Lawrence County tables selection of energy‑savings contractor after three RFQs submitted

Lawrence County commissioners on July 29 acknowledged receipt of three requests for qualifications (RFQs) to oversee a planned roofing, window and lighting energy‑savings project at the county government center and voted to table selection while county staff and the solicitor complete a qualifications review.

The county’s controller, Kevin Mahoney, told the Board that “All 3 proposals for request for qualifications were received in a timely manner.” Mahoney identified the respondents as The Efficiency Network (Pittsburgh), Macquarie (Warrendale) and Constellation (Warrendale). The Board then voted to table the submissions so the county solicitor could confirm that each firm meets the statutory RFQ standards and so the controller and county administrator could review and consult before the Board acts.

Why it matters: the RFQ step determines which firm will be eligible to serve as the vendor that oversees energy‑savings performance contracting (sometimes described as an energy services company or ESCO) before the county solicits cost proposals for the actual construction and equipment work.

The discussion clarified that the RFQs are for qualifications only, not for work bids. Mahoney said, “Those are the 3 that applied for to oversee the projects. Those are not the roofing providers, for example. They are, somebody to oversee it.” The county’s solicitor will only review whether each submission meets the RFQ requirements; he will not make a recommendation about which firm to select.

Commissioners asked when the public would be able to view the RFQ submissions; the chair said they should be available after the solicitor’s review. The Board asked that the solicitor, the controller and, if needed, the county engineer review and return recommendations at next week’s meeting. The Board passed a motion to table the RFQs to allow that review; the motion passed by roll call (yes votes recorded by Commissioners Sainautom, Kennedy and Vogler).

Background: Commissioners said this step opens the project’s procurement sequence. If a firm is qualified, the next public step will be an RFP or request for proposals that solicits dollar bids for the physical roofing, lighting and window replacement work under an energy savings performance contracting framework.

What’s next: the solicitor will confirm legal sufficiency of the RFQ packages, the controller and county administrator will consult, and the Board expects a report and recommendation at its next regular meeting.