Geothermal Thermal Energy Network Owner's Representative

The City of New Haven (“the City”) is seeking cost estimates from geothermal energy network consulting firms to serve as an owner’s representative (“the OR”) and provide expert guidance and support in the engineering, procurement, and construction of a $15 million dollar design-bid-build process to construct a geothermal energy network. This network will serve two key facilities: (1) the planned multifamily housing development at Union Square to be developed by the Housing Authority of New Haven and (2) Union Station, New Haven’s central train station. The OR will also provide guidance and support for the $1.4 million geothermal heat pump retrofit of Union Station’s heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC). The retrofit of Union Station’s HVAC system and the scope of the geothermal energy network outlined in EPA grant (00A01475) make up the project (“Project”). EPA has awarded $9.5M in funding to the Project. The City has authorization to borrow $7.1M in bridge loan financing from the Connecticut Green Bank and seeks to utilize the federal investment tax credit and direct pay process and Energize CT geothermal heat pump incentives to repay the principal of the bridge loan. The Project workplan and budget submitted to EPA are attached as Attachments A and B respectively.

The Project will utilize the Section 48 federal investment tax credit (ITC) for geothermal systems and must comply with requirements related to prevailing wage and apprenticeship, domestic content, Build America Buy America, and, if eligible based on the regional unemployment rate, the energy communities bonus tax credit adder.

The OR will support the City through the Scope of Work outlined herein, as well as any additional tasks reasonably determined by the City Engineer or Project Manager to be necessary to the support development, execution or regulatory compliance of the Project. The OR shall be obligated to perform such tasks unless they fall demonstratively outside the scope of professional services customarily associated with this type of engagement. Respondents shall include a proposed method for structuring compensation related to ancillary services (e.g., hourly rate schedule or time-and-materials basis). However, the City reserves the sole discretion to determine the reasonableness of any request for additional compensation and to approve or reject such requests in writing. Failure to propose a compensation structure for ancillary services may be interpreted as agreement to perform such services at the base rate structure proposed for the primary scope. For the purposes of this solicitation, the Owner’s Representative (OR) will serve in an advisory and oversight capacity only. The OR will not have contracting authority or direct control over vendors but will provide recommendations and technical guidance to the City Engineer and Project Manager.