RSU 18 board directs staff to issue RFQ for performance contracting services to evaluate facilities and efficiency projects

District staff sought board direction to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to engage a firm to evaluate facilities, design projects and pursue performance contracting opportunities that could fund HVAC, indoor-air-quality and other facility improvements. The board directed staff to issue the RFQ and establish an interview committee; the motion in the record was moved by Mike and seconded by Sarah and the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Staff explained the RFQ process does not commit the district to any particular projects. Instead, a firm under an RFQ contract can assist the district for up to five years by designing projects, estimating budgets, overseeing bidding and pursuing grants and incentives (staff specifically referenced working with Efficiency Maine). "What it does is it puts a firm under contract with us for the next 5 years to help us design projects, evaluate projects, put projects out to bid and oversee projects," staff said. The district noted that firms typically assume project-design liability under some contract structures and that board approval would be required before any individual project moved forward.

Board members asked about public involvement and cost estimates; staff said project-specific work would come back to the full board for approval and the public would have opportunities to comment when specific projects were proposed. The superintendent and facilities staff will coordinate candidate interest and invite board members to join the interview committee; interested board members were asked to email staff to be considered for committee membership.

Next steps: staff will issue the RFQ, solicit respondent interest, and convene an interview committee to evaluate finalists for recommendation to the full board.