Or. Admin. Code § 137-049-0680 - Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC)

(1) Generally. These OAR 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690 rules include a limited, efficient method for Contracting Agencies to enter into ESPCs outside the competitive bidding requirements of ORS 279C.335 for existing buildings or structures, but not for new construction. See ORS 279C.335(1)(f). If a Contracting Agency chooses not to utilize the ESPC Procurement method provided for by these OAR 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690 rules, the Contracting Agency may still enter into an ESPC by complying with the competitive bidding exemption process set forth in ORS 279C.335, or by otherwise complying with the Procurement requirements applicable to any Contracting Agency not subject to all the requirements of 279C.335.

(2) ESPC Contracting Method. The ESPC form of contracting, as defined at OAR 137-049-0610(6), has unique technical complexities associated with the determination of what ECMs are feasible for the Contracting Agency, as well as the additional technical complexities associated with a Design-Build Contract. Contracting Agencies shall only utilize the ESPC contracting method with the assistance of knowledgeable staff or consultants who are experienced in its use. In order to utilize the ESPC contracting process, the Contracting Agency must be able to reasonably anticipate one or more of the following types of benefits:

(a) Obtaining, through an ESCO, the following types of integrated Personal Services and Work: facility profiling, energy baseline studies, ECMs, Technical Energy Audits, project development planning, engineering design, plan preparation, cost estimating, life cycle costing, construction administration, project management, construction, quality control, operations and maintenance staff training, commissioning services, M & V services and required documentation as a fully integrated function with a single point of responsibility;

(b) Obtaining, through an ESCO, an Energy Savings Guarantee;

(c) Integrating the Technical Energy Audit phase and the Project Development Plan phase into the design and construction phase of Work on the project;

(d) Reducing the risk of design flaws, misunderstandings and conflicts inherent in the construction process, through the integration of ESPC Personal Services and Work;

(e) Obtaining innovative design solutions through the collaboration of the members of the ESCO integrated ESPC team;

(f) Integrating cost-effective ECMs into an existing building or structure, so that the ECMs pay for themselves through savings realized over the useful life of the ECMs;

(g) Preliminary design, development, implementation and an Energy Savings Guarantee of ECMs into an existing building or structure through an ESPC, as a distinct part of a major remodel of that building or structure that is being performed under a separate remodeling Contract; and

(h) Satisfying local energy efficiency design criteria or requirements.

(3) Authority. Contracting Agencies desiring to pursue an exemption from the competitive bidding requirements of ORS 279C.335 (and, if applicable, ORS 351.086), shall utilize the ESPC form of contracting only in accordance with the requirements of these OAR 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690 rules.

(4) No Findings Required. A Contracting Agency is only required to comply with the ESPC contracting procedures set forth in these OAR 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690 rules in order for the ESPC to be exempt from the competitive bidding processes of ORS 279C.335. No Findings are required for an ESPC to be exempt from the competitive bidding process for Public Improvement Contracts pursuant to 279C.335, unless the Contracting Agency is subject to the requirements of ORS 279C.335 and chooses not to comply with the ESPC contracting procedures set forth in OAR 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690.

(5) Selection. ESPC selection criteria may include those factors set forth above in OAR 137-049-0640(2)(a), (b), (c) and (d). Since the Energy Savings Guarantee is such a fundamental component in the ESPC contracting process, Proposers must disclose in their Proposals the identity of any Person providing (directly or indirectly) any Energy Savings Guarantee that may be offered by the successful ESCO during the course of the performance of the ESPC, along with any financial statements and related information pertaining to any such Person.

(6) QBS Inapplicable. Because the value of construction Work predominates in the ESPC method of contracting, the qualifications based selection (QBS) process mandated by ORS 279C.110 for State Contracting Agencies in obtaining certain consultant services is not applicable.

(7) Licensing. If the ESCO is not an Oregon licensed design professional, the Contracting Agency shall require that the ESCO disclose in the ESPC that it is not an Oregon licensed design professional, and identify the Oregon licensed design professional(s) who will provide design services. See ORS 671.030(5) regarding the offer of architectural services, and 672.060(11) regarding the offer of engineering services that are appurtenant to construction Work.

(8) Performance Security. At the point in the ESPC when the parties enter into a binding Contract that constitutes a Design-Build Contract, the ESCO must provide a performance bond and a payment bond, each for 100% of the full Contract Price, including the construction Work and design and related Personal Services specified in the ESPC Design-Build Contract, pursuant to ORS 279C.380(1)(a). For ESPC Design-Build Contracts, these "design and related services" include conventional design services, commissioning services, training services for the Contracting Agency's operations and maintenance staff, and any similar Personal Services provided by the ESCO under the ESPC Design-Build Contract prior to final completion of construction. M & V services, and any Personal Services or Work associated with the ESCO's Energy Savings Guarantee are not included in these 279C.380(1)(a)"design and related services." Nevertheless, a Contracting Agency may require that the ESCO provide performance security for M & V services and any Personal Services or Work associated with the ESCO's Energy Savings Guarantee, if the Contracting Agency so provides in the RFP.

(9) Contracting Requirements. Contracting Agencies shall conform their ESPC contracting practices to the following requirements:

(a) General ESPC Contracting Practices. An ESPC involves a multi-phase project, which includes the following contractual elements:

(A) A contractual structure which includes general Contract terms describing the relationship of the parties, the various phases of the Work, the contractual terms governing the Technical Energy Audit for the project, the contractual terms governing the Project Development Plan for the project, the contractual terms governing the final design and construction of the project, the contractual terms governing the performance of the M & V services for the project, and the detailed provisions of the ESCO's Energy Savings Guarantee for the project.

(B) The various phases of the ESCO's Work will include the following:

(i) The Technical Energy Audit phase of the Work;

(ii) The Project Development Plan phase of the Work;

(iii) A third phase of the Work that constitutes a Design-Build Contract, during which the ESCO completes any plans and Specifications required to implement the ECMs that have been agreed to by the parties to the ESPC, and the ESCO performs all construction, commissioning, construction administration and related Personal Services or Work to actually construct the project; and

(iv) A final phase of the Work, whereby the ESCO, independently or in cooperation with an independent consultant hired by the Contracting Agency, performs M & V services to ensure that the Energy Savings Guarantee identified by the ESCO in the earlier phases of the Work and agreed to by the parties has actually been achieved.

(b) Design-Build Contracting Requirements in ESPCs. At the point in the ESPC when the parties enter into a binding Contract that constitutes a Design-Build Contract, the Contracting Agency shall conform its Design-Build contracting practices to the Design-Build contracting requirements set forth in OAR 137-040-0560(7) above.

(c) Pricing Alternatives. The Contracting Agency may utilize one of the following pricing alternatives in an ESPC:

(A) A fixed price for each phase of the Personal Services and Work to be provided by the ESCO;

(B) A cost reimbursement pricing mechanism, with a maximum not-to-exceed price or a GMP; or

(C) A combination of a fixed fee for certain components of the Personal Services to be performed, a cost reimbursement pricing mechanism for the construction Work to be performed with a GMP, a single or annual fixed fee for M & V services to be performed for an identified time period after final completion of the construction Work, and a single or annual Energy Savings Guarantee fixed fee payable for an identified time period after final completion of the construction Work that is conditioned on certain energy savings being achieved at the facility by the ECMs that have been implemented by the ESCO during the project (in the event an annual M & V services fee and annual Energy Savings Guarantee fee is utilized by the parties, the parties may provide in the Design-Build Contract that, at the sole option of the Contracting Agency, the ESCO's M & V services may be terminated prior to the completion of the M & V/Energy Savings Guarantee period and the Contracting Agency's future obligation to pay the M & V services fee and Energy Savings Guarantee fee will likewise be terminated, under terms agreed to by the parties).

(d) Permitted ESPC Scope of Work. The scope of Work under the ESPC is restricted to implementation and installation of ECMs, as well as other Work on building systems or building components that are directly related to the ECMs, and that, as an integrated unit, will pay for themselves over the useful life of the ECMs installed. The permitted scope of Work for ESPCs resulting from a solicitation under these 137-049-0600 to 137-049-0690 rules does not include maintenance services for the project facility.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 137-049-0680

DOJ 11-2004, f. 9-1-04, cert. ef. 3-1-05; DOJ 20-2005, f. 12-27-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; DOJ 15-2009, f. 12-1-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10

Stat. Auth.: ORS 279C.335 & 279A.065

Stats. Implemented: ORS 279C.335, 279A.065, 279C.110 & 351.086