INTRODUCTION

EfficiencyOne is issuing this RFP to select multiple highly skilled and qualified Service Providers to deliver the Efficiency Nova Scotia HomeWarming Program throughout the province of Nova Scotia. There are currently four (4) Delivery Agents providing the HomeWarming Program on behalf of EfficiencyOne / Efficiency Nova Scotia to non-electric participants.  Through this procurement process, EfficiencyOne may increase this number of Service Providers for the delivery of the HomeWarming Program to both electric and non-electric participants. 

The term of the initial agreement resultant from this RFP is anticipated to be approximately 34 months (June 2023 – March 31, 2026), with options to renew or extend for additional periods.

Delivery Agents & Partnerships

Various Delivery Agents will be selected through this RFP process. Successful Proponents will manage and deliver all aspects of the HomeWarming Program to eligible participants and be responsible for achieving annual program targets.

The number of Delivery Agents selected will be determined at the sole discretion of EfficiencyOne. EfficiencyOne reserves the right to award contracts to one or more Proponents in a given geographic region, and EfficiencyOne may also add additional Delivery Agents throughout the term of any resultant agreement. 

EfficiencyOne understands that delivering the full scope of HomeWarming services requires a wide variety of experience, skills, and qualifications. EfficiencyOne encourages Proponents to partner with and/or subcontract other groups and organizations to assist in some components of service delivery, in their provision of the entire HomeWarming Program. 

Regardless of the number of partners/subcontractors involved in any individual RFP response, EfficiencyOne intends to award only one contract for any given successful Proposal submission. Within each Proposal submission, the lead partner must be identified, and this company will be considered the primary contact and Proponent. If successful, this Proponent would be considered the Delivery Agent (DA), upon execution of a contract.

Heat pump companies (installation, cleaning, servicing, etc.)

Companies that provide heat pump installations, cleaning, service, maintenance, etc., but do not want to be a DA that provides the full HomeWarming Program, may wish to consider the following alternate ways to participate in a competition (bid) to offer their heat pump services:

1. Other Upcoming EfficiencyOne Procurement(s):

EfficiencyOne anticipates that it will also be issuing one or more additional heat pump related procurements as follows:

• Heat pump supply and installation:

For past HomeWarming participants, EfficiencyOne may proceed with heat pump installs in absence of an EnerGuide Home Evaluation. To assist with this stream of the HomeWarming program, EfficiencyOne is planning a procurement (e.g. request for standing offer, RFP, etc.) to source qualified heat pump installers to supply and install eligible heat pumps in the homes of eligible past participants. 

• Heat pump cleaning/servicing:

A procurement is also being planned to source heat pump cleaning services.  This procurement may be conducted separately from or in conjunction with the procurement mentioned directly above for heat pump supply and installation services. 

Additional details on these upcoming procurements will be provided in the coming weeks. Successful Proponents of this HomeWarming Service Delivery RFP can also participate in the upcoming procurement opportunities.

2. As a subcontractor to Proponent(s) responding to this HomeWarming Service Delivery RFP:

As stated in Section 4.1.2 - Opportunities, Proponents are encouraged to work with multiple heat pump installers to ensure there are sufficient resources to complete the required number of heat pump installs in a timely manner. 

EfficiencyOne can provide limited networking assistance to connect firms only interested in a subcontractor role with potential Proponents as described in Section 2.1.2 directly following.

Companies interested in a subcontractor  role only (insulation, electrical, HVAC, etc.) 

Attachment 1 to this RFP provides a listing of companies interested in partnering with a Proponent as a subcontractor to deliver components of the HomeWarming Program.  These companies submitted their information to EfficiencyOne during a previously held Preliminary Market Consultation process. 

Additional firms can provide their information to EfficiencyOne in accordance with the instructions directly following. EfficiencyOne will then conduct a one-time update to the Attachment 1 listing and distribute it with a notification of the update via an addendum. This is the full extent of networking assistance that EfficiencyOne will provide to potential Proponents and interested partners/subcontractors for this HomeWarming Service Delivery RFP. 

If your firm is interested in a partnering/subcontractor role only, please submit the below-listed information via email, to procurement@efficiencyns.ca:

• Put “Interest as Subcontractor to HW DA” in the subject line
• In the body of the email include:
  • Organization name;
  • Contact name;
  • Contact information (email address, phone number);
  • Desired roles within HomeWarming (e.g. heat pump contractor/certified installer, electrical contractor, NRCan licensed Service Organization, insulation contractor, general contractor, etc.); and
  • Consent to distribute all the information above publicly (e.g. as part of an RFP issuance, addenda, etc.).
• The deadline for submitting this information to EfficiencyOne is on or before 4:00 pm AT on Friday, February 3, 2023, to be included in the issuance of an updated Attachment 1.