Osgood/Deer Hill Solar Array

TOWN OF COHASSET
MASSACHUSETTS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR
LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
SOLAR ENERGY ARRAYS AND
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
ISSUED: April 22, 2026
SUBMISSIONS DUE: On or before 2:00pm May 26, 2026

Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1
2. ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE.............................................................................................................. 2
3. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ............................................................................................................ 3
3.1 Submission Requirements ................................................................................................... 3
3.2 Proposal Format .................................................................................................................. 4
3.7 Bid Deposit .......................................................................................................................... 7
4. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................. 6
5. SELECTION METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 7
Form 1: Certifications and Disclosure
Form 2: Price Proposal
Attachment 1: Sample Power Purchase Agreement
Attachment 2: Sample Site Lease Agreement for School sites
1

Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
1. INTRODUCTION
The Town of Cohasset, acting through its Board of Selectmen, in conjunction with the Alternative
Energy Committee and School Committee, seeks competitive proposals for the lease of certain
Town-owned real property to construct a commercial or utility class solar energy array and
associated equipment for the purpose of supplying electrical energy either directly to Town facilities
or via a credit on the Town's electric utility bills. The lease shall be for a term of twenty-five (25)
years.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) is available via email from Kevin Perry, Contracts and
Procurement Manager at Kperry@cohassetma.gov and is posted on the Town website
https://www.cohassetma.gov/254/Procurement
Bidders are asked to organize their proposal in the format described in section 3 of this RFP.
The Price Proposal must be separate from the Project Proposal and sealed in a separate
envelope with the submitted materials.
To be considered, proposals must be received in hardcopy On ore before 2:00pm, May 26, 2026
This RFP does not obligate the Town of Cohasset to proceed with the lease of any real property for
the construction of a solar energy array and associated equipment, or any other renewable resource
or microgrid proposal. The Town of Cohasset reserves the right to reject any or all proposals for any
or all of the identified sites.
The Town of Cohasset will not reimburse any costs incurred in preparing responses to this RFP,
including site visits or preliminary engineering analyses.
M.G.L. Chapter 30B shall govern all procedures.
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Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
2. ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
An anticipated timeline pertaining to this RFP process is indicated below:
ACTION DATES
Published in Central Register: April 22, 2026
RFP Issued to the Public: April 22, 2026
Published in Cohasset Mariner: April 23, 2026
Site Visits: Week of April 27, 2026
Final Inquiry Date: May 5, 2026
Questions Answered May 11, 2026
Proposal Submissions due: May 26, 2026 by 2:00pm
Town Manager Office
Town Hall
41 Highland Avenue, Cohasset, MA 02025
Location, Date and Time of opening: May 26, 2026 by 2:00pm
Town Manager Office
Town Hall
41 Highland Avenue
Cohasset, MA 02025
Anticipated Initial Evaluation Complete: June 2, 2026
Anticipated Interviews: Week of June 8, 2026
Anticipated Selection for Negotiations: June 15, 2026
Anticipated Contract Awards: June 22, 2026 (in hand by June 25)
All questions and inquiries concerning this RFP should be submitted by email to Kevin Perry at
Kperry@cohassetma.gov Inquiries will not be answered directly. The Town will issue an
addendum to address the written questions submitted in a form that will be submitted to all
bidders. A record will be made of all questions and responses, which will be posted on the website.
2

Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
It is the responsibility of the bidder to confirm interest via the email address above prior to the
submittal deadline to ensure that the bidder has received all addenda issued by the Town.
Additional information and addenda will be posted on the town's website:
https://www.cohassetma.gov/254/Procurement
It is the responsibility of the bidder to check the official website regularly to obtain site information,
communications and updates to the RFP process.
3. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Town of Cohasset, Massachusetts seeks competitive proposals for the lease of certain parcels
of Town-owned real property located in Cohasset, Massachusetts together with a non-exclusive
easement for reasonable access for the purpose of constructing, installing, operating and maintaining
a solar energy array and associated equipment on each site to provide electrical energy to Town-
owned facilities. The buildings and parcels of land that have been approved via Special Town
Meeting for up to a twenty-five (25) year lease are the following:
1) Schools:
a. Deer Hill School at 208 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA 02025
b. Joseph Osgood School at 210 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA 02025
c. Carport
Bidders may submit a proposal for lease of one or all parcels; provided, however, that a separate
proposal must be submitted for each parcel in addition to any proposal that combines individuals
parcels.
3.1 Submission Requirements
To be considered, any proposal associated with Town-owned sites must be received on or before
2:00pm, May 26, 2026 by the office of the Town Manager. Late proposals associated with the lease
of Town property under this Chapter 30B solicitation will not be accepted after this time.
An orginal of the Proposal, along with a thumb drive containing pdf versions of the proposal
documents shall be placed in a sealed envelope marked on the outside as "RFP: SOLAR ENERGY
ARRAY" and delivered to:
Town of Cohasset
Attn: Town Manager
Town Hall
41 Highland Avenue
Cohasset, MA 02025
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Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
An original Price Proposal and a thumb drive must be included in the sealed envelope with
the Project Proposal, but submitted in a separate sealed envelope marked on the outside as:
"PRICE PROPOSAL"
3.2 Proposal Format
The proposal should consist of two separate documents:
1) Project Proposal: Identification of the proposed site, approach to the project, qualifications
of the firm and proposed team; and
2) Price Proposal: The proposed price for renewable energy and minimum output to be
generated by the site.
Although the two documents should be submitted together, the Price Proposal must be in a
separate, sealed enveloped.
3.2.1 Project Proposal
The Project Proposal shall be organized to include the following:
1. Cover Letter: A letter of intent outlining the bidder's interest in this project.
2. Qualifications: Detailed qualifications of the bidder and any proposed subcontracting company
to perform the scope of services, including:
a. Company: A summary of the bidder's date of establishment, business history, structure,
internal organization, operations, and management systems;
b. Experience: The bidder's experience developing, owning and operating solar arrays for
municipalities and commercial properties, including a list of projects similar in nature
that the bidder has developed or is in the process of developing;
c. References: Contact information for at least three references relevant to the proposed
scope of work, including name, phone, email address and brief description of the project
the bidder performed for the reference; and
d. Conflicts: List of any real or potentially perceived conflicts of interest.
3. Scope of Work: A clearly defined plan of services for completion of the project including:
a. Methodology: A description of the bidder's proposed approach to this project;
b. Schedule: Project milestones and timeline for meeting those milestones;
c. Ongoing Services: A description of anticipated operation and maintenance services; and
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Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
d. Risks: A discussion of risks that could prevent completion of the project within the
proposed schedule.
4. Site Plan: A proposed layout of the solar plant on the site(s), including anticipated number of
panels and configuration, and total system output (in watts DC). The bidder should be cognizant
of the Town's historic consumption levels in sizing the sites when the energy is to utilized by
the on-site load. Any additional equipment such as battery storage equipment, communications,
meters, and microgrid switches should be clearly indicated.
5. Proposed Project Team: A list of personnel who will work on the project, including:
a. Biographies: A description of each individual's experience relevant to this project;
b. Project Team Structure: An organizational chart describing the roles and responsibilities
of each person; and
c. Curricula Vitae: Resumes of proposed project team members that delineates education,
prior employment and titles (included as attachments);
6. Financial Support: Information required to assess the financial viability of the bidder and
ability to deliver the proposed project, including:
a. Financing Plan: A plan describing the bidder's plan to procure financing, including
possible sources of funds and revenue streams other than sale of energy to the Town; and
b. Viability: Supporting evidence that the bidder has the financial capability to complete
the project within the proposed schedule.
7. Allocation of Risks and Responsibilities: A discussion of the allocation of liability between
the bidder and the Town during construction and operating periods.
8. Forms: Signed disclosure of beneficial interests, non-collusion, and tax compliance certificate.
(Form 1 attached).
9. Contract Edits/Comments: Proposed revisions, if any, to the example of a Power Purchase
Agreement already entered into by the town and relevant Site Lease Agreements. These
documents will be provided on the Town website along with other relevant information to the
Proposal.
3.2.2 Price Proposal
The bidder may choose to offer a guaranteed electrical energy price or price tied to a publicly-issued
index value. The Town's preference is a fixed price contract that does not escalate over the term of
the power purchase agreement.
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Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
The electrical energy price and guaranteed minimum production shall be provided in the attached
Form 2 and enclosed in a separate sealed envelope marked "Price Proposal." A separate Form 2
should be provided for each site. If the bidder proposes to provide a discount if awarded more than
one site, an additional Form 2 should be submitted for each site that includes the discounted price at
each site subject to award of multiple sites to the bidder and delineation of the conditions under
which the discounted price will be provided.
Bidder should bid the lowest price for electrical energy (price per kWh) they are willing to provide
the Town for each year of the power puchase agreement. The Price Proposal also shall include
guaranteed minimum energy to be produced in each year at each site proposed to be developed.
The Town Assessor has indicated that the solar energy arrays and equipment installed by the
developer on the sites will be considered personal property and assessed property taxes according to
a generally accepted methodology based on replacement cost, economic life, and depreciation. For
purposes of the Price Proposal for Town-owned sites, Bidder should assume that the Project
is NOT subject to property taxes, as the successful developer either will be exempt from taxes
on Town-owned sites or will be allowed to recover any such taxes through a pass-back
mechanism in accordance with the terms in the power purchase agreement.
Bidder should be cognizant of potential costs associated with existing and anticipated legal
requirements, such as permits and prevailing wage laws. The proposal should indicate anticipated
costs (if any) that are not included in the price, but would be added as a pass-through once the costs
are known. Potential cost pass-throughs will be considered as proposed changes to the contracts and
evaluated as such. Additional costs to the project will not be added to the price unless pre-identified
in advance as part of this RFP process.
3.3 Bid Deposit
All proposals shall include a Bid Deposit of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) payable to the Town of
Cohasset in the form of a certified cashier's check. The check will serve as a bid security until a
contract is entered into by the Town. A bidder who fails to execute a contract after being awarded
same may forfeit the ten thousand dollar ($10,000) deposit as damages at the discretion of the Town.
Bid deposits will be returned to all unsuccessful bidders within five (5) business days of the awarding
of the contract, and no later than six (6) months after receipt of the bids. The successful bidder's
deposit will be returned upon execution of a contract and receipt of all documents, insurance
requirements, and bonds.
4. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
1. The Town will lease for $1.00 per year for each separate parcel of Town-owned real property
located in Cohasset, MA to a solar energy developer awarded the lease for the purpose of
constructing and operating a solar array and associated equipment to generate electrical energy
to reduce the Town's energy costs to the maximim extent feasible. The developer shall erect a
new and unused solar energy array appropriately sized for the property given the Town's
annual electric energy consumption and state and federal program limits.
2. The developer shall construct, operate, and maintain the solar energy array and associated
6

Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
equipment at its own expense. The array must be fully operational within 24 months of the
signing date of the Lease Agreement. Liquidated damages will be assessed if the array is not
fully operational within 24 months to the extent the delay is within the control of the developer.
The liquidated damages will be at the value of lost credit to the town.
3. The developer also may propose educational programs as part of its response to the RFP,
including public access to information associated with the solar energy array and associated
equipment, including output, displaced carbon emissions, and cost savings to the Town as a
result of the contract. An example of how such information may be presented is provided on
the Town website for its current solar energy array on the old town landfull.
4. The developer shall attend periodic meetings to discuss the project, provide progress updates,
and make presentations to boards and committees. Some meetings may be conducted outside
of normal business hours. All travel and related expenses for this project is to be included in
the Price Proposal.
5. The developer will be required to meet all local planning and zoning requirements and will be
responsible for all permits, taxes, and related costs.
6. Upon execution of the lease, the developer shall be required to post financial assurance with
the Town, in the amounts and at the time set forth in the Lease, to ensure (a) completion of
construction of the project, and (b) proper removal of the project in the event of default,
bankruptcy or dissolution of the developer which would cause the equipment to be abandoned
for a period of more than six (3) months.
7. Prior to commencement of construction, the developer shall submit a report by a qualified
professional engineer or other appropriate professional who shall certify the structural integrity
of the proposed solar array.
8. The Town shall be the purchaser of the power to be generated under a twenty-five (25) year
power purchase agreement with the developer awarded one (or more) of the projects.
9. The Town shall enter into a twenty-five (25)-year Site Lease Agreement for each site with the
developer awarded one (or more) of the projects
10. The successful developer will be required to indemnify and hold harmless the Town of
Cohasset for any damage to life or property that may occur due to its negligence or that of its
employees, contractors, subcontractors (if any) or agents. Further, the developer will maintain
commercial general liability insurance with limits of not less than two million ($2,000,000.00)
per occurrence, four million ($4,000,000.00) aggregate, per site, which policy will name the
Town as an additional insured.
11. Samples of Power Purchase Agreement and Site Lease Agreements are included as
attachments to this document.
5. SELECTION METHODOLOGY
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Town of Cohasset
Request for Proposal:
Lease of Real Property for Construction of Solar Energy Arrays and Associated Equipment
The Town reserves the right to award the lease for each site to the developer with the most
advantageous proposal for that site, taking into consideration all project evaluation criteria as well
as energy price, financial position/viability, and guaranteed minimum production capacity. The
Town will review and rank the submitted proposals using the following evaluation criteria and
weightings.
5.1 Project Evaluation Criteria
The bidder's Project Proposal will be scored according to the following criteria and weightings:
* Experience: The extent of the bidder's experience in designing, financing, constructing and
operating commercial or utility grade solar energy facilities. Additional consideration will
be given to firms with experience constructing and operating such facilities on municipal and
commercial properties most similar to the proposed sites. (20%)
* Project Team: The relevant experience and quality of project personnel and their
commitment to the proposed project in Cohasset. The clarity and organization of the
proposed scope of work and approach will be included in the assessment of the project team.
(20%)
* Proposed Site Plan: The proposed configuration and size of the solar energy array and
associated equipment, including how the proposed site plan would fit within the Town's
efforts to improve reliability and resiliency through one or more microgrid structures. (20%)
* Proposed Scope of Work: The proposed approach, organization of the proposed timeline
and demonstrated ability of the proposer to hold to a committed schedule to complete
similarly-sized solar energy, battery storage and microgrid projects. (20%)
* Financial Capability: The demonstrated ability of the bidder to understand cost
uncertainties and financing requirements, and the ability to obtain financing to ensure the
timely completion of the project. (20%)
5.2 Price Proposal Evaluation Criteria
The bidder's Price Proposal will be scored according to the following criteria and weightings:
* Pricing: The price each year for energy purchased under the Power Purchase Agreement,
with lower prices receiving a higher rank. (25%)
* Guaranteed Minimum Quantity: The level of minimum guaranteed production, with
higher levels of guaranteed production, subject to the Town's consumption, receiving higher
rank. (25%)
* Anticipated Savings to the Town: The net present value of anticipated savings calculated
by multiplying expected price reductions and credits (e.g., regulated tariffs less power
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