We are pleased to inform you that you can now view the detailed scores for your project bids on the program portal. You have until May 3, 2023, at 4 pm MDT to review your scores and report any discrepancies to [email protected]. Please include the Bid ID in the email subject line to ensure prompt attention. Please note that we can accept discrepancies related only to information already submitted to the Program Administrator; no new information can be accepted. This step is essential to ensuring the fairness and accuracy of the bidding process.
We would like to remind you that workforce development plans, innovative commitments, and existing and continued relationships are scored at the project level against other proposed projects in the same utility territory. These points are based on the Program Administrator’s subjective review and clarity of the project’s individual commitment. Therefore, we regretfully cannot disclose why a bid received a certain score on any of these three items, as we cannot share information submitted by other bids.
As you review your individual project scores, please keep in mind the following key points:
- For the commitment to a contract for materials, supplies, or services using businesses that are owned or operated by local or majority owners of racial minorities, women, veterans, or Native Americans, the bidder must have selected this commitment before the bid window closure. Additionally, the bidder must have responded to the Program Administrator’s clarification request regarding the selected category and acknowledged that the commitment applies to all applicable items under that category not just the items that would not be completed by the in-house team.
- Each bid must include a permitting plan that has been stamped and dated prior to the closure of the bid window in order to receive permitting points. As noted in an FAQ about qualifying for permitting points, even bids on state lands must include a permitting plan that has been stamped and dated before the closure of the bid window. Projects on state lands with valid permitting plans, however, will receive full permitting points even if the non-ministerial permits identified in the plan are not obtained. Projects on state lands without a valid permitting plan will not receive permitting points.
- Although not required to be on the pre-application report provided by the utility, the nearest 3-phase line must have been confirmed by the utility as being less than 1 mile from the proposed project.
- For projects to be eligible for the 50% local ownership points, the bid must demonstrate that local residents within 50 miles hold at least 50% ownership of the project company.
- In order to qualify for bonus points in procurement, the eligible business must have a legally binding partnership or joint venture with the organization submitting the project bid and hold an ownership stake in it. Furthermore, the eligible business must demonstrate a substantial economic investment in the project and establish a direct connection to the overall project cost. The procurement preference bonus points are determined by the percentage of ownership and the proportion of the total project cost attributed to or carried out by the qualifying entity.
- Finally, some projects may not have been considered because the bid size did not match the site map and single-line documentation, and the subscriber organization did not provide updated documentation or documentation that did not include derated inverters. Additionally, projects may have been excluded from scoring if they were missing minimum bid requirements.
As a reminder, the Program Administrator is holding a tie-breaking event Monday, May 1, 2023, at 10 am MDT. The event and can be accessed via the PRC’s community solar landing page: https://www.nm-prc.org/
The final ranking of projects will be announced on May 9, 2023, after the conclusion of the project bid discrepancy window and after the Program Administrator presents selected projects to the Commission.
We appreciate your continued participation in this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Program Administrator.
