City OKs energy-efficiency campaign contract and owners-rep services for ESPC planning

Staff recommended awarding a contract to Bridal Spaces LLC to administer a community-facing Decatur Energy Efficiency Campaign supporting municipal HVAC improvements and a community rebate/education effort funded through a U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The initial award was $320,082.56; staff recommended and the commission approved a change order that reduced the contract by $60,000 to $260,082.56 and established a project budget of $275,000.

Staff told the commission there were three responsive RFP bids and described Bridal Spaces as a Georgia-based firm with experience administering community clean-energy campaigns and an existing platform called Let’s Go Electric. Staff also recommended protective contract terms including a 12-month opt-out and termination provisions if EECBG or Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GIFA) funding is rescinded.

The commission also approved awarding 2 KB (2 kilobytes) Energy Services a $102,850 contract and a $110,000 project budget to serve as the owner’s representative for an energy savings performance contract (ESPC). Staff said the owners-rep will lead planning, develop an RFP for ESCO selection, and help oversee an investment-grade audit phase; work is expected to start mid-April with a June work session to brief the commission.

Why it matters: The campaign and ESPC planning are intended to reduce municipal energy use, pursue electrification, install EV charging and solar at city buildings, and leverage rebates and financing to lower upfront costs for energy upgrades.

Commissioners asked about federal funding risk and program scale; staff said protections are included in the agreement and that the Home Energy Navigator service will be provided in-house by the contractor to support residents.