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CSD > Programs > RFA For Providers of Weatherization Services to the Low-Income Community Through the ARRA 2009
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RFA For Providers of Weatherization Services to the Low-Income Community Through the ARRA 2009

 

Request for Application (RFA)

"For Providers of Weatherization Services to the Low-Income Communities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"

Amendment 3  (Revised 1/25/2011)

  • The attached "Amendment 3" document lists the changes made from Amendment 2 to Amendment 3.  No revised RFA is being issued to reflect the Amendement 3 changes. 

Download the RFA Here: Amendment 2 (Revised 1/11/2011)  This Amendment has been replaced with Amendment 3

Click here to read a summary of changes from Amendment 1 to Amendment 2.

Changes in Amendment 1 from Original:  Page 27 (Attachment C) replaced in its entirety and page 33 (Attachment G) revised the last sentence from “Required Documents” in Item 15 to the correct “Required Documents” in Item 16.

 

RFA Questions & Answers

Please note:  according to the RFA, the final day for questions is Friday, January 14, 2011.   Responses will be posted here no later than Tuesday, January 18.

QUESTIONS
ANSWERS

Question #1: 

Are only the zip codes listed in the solicitation to be served through this initiative?  The non-profit I work for is in zip code 90304, an underserved and economically stricken unincorporated area of Los Angeles.  It is not listed in Attachment A for the service territories to be served by this grant.  We are interested in applying but need to make sure if this area qualifies. 

Answer #1: 

CSD’s existing Energy Services Providers already provide weatherization services throughout the majority of the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  This RFA serves to fill in a few “gaps” in that service, or what are described in the RFA as “not served and underserved areas of California.”  One of CSD’s existing Energy Services Providers (Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, or PACE) currently serves the 90304 zip code, so that zip code is not part of this RFA and is not listed in Exhibit A. 

Question #2:

Are existing CSD Energy Services Providers allowed to compete for the "gaps" and "not served and underserved areas" that are listed in attachment A?

Answer #2:

Yes.

Question #3:
On your website, I see an income eligibility chart for the LIHEAP program.  It appears that these are the same income guidelines for the weatherization program.  Is that correct?  While researching Federal income eligibility guidelines online, I found reference to a maximum of 60% of state median income.  However, the chart I referenced seems to be higher than 60% of California's median income.  Please clarify.
Answer #3:
The DOE ARRA Contract uses 75% of the state median income.  Income guidelines occasionally vary from contract to contract.  The DOE ARRA contract is based on the 2009 LIHEAP contract, which uses 75% of state median income.

Question #4: 
Are there requirements for obtaining authorization from the landlord when weatherization is requested by tenants?  If so, please explain.		 Answer #4: 
Permission for services is required from both the tenant and dwelling owner.  Providers use the Form CSD 515 – Energy Services Agreement for Rental Units.  This form is posted on our website, along with most other CSD forms.  Additionally, if during the course of performing weatherization services, you find that significant structural and/or engineering changes may occur, you must re-obtain written permission before continuing with the work.
Question #5:
Please explain how we can demonstrate “additional sources of funding to leverage DOE funds.”		 Answer #5:
This refers to other funding your organization has that could be used to leverage DOE funds.  This could come from a variety of sources.  How you demonstrate that is up to you.

Question #6:
If an applicant has a volunteer workforce who are willing to receive training and perform some of the weatherization services without compensation, is that acceptable or does it violate the Davis-Bacon requirements?  Would this be an acceptable way of leveraging funds?

 Answer #6: 
The Davis-Bacon Desk Guide ( http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/ ) states that “all workers on the job site receive no less than full DBA wages and fringe benefits.”  The Desk Guide specifically cites that “volunteers” are not exempt from this wage and benefit requirement.  So, essentially, there can be no unpaid volunteers if they are laborers and mechanics employed at the work site.  Auditors, inspectors, and other personnel not performing physical or manual work at the site of the work are not covered by Davis-Bacon.
Question #7:
Required Documents indicates that we need to submit a list of any and all legal proceedings our organization is involved in and the current status of those legal proceedings.  Should a complaint related to a personnel action be included in this list?  

Answer #7:
Internal matters need not be reported, but actions involving outside governmental entities should be:  lawsuits, administrative actions, e.g. fair employment claims, discrimination, workman’s comp, licensing issues etc. – anything official with legal connotation should be reported.

 

Outcome of January 11 Bidders' Conference

On January 11, 2011, CSD held an optional pre-bid conference for potential bidders.  The questions and answers resulting from that conference appear below:

List of Webinar Attendees 

Note:  Because some questions asked during the bidders’ conference had similar content, those questions have been combined in the Q&A below to avoid unnecessary repetition.

 

QUESTION

CSD ANSWER

Can you apply for just one portion of a Targeted Area identified in the RFA?

No.  With one exception (described below), if you apply to serve a Targeted Area, you must apply to serve the entire Targeted Area. 

 

The one exception to this is “Los Angeles County Areas B & D.”  Applicants may submit an application to serve only Area B or Area D.

If we apply for Areas B and D independently, what is the corresponding breakdown in dollar amounts?

The approximate allocation, by dollars, for Areas B and D is:  Area B - $5,425,623.  Area D - $6,018,945.

Since this contract will only be 12 months long, will weatherization workers still need to complete the same training required of past and current providers?

Yes. 

If we have experienced weatherization people, why do we have to go through CSD’s training courses?

CSD’s training is specific to its programs and contractual obligations.  However, in order to expedite the implementation of these contracts, CSD is willing to look at new workers and their training to see if any of it can be accepted.

Can training be expedited so that new providers can get up and running quickly?

CSD will try to arrange expedited training for any new providers, with required courses being offered back-to-back or other methods to allow training to be completed quickly.

What are the specific weatherization training requirements?

Training Requirements are part of the “2009 DOE ARRA Contract Amendment 4,” which is online.  This information begins on page F26 (Contract Section F7, “Training Requirements):  http://www.csd.ca.gov/Contractors/ENERGY/2009%20DOE%20ARRA%20Contract.aspx?PageView=Shared&DisplayMode=Design

Where/how do new providers receive training?

CSD has a training program available at four sites:

1.      Community Action Agency of Butte County

2.      PGE Stockton Training Center

3.      Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County

4.      LA Trade Tech

These organizations provide CSD’s required weatherization training.

The approved training centers are too far from us.  Can we send our people somewhere closer?

No.  All CSD training must occur at one of the approved training centers.  The grant provides funding for training.

How do you become an approved trainer?

This is not an option at this time as CSD has invested considerable time and money in developing the existing centers.  Anyone interested in becoming a CSD trainer can contact Jayson Wimbley, Chief of CSD’s Energy and Environmental Division at JWimbley@csd.ca.gov.

Will contracts be expedited?

The contract is already developed, so CSD can get it to new providers quickly.  Providers must take any steps needed (such as an emergency board meeting to receive approval) to make sure completed contract is returned to CSD.

Will contract advances be available?

CSD just implemented a Working Capital Advance process, whereby providers estimate their financial needs quarterly.  Each quarter, providers can receive an advance up to one-third of the quarterly needs.  Interested parties can review CSD’s recent guidance on advances on CSD’s website at:  http://www.csd.ca.gov/Recovery/DOE%20WAP%20ARRA%20Guidance.aspx?PageView=Shared

Does CSD prefer applicants to provide their own weatherization services or can we bring in sub-contractors?

CSD does not have a preference.  As stated in the RFA, applicants are allowed to subcontract some or all of the services. 

 

Applicants should be careful about federal procurement rules, as no sub can be hired without going through an established procurement process.  When applying, applicants should be careful to describe any potential subcontract agreements in general terms, rather than referring to a particular company, unless that company has already been selected via a competitive bidding process that meets the federal guidelines.

 

For more information, please refer to the 2009 DOE ARRA Contract, Amendment 4, on CSD’s website.  This information begins on page E2 (Exhibit E, “Procurement):  http://www.csd.ca.gov/Contractors/ENERGY/2009%20DOE%20ARRA%20Contract.aspx?PageView=Shared&DisplayMode=Design  

Can we get a copy of the executed DOE WAP Contract?

Yes, those are available on our website at:  http://www.csd.ca.gov/Contractors/ENERGY/2009%20DOE%20ARRA%20Contract.aspx?PageView=Shared&DisplayMode=Design  

Should applicants project specific weatherization goals in their application?

The RFA does not request specific number goals, but applicants may include this information in their applications.

Is there a page limitation?

The only page limitation is the Work Plan, which is limited to 10 pages.

In these areas where new providers are being solicited, there is an existing agency who was unable to spend the money they were given and have had that opportunity taken away from them.  What will the working relationship be like between the existing provider and the new one?

CSD will serve as a liaison between the two organizations and work to coordinate services.

 

In addition, the RFA does require applicants to discuss relationships and relationship-building with existing agencies serving the low-income, so in their applications, applicant should address how they would approach relationship-building with existing agencies.

On the required budget form in the RFA, an “approved labor rate” is requested.  What is that?

The budget form referred to is incorrect and was corrected with Amendment 2 of this RFA, issued 1/11/2011.

The RFA asks us to explain our experience with emergency mobilizing, but this should not be part of the DOE ARRA contract.

The requirement to explain your experience with emergency mobilizing (Item 10 in the application) is an error.  You do not need to respond to this.  This item will be removed soon and an RFA amendment posted to CSD’s website.

Can we get a list of people who attended this bidders’ conference for the purpose of possible partnerships?

CSD will post this list to its website at www.csd.ca.gov (under What’s New).