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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT RELATIVE TO CONTRACTS FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 25A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 11H the following section:-

Section 11I. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Eligible", able to meet all requirements for offerors or bidders set forth in this section including, without limitation, being certified by the division of capital asset management and maintenance as eligible to provide energy management systems services and not debarred from bidding under section 44C of chapter 149 or any other applicable law.

"Energy conservation measures", measures involving modifications or maintenance and operating procedures of a building or facility and installations therein, which are designed to reduce energy consumption in such building or facility, or the installation, modification of an installation in a building or facility which is primarily intended to reduce energy consumption.

"Energy conservation projects", projects to promote energy conservation, including but not limited to, energy conserving modification to windows and doors; caulking and weather-stripping; insulation, automatic energy control systems; hot water systems; equipment required to operate variable steam, hydraulic, and ventilating systems; plant and distribution system modifications including replacement of burners, furnaces or boilers; devices for modifying fuel openings; electrical or mechanical furnace ignition systems; utility plant system conversions; replacement or modification of lighting fixtures; energy recovery systems; and, cogeneration systems.

"Energy management services", a program of services, including energy audits, energy conservation measures, energy conservation projects, or a combination thereof, and building maintenance and financing services, primarily intended to reduce the cost of energy and water in operating 1 or more buildings, which may be paid for in whole or in part, by cost savings attributable to a reduction in energy and water consumption which result from the services.

"Energy management systems", the design and installation of systems or maintenance programs to conserve energy use within a building, including, without limitation, performance-contracting energy saving projects; the installation or modification of new and existing equipment which will reduce energy and water consumption associated with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, lighting system, building envelope, domestic hot water system, and other energy and water using devices; and the work associated with monitoring and verifying project savings and the study or design of the subject work, whether performed directly or managed through subcontractors.

"Energy savings", a measured reduction in fuel, energy, operating or maintenance costs resulting from the implementation of 1 or more energy management services when compared with an established baseline of previous fuel, energy, operating or maintenance costs, including, but not limited to, future capital replacement expenditures avoided as a result of equipment installed or services performed pursuant to the guaranteed energy savings contract.

"Guaranteed energy savings contract", a contract for the evaluation, recommendation or implementation of 1 or more energy management services in which payments are based, in whole or in part, on any energy savings attributable to the contract.

"Person", any natural person, business, partnership, corporation, union, committee, club, or other organization, entity or group of individuals.

"Public agency", a city, town or district, including a regional school district, or a combination of 2 or more such cities, towns or districts, including regional school districts, or a department, agency, board, commission, authority or other instrumentality of the commonwealth.

"Qualified provider", responsible and eligible person able to meet all requirements set forth in this section, and not debarred from bidding under section 44C of chapter 149 or any other applicable law and experienced in the design, implementation, and installation of energy savings measures.

"Request for qualifications", a solicitation directed to qualified providers issued by a public agency to obtain energy management services pursuant to a guaranteed energy savings contract subject to the provisions of this section. The request for qualifications shall include the following:

(1) The name and address of the public agency.
(2) The name, address, title, and phone number of a contact person.
(3) The date, time, and place where qualifications must be received.
(4) A description of the services to be procured, including a facility profile with a detailed description of each building involved and accurate energy consumption data for the most recent 2 year period, stated objectives for the program, a list of building improvements to be considered or required and a statement as to whether the proposed improvements will generate sufficient energy savings to fund the full cost of the program.
(5) The evaluation criteria for assessing the qualifications.
(6) A statement that the public agency may cancel the request for qualifications, or may reject in whole or in part any and all energy savings measures, when the public agency determines that cancellation or rejection serves the best interests of the public.
(7) Any other stipulations and clarifications the public agency may require, which shall be clearly identified in the request for qualifications.
"Responsible", demonstrably possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithfully perform the work called for by a particular contract, based upon a determination of competent workmanship and financial soundness in accordance with the provisions of section 44D of chapter 149.
(b) A public agency may choose to use this section in the procurement of energy management services as an alternative to the procedures set out in section 11C. Nothing in this section shall preclude any such agency from choosing to proceed thereafter under said section 11C.
(c) A public agency may enter into a guaranteed energy savings contract in order to achieve energy savings at facilities in accordance with this section.
(d) All energy savings measures shall comply with current local, state, and federal construction and environmental codes and regulations.
(e) Before entering into a guaranteed energy savings contract, a public agency shall issue a request for qualifications. Public notice of the request for qualifications shall conform to the procedures set forth in subsection (1) of section 44J of chapter 149. At least 1 week before soliciting a request for qualifications for a guaranteed energy savings contract, a public agency shall notify the commissioner of energy resources in writing, in a form and including information as the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall prescribe by regulation, of the agency's intent to solicit qualifications. The notification, at a minimum, shall include a copy of the agency's request for qualifications. An acknowledgment of receipt, in a form and including information as the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall prescribe by regulation, shall be issued by the commissioner of energy resources to the public agency upon successful compliance with the requirements of this subsection. Qualifications shall be opened publicly, in the presence of 2 or more witnesses, at the time specified in the request for qualifications, and shall be available for public inspection. The provisions of sections 44A, 44B and 44E to 44H, inclusive, of chapter 149 shall not apply to contracts procured pursuant to this section. Section 44D of said chapter 149 shall apply as appropriate to qualifications submitted for contracts under this section, and every such qualification shall be accompanied by (1) a copy of a certificate of eligibility issued by the commissioner of the division of capital asset management, and (2) by an update statement.

The public agency shall evaluate the qualified providers to determine which best meets the needs of the public agency by reviewing the following:-

(1) references of other energy savings contracts performed by the qualified providers;
(2) the certificate of eligibility and update statement provided by the qualified providers;
(3) quality of the products proposed;
(4) methodology of determining energy savings;
(5) general reputation and performance capabilities of the qualified providers;
(6) substantial conformity with the specifications and other conditions set forth in the request for qualifications;
(7) time specified in the qualifications for the performance of the contract; and
(8) any other factors the public agency considers reasonable and appropriate, which factors shall be made a matter of record.

Respondents shall be evaluated only on the criteria set forth in the request for qualifications.

The public agency shall conduct discussions with, and may require public presentations by, each person who submitted qualifications in response to the request for qualifications regarding their qualifications, approach to the project, and ability to furnish the required services. The public agency shall select in order of preference 3 such persons, unless fewer persons respond, they consider to be the most highly qualified to perform the required services. The agency may request, accept, and consider proposals for the compensation to be paid under the contract only during competitive negotiations conducted pursuant to subsection (f).

(f) The public agency may cancel a request for qualifications, or may reject in whole or in part any and all proposals when the public agency determines that cancellation or rejection serves the best interests of the public agency. The public agency shall state in writing the reason for a cancellation or rejection.

(g) The public agency shall negotiate a contract with the most qualified person at compensation which the public agency determines is fair, competitive, and reasonable. Should the public agency be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the person considered to be the most qualified at a price the public agency determines to be fair, competitive, and reasonable, negotiations with that person shall be formally terminated. The public agency shall then undertake negotiations with the second most qualified person. Failing accord with the second most qualified person, the public agency shall terminate those negotiations and then undertake negotiations with the third most qualified person. Should the public agency be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the selected persons, the public agency may select additional qualified providers who responded to the request for qualifications, in the order of their competence and qualification, and continue negotiations in accordance with this subsection until either an agreement is reached or the public agency cancels the request for qualifications.

(h) The decision of a public agency as defined by section 1, regarding the selection of a qualified provider shall be final and not subject to appeal except on the grounds of fraud or collusion.

(i) The public agency shall provide public notice of the meeting at which it proposes to award the guaranteed energy savings contract, of the name of the parties to the proposed contract, and of the purpose of the contract. The public notice shall be made at least 10 days before the meeting. The public agency shall promptly publish in the central register notice of the award. The public agency shall promptly publish in the central register notice of the award and those public agencies other than state agencies and building authorities shall notify the commissioner of energy resources of such award and provide a copy of the guaranteed energy savings contract.

(j) The guaranteed energy savings contract shall include a written guarantee of the qualified provider that either the amount of energy savings guaranteed will be achieved or the qualified provider shall reimburse the public agency for the shortfall amount. Methods for measurement and verification of guaranteed savings shall conform to the most recent standards established by the Federal Energy Management Program of the United States Department of Energy. The commissioner of energy resources shall enforce the requirements of this section and regulations promulgated hereunder as they relate to public agencies except for state agencies and building authorities and shall have all the necessary powers to require compliance therewith. The commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall enforce the regulations as they relate to state agencies and building authorities. Any order of the commissioner of energy resources under this subsection shall be effective and may be enforced according to its terms, and enforcement thereof shall not be suspended or stayed by the entry of an appeal therefrom. The superior court for Suffolk county shall have jurisdiction over appeals of orders of the commissioner of energy resources under this subsection, and shall also have jurisdiction upon application of the commissioner to enforce all orders of the commissioner under this subsection. The burden of proof shall be upon the appealing party to show that the order of the commissioner is invalid. An aggrieved person shall not be required to seek and order from the commission as a condition precedent to seeking any other remedy. The value of guaranteed savings may represent either all, or part of annual payments at the discretion of the agency. The guaranteed energy savings contract term for providing a guarantee, measurement and verification, maintenance, service and installment or lease payments shall not exceed 20 years. The division of capital asset management and maintenance, in concurrence with the state inspector general, shall promulgate regulations for the procurement of energy management services, including establishing safeguards to be included in guarantee energy savings contracts. The regulations shall require the submission, at least annually, of information as the commission of the division of capital asset management and maintenance and the state inspector general consider necessary in order to monitor the costs and benefits of contracts for energy management services.

(k) Payments under a contract for energy management services may be based in whole or in part on any cost savings attributable to a reduction in energy and water consumption due to the contractor's performance or revenues gained due to the contractor's services which are aimed at energy and water cost savings.

(l) Unless no other manner of description suffices, and the public agency so determines in writing, setting forth the basis for the determination, all requirements shall be written in a manner which describes the requirements to be met without having the effect of exclusively requiring a proprietary supply or service, or a procurement from a sole source.

(m) Before entering into a guaranteed energy savings contract, the public agency shall require the qualified provider to file with the public agency a payment or a performance bond relating to the installation of energy savings measures, in an amount equal to 100 per cent of the estimated contract value from a surety company licensed to do business in the commonwealth and whose name appears on United States Treasury Department Circular 570.

(n) Guaranteed energy savings contracts may extend beyond the fiscal year in which they become effective.

SECTION 2. Subsection (a) of said section 11I of said chapter 25A, as appearing in section 1, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of "Public agency" and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

"Public agency", a city, town, district including a regional school district, or a combination of 2 or more such cities, towns or districts, including regional school districts.

SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 30B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "thirty", in line 6, the following words:- , section 11I of chapter 25A.

SECTION 4. Section 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2007.

Approved February 3, 2006.