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District receives three EPC proposals; committee to select firm for investment‑grade audit
Summary
District staff reported receiving proposals from Ameresco, Honeywell and Johnson Controls for an energy performance contract; the planning committee asked the Board to appoint a representative to a working group and scheduled interviews for late February.
District staff told the planning committee that three firms submitted proposals in response to the district’s request for an energy performance contract (EPC). The firms with base proposals were Ameresco, Honeywell and Johnson Controls; the district’s owner's representative, Energia, compiled a summary for the committee.
Vin summarized the firms’ base proposals and their “alternate” (larger) proposals. Annual projected energy savings reported in the summary were roughly $291,000 (Ameresco), $443,000 (Honeywell) and $403,000 (Johnson Controls). Reported self‑funding project sizes (base proposals) were approximately $8.7 million (Ameresco), $6.6 million (Honeywell) and $6.9 million (Johnson Controls); alternate proposals submitted by the firms ranged higher (Ameresco $16.6M; Honeywell $10.5M; Johnson Controls $22M).
Vin and staff described the typical measures included in EPC proposals: LED lighting, boiler and rooftop‑unit upgrades, building‑automation/energy management system upgrades, domestic hot‑water replacements and window replacements. The firms also proposed other measures depending on the firm and scope, including battery storage, solar (roof or ground), and fuel‑cell or heat‑pump options in some proposals. Staff said many of the HVAC‑related projects highlighted in the capital packet were also candidates to be wrapped into an EPC.
Staff told the committee the EPC process includes selection of one firm to perform an investment‑grade audit (IGA), after which the chosen firm prepares a final, guaranteed‑savings contract. The district’s prior EPC work — a roughly $10.2 million project completed about a decade ago—converted several buildings from electric heat to natural gas, added LED lighting and produced guaranteed savings that covered the project over roughly a 15‑year repayment period, staff said.
Vin said the next step is interviews of the three bidders, planned for the week of Feb. 24. The planning committee asked the Board of Education to appoint a representative — and to confirm the scope of the working group that will advise interviews — noting the town council must ultimately approve any EPC lease agreement. Staff said the town’s director of public works, the town manager’s office and the district’s owner’s rep (Energia) are coordinating the schedule and will provide interview materials.
Staff emphasized that an EPC contract does not require a public referendum because the town has authority to enter lease agreements; the town council would vote on any contract. The committee discussed oversight: staff said the EPC vendor serves as a turnkey contractor that procures and manages subcontractors but that district and town staff and an advisory working group provide project oversight and approve final scopes.
