available from the Bureau of Reclamation s Central Valley Project hydroelectric sites in northern California. The Authority also receives supplemental power from independent power marketers, the day- ahead market operated by the California Independent System Operator ( CAISO ), and several long- term power purchase agreements with renewable electricity generation projects (solar, small hydroelectric, landfill gas) and a state- of- the- art natural gas electricity generation facility. With an annual budget approximating $50 million, the Authority s customer electricity demand ranges from 10 to 110 MW, and has annual energy requirements reaching almost 600,000 megawatt hours. The Authority does not currently manage any of its Participants water resources. However, at some time in the future, the Authority intends to explore opportunities for pooling the Participants water resources toward the goal of more effective power and water management. 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF POSITION The Authority s Board of Directors ( Board ) is primarily comprised of upper- level managers from its Participants who bring many decades of experience in managing staff, water resources, physical assets, and a multitude of project types. Currently, the Authority s General Manager is its administrative head and is responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the Authority as directed by the Board. With this RFQ, the Authority is evaluating whether its needs are best served by a General Manager or by a position more appropriately classified as an Operations Manager. The Authority welcomes SOQs from individuals describing their qualifications for either Manager position. Page 1 of 5

3 Proposed Duties: 1. Advises the Board in all matters relevant to the electric service provided by the Authority. 2. Provides general direction and supervision of plans for the future development of facilities and resources. 3. Meets with Participants as necessary, to represent the Authority's activities. 4. Fosters an effective and collaborative team between the Board, the Participants, and Participants staff. 5. Conducts a variety of special studies and surveys to determine the effectiveness of Authority projects. 6. Represents the Board's policies and projects with other entities. 7. Prepares the annual budget, reviews budget requests, and makes recommendations to the Board on final expenditure levels. 8. Gathers and organizes a variety of information and materials for the Board, including Board packet preparation, and coordination of meetings. 9. Plans, organizes, and coordinates the work of vendors and staff to achieve efficient operations and meet program goals. Works harmoniously with all vendors selected by the Board. 10. Evaluates and makes recommendations on improvements to existing Authority policies, operations, and services. Identifies projects to enhance the Authority s value to Participants. 11. Oversees the efficient and effective day- to- day operation of the Authority that may include scheduling power with the CAISO. 12. Determines staffing and contracting requirements for organizational management and the needs of the Authority. 13. Researches funding sources and drafts filings or funding proposals to increase the funds of the Authority. 14. Approves expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board. 15. Performs other tasks as directed by the Board. Desirable knowledge and skills include: 1. Effective leadership and management principles and practices. 2. Ability to learn. 3. Budgeting principles and practices (operating and capital), communication, contracting, information technology, project management, performance standards, records management, and resource management to achieve desired outcomes and expectations. 4. Organization, operations, and problems of special districts providing energy and/or water resources. 5. Organization, operations, and problems of Base Resource allocations from Western. 6. Principles of utility operations and planning. 7. Principles of economics related to contracts, purchases, sales, and consumption of water or electric utility services. Page 2 of 5

4 4.0 TIME SCHEDULE AND PROCESS The Authority will use the following timetable: Issue RFQ 06/26/2015 Deadline for Submittal of SOQ 08/19/2015 The Authority will review the submitted SOQs and select finalists for interviewing and ultimately choose a single person. After completing negotiations, the Authority will make recommendations to appoint a Manager. Depending upon the Authority s need and the Board s determinations, the Manager may either be an independent contractor or an employee, and will serve at the pleasure of the Board. 5.0 INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBMITTERS Electronic submission to bcid@inreach.com is preferred, however, responses may be mailed to: PWRPA Manager SOQ Banta- Carbona Irrigation District 3514 W. Lehman Road Tracy, CA SOQs should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of the respondent s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the RFQ. Please direct any questions concerning the proposed specifications or RFQ process to: Bruce McLaughlin PWRPA General Counsel (916) mclaughlin@braunlegal.com. 6.0 DISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY SOQs will remain confidential except that the Authority is subject to the California Public Records Act (California Government Code section 6250, et seq.) and information submitted for this RFQ may be disclosed pursuant to a request under the Act. 7.0 SUGGESTED CONTENTS OF SOQ Suggested types of information for inclusion in the SOQ are the following (listed in no particular order): 1. Provide individual or firm s name and business address, phone, fax and e- mail address for the contact person. Page 3 of 5

5 2. Briefly describe you or your firm s experience, including technical capabilities in providing the services described above and the length of time such services have been rendered by you or your firm. List your relevant experience and demonstrated knowledge in the water and/or electric utility industry. 3. List three business references (include addresses and telephone numbers). 4. If a firm is submitting the proposal, list the individual(s) responsible for providing Manager services and which individual will be the primary designee for services directly to the Authority. 5. Describe how you/your firm intend to provide the range of services for the Authority on a time and materials basis 6. Availability and flexibility to meet Authority s schedules. 7. Compensation requirements and/or billing rates. 8. Potential conflicts of interest. 8.0 TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. The Authority shall have no obligation to enter into any agreement with any respondent to this RFQ and the Authority may terminate or modify this RFQ at any time without liability or obligation to any respondent. 2. The Authority shall have the right, upon its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any and all quotes or proposals, and to waive minor irregularities in any SOQ. 3. The Authority reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted, and to request additional information from any respondent. 4. The Authority will not be liable for any costs incurred in the preparation and production of a proposal or any work performed prior to the execution of a contract for General Manager services. 5. All responses and other materials submitted will become the property of the Authority. 6. All information contained in the RFQ and acceptable provisions of the selected firm s response may be made a part of the contract for Manager services. 7. The Authority reserves the rights to negotiate the scope of services, contract terms and compensation for Manager Services to be provided. Page 4 of 5