Solar PV Modules

CITY OF ANN ARBOR
INVITATION TO BID
Solar PV Modules
ITB No. 4789
Due Date: May 27, 2026 by 2:00 PM (local time)
Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)
Issued By:
City of Ann Arbor
Procurement Unit
301 E. Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDER/SUPPLIERS 3
INVITATION TO BID 7
SPECIFICATIONS 9
ATTACHMENTS
City of Ann Arbor Standard Purchase Order Terms and Conditions
City of Ann Arbor Vendor Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
City of Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance Declaration Form and Notice
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INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS/SUPPLIERS
General
The City of Ann Arbor's Procurement Office is soliciting bids for the purchase of Solar PV Modules
to be installed by the City's Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU) based on the
specifications provided herein. The pricing provided for this ITB shall be firm from the date of
submission until July 4, 2026 unless otherwise documented in the submission. Upon mutual
agreement between the City and the Bidder/Supplier (also termed "vendor" or "contractor") the
contract terms and/or pricing provided in this ITB may be extended for two (2) additional one (1)
year periods.
Any Bid which does not conform fully to these instructions may be rejected.
Preparation of Bids
Bids should be prepared providing a straight-forward, concise description of the Bidder/Supplier's
ability to meet the requirements of the ITB. Bids shall be written in ink or typewritten. No erasures
are permitted. Mistakes may be crossed out and corrected and must be initialed and dated in ink
by the person signing the Bid.
Bids must be submitted on the Excel-based "Bid Forms" provided with each blank properly filled
in.
Each person signing the Bid certifies that he/she is the person in the Bidder/Supplier's
firm/organization responsible for the decision as to the fees being offered in the Bid and has not
participated and will not participate in any action contrary to the terms of this provision.
Questions or Clarifications / Designated City Contacts
All questions regarding this ITB shall be submitted via email. Emailed questions and inquires will
be accepted from any and all prospective Bidder/Suppliers in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the ITB.
All questions shall be due on or before May 18, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m. and should be addressed
as follows:
Specification/Scope of Work questions emailed to Shoshannah Lenski,
slenski@a2gov.org
Bid Process and Compliance questions emailed to Colin Spencer, CSpencer@a2gov.org
Any error, omissions or discrepancies in the Exhibit A specification discovered by the
Bidder/Supplier shall be brought to the attention of Colin Spencer at cspencer@a2gov.org as
soon after discovery as possible. Further, the Bidder/Supplier shall not be allowed to take
advantage of errors, omissions or discrepancies in the Exhibit A specifications.
Addenda
If it becomes necessary to revise any part of the ITB, notice of any Addenda will be posted to
Michigan Inter-governmental Trade Network (MITN) www.mitn.info and/or City of Ann Arbor web
site www.A2gov.org for all parties to download.
Each Bidder/Supplier must in its Bid, to avoid any miscommunications, acknowledge all addenda
which it has received, but the failure of a Bidder/Supplier to receive, or acknowledge receipt of
any addenda shall not relieve the Bidder/Supplier of the responsibility for complying with the terms
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thereof.
The City will not be bound by oral responses to inquiries or written responses other than written
addenda.
Bid Submission
All Bids are due and must be delivered to the City of Ann Arbor Procurement Unit on or
before May 27, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. (Local time). Bids submitted late or via oral, telephonic,
telegraphic, electronic mail or facsimile will not be considered or accepted.
Each Bidder/Supplier should submit one (1) original paper bid and one (1) USB/flash drive
that contains a digital copy of the paper bid submitted and the Excel bid file of the pricing
in a sealed envelope clearly marked: ITB# 4789 - Solar PV Modules.
Bids must be addressed and delivered to:
City of Ann Arbor
Procurement Unit,
c/o Customer Services, 1st Floor
301 East Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
All Bids received on or before the Due Date will be publicly opened and recorded immediately.
No immediate decisions are rendered.
The following forms provided within this ITB Document should be included in submitted
bids.
* Vendor Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
* City of Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance Declaration of Compliance
Bids that fail to provide these forms listed above upon bid opening may be rejected as
non-responsive and may not be considered for award.
Hand delivered bids may be dropped off in the Purchasing drop box located in the Ann Street
(north) vestibule/entrance of City Hall which is open to the public Monday through Friday from
8am to 5pm (except holidays). The City will not be liable to any Bidder/Supplier for any
unforeseen circumstances, delivery or postal delays. Postmarking to the Due Date will not
substitute for receipt of the Bid. Each Bidder/Supplier is responsible for submission of their Bid.
Additional time for submission of bids past the stated due date and time will not be granted to a
single Bidder/Supplier; however, additional time may be granted to all Bidder/Suppliers when the
City determines in its sole discretion that circumstances warrant it.
Award
The City intends to award a Contract/Purchase Order to the lowest responsible Bidder/Supplier(s)
providing the best value to the City. The City may, at its sole discretion, award line-by-line in the
best interest of value to the City.
Responsible Bidder/Supplier means a bid submitted, which conforms in all aspects of the
requirements set forth in the invitation to bid. All aspects could include references, past
experience, past performance, and qualifications.
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Official Documents
The City of Ann Arbor officially distributes bid documents from the Procurement Unit or through
the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN). Copies of the bid documents obtained
from any other source are not Official copies. Addenda and other bid information will only be
posted to these official distribution sites. If you obtained City of Ann Arbor Bid documents from
other sources, it is recommended that you register on www.MITN.info and obtain an official Bid.
Taxes
Municipalities are exempt from Michigan State Sales and Federal Excise taxes. Do not include
such taxes in the bid figure(s). The City will furnish the successful Bidder/Supplier with tax
exemption certificates when requested.
Withdrawal of Bids
After the time of opening, no Bid may be withdrawn for the period of fifteen (15) calendar days.
Non-Discrimination Requirements
All contractors proposing to do business with the City shall satisfy the non-discrimination
administrative policy adopted by the City Administrator in accordance with the Section 9:158 of
the Ann Arbor City Code. Breach of the obligation not to discriminate shall be a material breach
of the contract. Contractors are required to post a copy of Ann Arbor's Non-Discrimination
Ordinance attached at all work locations where its employees provide services under a contract
with the City.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
The City of Ann Arbor Purchasing Policy requires that prospective Vendors complete a Conflict
of Interest Disclosure form. A contract may not be awarded to the selected Vendor unless and
until the Procurement Unit and the City Administrator have reviewed the Disclosure form and
determined that no conflict exists under applicable federal, state, or local law or administrative
regulation. Not every relationship or situation disclosed on the Disclosure Form may be a
disqualifying conflict. Depending on applicable law and regulations, some contracts may be
awarded on the recommendation of the City Administrator after full disclosure, where such action
is allowed by law, if demonstrated competitive pricing exists and/or it is determined the award is
in the best interest of the City. A copy of the Vendor Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form is
attached.
Debarment
Submission of a Bid in response to this ITB is certification that the Bidder/Supplier is not currently
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, and declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded
from participation in this transaction by any State or Federal departments or agency. Submission
is also agreement that the City will be notified of any changes in this status.
Disclosures
After bids are opened, all information in a submitter's bid is subjected to disclosure under the
provisions of Michigan Public Act No. 442 of 1976, as amended (MCL 15.231 et seq.) known as
the "Freedom of Information Act." The Freedom of Information Act also provides for the complete
disclosure of contracts and attachments thereto except where specifically exempted.
Bid Protest
All Bid protests must be in writing and filed with the Purchasing Agent within five (5) business
days of the award action. The Bidder/Supplier must clearly state the reasons for the protest. If a
Bidder/Supplier contacts a City Service Area/Unit and indicates a desire to protest an award, the
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Service Area/Unit shall refer the Bidder/Supplier to the Purchasing Agent. The Purchasing Agent
will provide the Bidder/Supplier with the appropriate instructions for filing the protest. The protest
shall be reviewed by the City Administrator or designee whose decision shall be final.
Any inquiries or requests regarding this procurement should be only submitted in writing to the
Designated City Contacts provided herein. Attempts by the Offeror to initiate contact with anyone
other than the Designated City Contacts provided herein that the prospective Offeror believes can
influence the procurement decision, e.g., Elected Officials, City Administrator, Selection
Committee Members, Appointed Committee Members, etc., may lead to immediate elimination
from further consideration.
Cost Liability
The City of Ann Arbor assumes no responsibility or liability for costs incurred by the
Bidder/Supplier prior to the execution of a contract with the City. By submitting a bid, a
Bidder/Supplier agrees to bear all costs incurred or related to the preparation, submission and
selection process for the bid.
Reservation of Rights
The City of Ann Arbor reserves the right to accept any bid or alternative bid proposed in whole or
in part, to reject any or all bids or alternatives bids in whole or in part and to waive irregularity
and/or informalities in any bid and to make the award in any manner deemed in the best interest
of the City.
Environmental Commitment
The City of Ann Arbor recognizes its responsibility to minimize negative impacts on human health
and the environment while supporting a vibrant community and economy. The City further
recognizes that the products and services the City buys have inherent environmental and
economic impacts and that the City should make procurement decisions that embody, promote
and encourage the City's commitment to the environment.
The City strongly encourages potential vendors to bring forward tested, emerging, innovative, and
environmentally preferable products and services that are best suited to the City's environmental
principles. This includes products and services such as those with lower greenhouse gas
emissions, high recycled content, without toxic substances, those with high reusability or
recyclability, those that reduce the consumption of virgin materials, and those with low energy
intensity.
As part of its environmental commitment, the City reserves the right to award a contract to the
most responsive and responsible Bidder/Supplier, which includes bids that bring forward products
or services that help advance the City's environmental commitment. In addition, the City reserves
the right to request that all vendors report their annual greenhouse gas emissions, energy
consumption, miles traveled, or other relevant criteria in order to help the City more fully
understand the environmental impact of its procurement decisions.
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INVITATION TO BID
City of Ann Arbor
Guy C. Larcom Municipal Building
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, as Bidder/Supplier, declares that this Bid is made in good faith, without fraud
or collusion with any person or persons bidding on the same Contract; that this Bidder/Supplier
has carefully read and examined the bid documents, including City Nondiscrimination
requirements, Vendor Conflict of Interest Form, Instructions to Bidder/Suppliers, Bid Forms,
Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, General Conditions, Detailed Specifications, and all
Addenda, and understands them. The Bidder/Supplier declares that it conducted a full
investigation of the work proposed and is fully informed as to the nature of the work and the
conditions relating to the work's performance.
The Bidder/Supplier acknowledges that it has not received or relied upon any representations or
warrants of any nature whatsoever from the City of Ann Arbor, its agents or employees, and that
this Bid is based solely upon the Bidder/Supplier's own independent business judgment.
In accordance with these bid documents, and Addenda numbered , the undersigned, as
Bidder/Supplier, proposes to deliver to the City all product/services herein described for the
amounts set forth in the Bid Forms.
The Bidder/Supplier declares that it has become familiar with the City Conflict of Interest
Disclosure Form and certifies that the statement contained therein is true and correct.
In submitting this Bid, it is understood that the right is reserved by the City to accept any Bid, to
reject any or all Bids, to waive irregularities and/or informalities in any Bid, and to make the award
in any manner the City believes to be in its best interest.
SIGNED THIS DAY OF , 202__.
_________________________ ___________________________
Bidder/Supplier's Name Authorized Signature of Bidder/Supplier
_________________________ ___________________________
Official Address (Print Name of Signer Above)
_________________________ ___________________________
Telephone Number Email Address for Award Notice
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LEGAL STATUS OF BIDDER/SUPPLIER
(The Bidder/Supplier shall fill out the appropriate form and strike out the other three.)
Bidder/Supplier declares that it is:
* A corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the State of
, for whom , bearing the office title
of , whose signature is affixed to this Bid, is authorized to execute contracts.
NOTE: If not incorporated in Michigan, please attach the corporation's Certificate of Authority
* A limited liability company doing business under the laws of the State of ___________,
whom ______________ bearing the title of _____________
whose signature is affixed to this proposal, is authorized to execute contract on behalf of the
LLC.
* A partnership, organized under the laws of the state of _____________ and filed in the county
of _____________, whose members are (list all members and the street and mailing address of
each) (attach separate sheet if necessary):
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
* An individual, whose signature with address, is affixed to this Bid: ________________
(initial here)
Authorized Official
___________________________________________ Date ______________, 202_
(Print) Name _______________________________ Title _____________________________
Company: ____________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
Contact Phone ( ) ____________________ Fax ( ) ___________________________
Email _________________________________
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SPECIFICATIONS
The City of Ann Arbor, through its Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU), is intending
to procure up to $2 million worth of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules in mid-2026, for
projects identified for construction in 2027 and 2028. These projects are anticipated to be
primarily rooftop residential and commercial installations, with select ground-mount or
carport applications.
The A2SEU is an innovative, City-owned, opt-in, supplemental energy utility created to
provide Ann Arbor residents and businesses with local, renewable, affordable, and
resilient energy solutions. The A2SEU is designed to complement, not replace, existing grid
service while accelerating deployment of distributed clean energy resources, including
solar, battery storage, networked geothermal heating and cooling, microgrids, and related
energy services. The A2SEU began operations in 2026 with pilot solar PV + storage
deployments and is preparing for expansion in 2027 and beyond.
Additional background on the A2SEU is available from the City of Ann Arbor and recent
media coverage, including:
* Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility
* Grist: "How Ann Arbor, Michigan, is creating its own clean energy utility" - March
17, 2026
* Fast Company: "Ann Arbor is rolling out city-owned solar and batteries at homes. It
can help lower electric bills" - April 30, 2026
* Utility Dive: "'Supplemental' municipal utility begins solar-and-storage installs in
Ann Arbor, Mich." -May 5, 2026
The A2SEU is seeking bids on a variety of solar module types. Bidders are welcome to
respond with offerings in one category, multiple categories, or all categories listed in this
Invitation to Bid. Each proposed module must meet the category-specific requirements
identified in the applicable response table, as well as the general requirements below
that apply to all categories.
Requirements Applicable to All Module Categories
All proposed modules must meet the following minimum requirements:
1. Modules must be Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) compliant, and bidder must
include documentation supporting FEOC compliance.
2. Modules must have a manufacture date of January 1, 2025 or later and must be new
in containers.
3. Modules must include a minimum 15-year product workmanship warranty and a
minimum 25-year linear output performance guarantee, with production of no less
than 86% in year 25.
4. Modules must be full black and aluminum-framed.
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5. Modules must be monocrystalline.
6. Modules must be UL 1703 certified, listed, and labeled, or UL 61730 compliant.
7. Modules must contain one or more of the following technologies to support
performance under partially shaded conditions: (a) bypass diodes and/or (b) half-
cut or smaller cells.
Purchase Requirements
Manufacturing and Title Transfer Deadline
The City is seeking to meet Safe Harbor requirements for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC).
As such, quantities offered must be manufactured no later than July 3, 2026, with Title
Transfer to the City occurring on or before that date.
Purchase Order Requirements
City of Ann Arbor requirements and standard terms for the anticipated Purchase Order for
Modules are listed in the Instructions to Bidders. Bidder/Supplier shall review those
requirements and offer any comments or clarifications.
Pricing, Delivery Terms, and Delivery Point
The quoted price / Purchase Order Value shall be inclusive of all costs and based on either
FOB terms for domestic shipments or DDP terms for international shipments under
Incoterms 2020, with Supplier/Manufacturer insurance coverage to the Delivery Point. The
Delivery Point will be a single address, to be provided upon PO execution, located within 10
miles of the Ann Arbor city limits. Modules shall be delivered no later than July 31, 2026,
unless storage is offered.
Optional Storage Pricing
Bidders are encouraged, but not required, to offer pricing for storage of modules from the
date of title transfer for up to two years thereafter. Bidders who offer storage pricing must
carry insurance coverage for the stored modules, and the quoted storage price must
include applicable insurance costs.
Required Documentation from Selected Vendor(s)
Selected vendor(s) will be required to supply to the City complete documentation for the
modules, including: Installation Instructions; Flash Test Results; Domestic Content
Certification, if applicable; and Shipping, Receiving, and Storage Requirements. Shipping,
Receiving, and Storage Requirements must include standard shipping documents, such as
bills of lading, and any special packaging or stacking constraints.
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