SR-09-24-2013-3DCity of it Council Report
Santa Monica'
City Council Meeting: September 24, 2013
Agenda Item: 3-D
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Director Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Subject: Agreement with EcoMotion for implementation of Solar Santa Monica
Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with EcoMotion, a California -based
company, in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for implementation of the Solar Santa
Monica program, with two additional one year renewal options in the amount of
$75,000, for a total not to exceed $225,000 over a three year period with future year
funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Executive Summary
EcoMotion has been contracted by the City of Santa Monica to administer the Solar
Santa Monica Program since 2006. In this time they have successfully increased the
rate of solar power installations on residential and commercial properties. A competitive
bidding process was held in 2011 for program management services and EcoMotion
was selected as the best bidder. The contract signed in 2011 included the option to
extend the contract into future years. However, before the option to extend could be
exercised the contract expired, necessitating a new contract with EcoMotion based on
the terms of the 2011 contract.
Background
Council approved development of the Community Energy Independence Initiative
Demonstration Project on March 14 2006. A competitive bidding process was
performed for implementation of the demonstration project. EcoMotion was determined
to be the best bidder and was awarded a $532,098 contract for Phase 1 of the
Community Energy Independence Initiative on September 12 2006. The Phase 1
demonstration project consisted of conducting focus group research to determine the
major barriers to solar adoption and creating the program that would later be branded
1
Solar Santa Monica, including establishing a network of solar providers, developing a
marketing strategy, developing solar site evaluation procedures, developing templates
for solar analysis reports and conducting solar analysis of residential and commercial
property in Santa Monica. Subsequent contracts with EcoMotion for the implementation
of Solar Santa Monica were awarded on January 22 2008 for $236,050 to extend the
demonstration project six months through FY 2007 -08; on September 23, 2008 in the
amount of $483,750 for FY 2008 -09; on September 8 2009 in the amount of $250,000
for FY 2009 -10; on July 27, 2010 in the amount of $150,000 for FY 2010 -11. The
demonstration project successfully catalized a fivefold increase in solar installations in
Santa Monica.
A competitive bidding process took place in 2011 for continued operation of the Solar
Santa Monica program. Out of three respondents EcoMotion was determined to be the
best bidder and was awarded a contract in the amount of $75,000 to perform services
under the Solar Santa Monica program during FY 2011 -12. A contract modification in
the amount of $75,000 was signed for an additional year of service during FY 2012 -13.
The contract signed with EcoMotion on November 22, 2011 was modified on August 22,
2012 to extend the contract through June 30, 2013. The contract signed in 2011
included two one year options to extend, through the FY 2013 -14 fiscal. However, that
contract expired before the second option to renew was exercised. As a result a new
professional services agreement is now required. EcoMotion has agreed to honor the
original contract pricing for 5 years.
Discussion
Increasing solar adoption through the continuation of the Solar Santa Monica Program
is an important strategy for realizing reductions in GHG emissions needed to achieve
the goals established in the Sustainable City Plan and the Climate Action Plan adopted
by Council on February 26, 2013.
2
Contractor /Consultant Selection
On June 16, 2011, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment posted a Request
for Proposals on the City's on -line bidding site for program development and
implementation services for Solar Santa Monica. Three proposals were received and
reviewed were evaluated based on the criteria in SMMC 2.24.072, including price,
ability to deliver, and quality of work. EcoMotion was found to be the best bidder based
on their skill and experience developing and implementing solar financing mechanisms
for other communities including the City of Palm Desert and Sonoma County. No other
proposer had sufficient financial expertise in the energy sector.
During FY 2013 -14, EcoMotion would perform the following tasks:
• Conduct public outreach to increase awareness of program offerings;
• integrate solar promotion with energy efficiency incentives provided by Los
Angeles County's Energy Upgrade California program;
• promote solar to the residential, commercial and institutional sectors; promote
new financing mechanisms for solar;
• identify and analyze solar projects on city owned property
A performance target of 500 kW of installed solar capacity has been established for
EcoMotion's efforts in FY 2013 -14.
3
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The contract to be awarded to EcoMotion is for an amount not to exceed $75,000 for FY
2013 -14. Funds are available in the FY 2013 -14 budget in division 01226. The contract
will be charged to account 01226.555060. Budget authority for subsequent budget
years will be requested in each budget for Council approval. Future funding is
contingent upon Council approval and budget adoption
Prepared by: Matt Henigan, Energy Efficiency Engineer
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
Or)- W'�� 7
Dean Kubani
Director, Office of Sustainability and the
Environment
H
Rod Gould
City Manager
Reference:
Agreement No. 9799
(CCS)