UC Davis Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

Agency:	University of California
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	221114 - Solar Electric Power Generation
Posted Date:	Feb 26, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 11, 2026
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
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University of California, Davis

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

(CalUSource Event#003860-Nov2025)

Date Issued: January 30th, 2026

Responses Due: March 4th, 2026 @ 3:00PM

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to read the entire document, any addenda, and to comply with all

requirements listed herein. Any addenda to this Request for Proposal will be posted in the CalUSource

event listed above. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to watch their e-mail for any addenda, notices, or

changes to the RFP or process.

Issued by:

University of California, Davis

C.J. Caudle – Strategic Sourcing: Facilities, MRO

Supply Chain Management

1441 Research Park Drive Davis, CA 95616

Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

(CalUSource Event #003860-Nov2025)

University of California, Davis

Contents

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

Purpose of the RFP ...................................................................................................2

Background ..............................................................................................................2

Minimum Requirements ...........................................................................................3

Terms, Timeline, and Point of Contact.......................................................................4

Evaluation Criteria ...................................................................................................5

Additional Terms......................................................................................................6

Statement of Work....................................................................................................7

Contractor Response Checklist................................................................................10

Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

(CalUSource Event #003860-Nov2025)

University of California, Davis

I. Purpose of the RFP

UC Davis is seeking a qualified contractor to finance, design, construct, commission, operate and maintain a solar

power system on the University’s south campus under the terms of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

The proposed system is to include options for battery storage. If the battery storage option is selected, the

University will leverage this for Title 24 compliance on future campus projects and will benefit from the strategic

deployment of stored power.

The awarded contractor will be provided with a site license to operate and maintain the solar power system and

battery storage system (as applicable).

The University preserves the option to purchase the proposed system. Contractors will provide proposed buyout

pricing for each year after operation year 5.

II. Background

1. History

The University’s Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) allocated a 20-acre parcel located on the UC Davis south

campus in Davis, CA (see Attachment A for site details) for a future solar PV development project. Since then, Title

24 has added new requirements for energy storage. Today, with the sunsetting of the IRA/ITC credit, the University

seeks to develop this site. As a transmission-level utility customer, the business-as-usual cost for electricity to the

University is very low, which means solar PPA rates must be extremely competitive to be economically viable.

2. Project Site Information

The 20-acre parcel is located on agricultural land on the UC Davis campus and is owned by the University. As

agricultural land, minimal site preparation or civil work will be required. The property borders the Putah Creek

levee, which must be protected. However, the project is immediately bordering the existing University solar farm, a

60-acre system commissioned in 2015; all site prep and environmental or other studies will build on those completed

in connection with the existing facility or completed since then.

3. Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

The University will be the AHJ for all permitting, structural, electrical and environmental reviews. Any

requirements from PG&E or other utilities etc. will be managed by the University and will not be the responsibility

of the contractor. No PTO letter or any utility agreement shall be required from the contractor, other than that

required directly by the University.

4. Interconnection

The project will interconnect with the UCD electric grid directly; the project will not interconnect with PG&E.

Specifically; the project will interconnect behind the meter on a 12-kV overhead system distribution line. The

University will provide overhead lines and all other equipment up to the fenceline (as shown in the drawings in

Attachment A). The last pole will include fused cut-outs (or similar). The contractor is instructed to provide a riser

on this pole and conductors (left not-terminated) up to the cut-out. The contractor shall provide all other equipment

from this point of common coupling (PCC).

Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

(CalUSource Event #003860-Nov2025)

University of California, Davis

5. System Size

As the parcel is approximately 20 acres, and as the University anticipates approximately 0.25 MW-dc per acre, the

University anticipates that successful proposals will be approximately 5 MW-dc / 4 MW-ac. However, proposals for

other and/or novel system designs may be considered, especially with justification. Final system design and

specifications may be refined during design phase.

6. Racking

A single-axis tracking (SAT) system is generally preferred for the design's optimization of land use and maximum

energy production, however other technologies may be considered, including fixed-tilt designs. The University

requires all array rows to be fully traversable by mowing/washing equipment, which precludes the use of "driveline"

style SAT technologies (e.g. Array Technologies Inc.).

7. Research

Contractors are advised that University faculty are actively researching the impacts of solar PV installations on

wildlife habitat at the existing 60-acre solar facility on campus. This new 20-acre project is viewed as an opportunity

for faculty to explore future research projects. Contractors are encouraged to discuss their vegetation management

practices, and their collaborations with other researchers (if any).

8. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

In order to satisfy new Title 24 requirements, the University anticipates installing between 500 kWh and 1,000 kWh

of battery energy storage capacity (e.g. 250kW 2hr; 250 kW 4hr; etc.) within the next several years. Recognizing the

benefits of a single centralized energy storage solution rather than many systems distributed around the campus and

recognizing this 20-acre parcel as a pre-qualified and approved site location, this solar PV project is understood as a

good opportunity for inclusion of battery energy storage. Contractors are encouraged to submit proposals that

include options for both A) 500 kWh and B) 1,000 kWh energy storage capacity. Contractors are advised that, even

if no battery option selected, the system design should include provisions for a future BESS project addition.

III. Minimum Requirements

1. No late proposals will be accepted. Any proposal received after the specified deadline for submission shall result in

automatic disqualification.

2. Collusion among bidders is not allowed. If there is proof of collusion among bidders, all proposals involved in

the collusive action will be rejected.

3. Bidders must have the ability to obtain the necessary insurance, as required under the University of California

Terms and Conditions of Purchase.

4. Bidders must possess all trade, professional, or business licenses as may be required by the services contemplated by

this RFP.

5. Bidders must operate within the guidelines of all Federal, State and Municipal laws, statutes, and codes, including

but not limited to prevailing wage requirements and equal opportunity laws.

6. Bidder should have verifiable successful experience in providing the range of products and services specified in this

RFP as a primary vendor.

7. Bidder should be able to demonstrate and show evidence of having the capability to provide the required products

and/or services by possessing adequate available resources.

8. Bids must be completed and submitted through CalUSource. Bids received outside of CalUSource will be deemed

non-compliant and will be disqualified.

Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

(CalUSource Event #003860-Nov2025)

University of California, Davis

IV. Terms, Timeline, and Point of Contact

Contract Term

The contract term for proposal evaluation will be 20 years. The final term may be negotiated to a different duration

at the request of either the bidder or UCD during contracting. All proposals are encouraged to include termination

terms, including a year-by-year schedule of termination and project buyout costs.

Terms and Conditions

In addition to this document, the following exhibits posted under Guidelines & Attachments in CalUSource contain

the preliminary requirements, terms and conditions for this RFP.

• UC – Template PPA General Terms & Conditions (06.29.20)

• UC – Template PPA Site License (06.08.20)

• Performance and Payment Bond

• Required Contractor Information

Attachments

• Attachment A - UCD Solar Farm Expansion Feasibility Study

• Attachment B – UC Davis Standard Construction Specifications

• Attachment C – UC Davis Electrical General Requirements

• Attachment D – Geotechnical/Flood Report

Deviations & Red Lines

Contractor will clear all deviations from established University specifications prior to submitting their proposal.

Contractor must request deviation/clarification via the Discussion Forum on CalUSource.

Red Lines to Terms & Conditions must be submitted alongside Contractor’s proposal as an attachment to their

response within the CalUSource portal.

Schedule of Events

Contractors interested in submitting proposals in response to this RFP should do so according to the following

schedule. A Contractor may be disqualified for failing to adhere to the dates and times for performance specified

below (all times Pacific Time). The schedule is subject to change(s), which will be posted on the CalUSource

website.

Event

RFP Issued to Contractor Base

Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference & Site Visit

Deadline for Questions within Q&A Forum (CalUSource)

RFP Responses Due

First Round Evaluations Complete

Finalist Presentations (If Necessary)

Contract Award Finalized

Construction Complete & System In-Service

Date

Friday, January 30th, 2026

Tuesday February 17th, 2026

Friday February 20th, 2026

Wednesday March 4th, 2026

March 13th, 2026

Week of March 23rd, 2026

April 1st, 2026

December 31st, 2027

Time (PST)

1:00pm

10:00am

5:00pm

3:00pm

N/A

TBD

N/A

The University reserves the right to modify the above schedule of events and make changes to other provisions in

this RFP. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to read the entire document and any addendums, and to comply with all

requirements listed herein.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

UC Davis Solar Power Purchase Agreement & Site License

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