SR 10-25-2016 3P
Ci ty Council
R eport
City Council Meeting : October 25, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.P
1 of 4
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Assistant Director , Office of Sustainability & the Environment
Subject: Award Bid #82 to EcoMotion to Provide Program Services Under the Solar
Santa Monica Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Ci ty Council :
1. Award RFP #60 to EcoMotion, a Los Angeles -based company, to provide
program services under the Solar Santa Monica program ; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a n agreement with
EcoMotion, in an amount not to exceed $75,000 , for one year, with four -
additional , one -year renewal option (s ) in the amount of $75,000, on the same
terms and conditions for a total contract amount not to exceed $375,000 over a
five -year period , with future year funding contingent on Council budget app roval.
Executive Summary
For over 10 years, the Solar Santa Monica program has provided community services to
residential and business property owners seeking to install solar energy systems . The
services provided are community branding, outreach and educ ation, industry and
regulatory updates, and solar and financial analysis. Staff issued a request for
proposals to solicit ongoing consulting services. After reviewing the submitted
proposals, the selection committee determined that EcoMotion was the best b idder .
Under the new contract, EcoMotion w ould continue to implement the Solar Santa
Monica program , as well as to provide additional energy consulting services as
necessary. These services would be provided for an amount not to exceed $75,000 for
one yea r.
Background
Council approved development of the Community Energy Independence Initiative
Demonstration Project on March 14, 2006. To implement the program, the City
developed a suite of services to support property owners in their solar procurement
proc ess.
2 of 4
A competitive bidding process solicited proposals from consultants to provide services
to provide community outreach and technical assistance for solar procurement . O n
September 12, 2006 , Council awarded a $532,098 contract for Phase 1 of the
Commun ity Energy Independence Initiative to EcoMotion . 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 as Solar Santa
Monica, in cluding 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 M onica. O n January 22, 2008 , Council approved a six month extension of the
demonstration through FY 2007 -08 for $236,050 . On September 23, 2008, Council
awarded a contract of $483,750 to EcoMotion to continue providing services under
Solar Santa Monica for FY 2 008 -2009 . O n September 8, 2009 , Council awarded a
$250,000 contract to EcoMotion to continue providing services under Solar Santa
Monica for FY 2009 -10. O n July 27, 2010 , Council awarded a $150,000 contract to
EcoMotion for FY 2010 -11.
On August 23 , 2011 , Council awarded a $75,000 contract to EcoMotion for FY 2011 -12;
this contract was extended through FY 2013 -2014 . On September 24, 2013, Council
awarded a $75,000 annual contract, with a not to exceed amount over a three -year
period of $225,000 . Th is latest contract with the City expired July 31, 2016.
Since 2006, the program, known as Solar Santa Monica, has successfully catalyzed a
fivefold increase in solar installations in Santa Monica. There is now over 5 megawatts
of solar capacity installed in Santa Monica.
Discussion
Solar Santa Monica provides free technical assistance to residential and commercial
property owners. The services include: energy efficiency recommendations, rooftop
analysis for solar feasibility , financial payback and solar bid comparison. Solar Santa
Monica provides impartial analysis based on estimated solar energy system
3 of 4
performance, cost, assumptions and included services and warranties. Solar Santa
Monica has been instrumental in supporting Property Assessed Clean Energ y (PACE)
as a financial vehicle for solar energy systems as well as virtual net energy metering for
multifamily properties.
As the interest and complexity of energy has changed with the recent industry and
public interest in electric vehicles and energy s torage, the services of Solar Santa
Monica must also adapt to the new landscape. Staff developed a new Request for
Proposals that would allow for the program to provide technical assistance with
integrating energy storage and electric vehicle charging into solar energy systems.
Contractor Selection
On June 22, 2016, the City published Notices Inviting Bids to provide professional
consulting services for Solar Santa Monica in accordance with City specifications . The
bid was posted on the City’s on -line bidd ing site, and notices were advertised in the
Santa Monica Daily Press in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code
provisions . 78 vendors downloaded the bid. Five proposals were received and publicly
opened on July 13, 2016 . All five proposers were i nterviewed on August 15, 2016 and
were evaluated based on the criteria in the municipal code, including : price, experience,
ability to deliver program services, quality of work and innovation.
EcoMotion , the City’s current vendor for the Solar Santa Moni ca program, was found to
be the best bidder based on its skill s and experience in providing community outreach &
education, on -call services and innovations. EcoMotion has extensive experience as
solar advisors to cities, corporations, and campuses across the country. EcoMotion is
currently the solar advisor for the Los Angeles Metro system. For several years,
EcoMotion served as Solar Advisor for the Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). In this capacity, EcoMotion’s solar team
provided no -cost initial project consultation for AASHE’s 862 member s .
During the contract term, EcoMotion woul d p rovide technical assistance to property
owners, including the City, in the procurement process for solar energy systems, EV
4 of 4
cha rging systems and e nergy storage systems and serve as a community brand and
resource for going solar . A performance target of 500 kW of annual installed solar
capacity would be established for the contract term.
Financial Impact and Budget Action
The cont ract to be awarded to EcoMotion is for an amount not to exceed $375,000.
Funds of $75,000 are available in the FY 2016 -201 7 budget in the City Manager’s
Office . The contract will be charged to account 01226.555060. Future year funding is
contingent on Coun cil budget approval.
Prepared By: Garrett Wong, Sustainability Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. March 14, 2006 Council Meeting
B. September 12, 2006 Council Meeting
C. January 22, 2008 Council Meeting
D. September 23, 2008 Council Meeting
E. September 8, 2009 Council Meeting
F. July 27, 2010 Council Meeting
G. August 23, 2011 Council M eeting
H. September 24, 2013 Council Meeting
Reference:
Agreement No. 10385
(CCS)