While the announcement of selected bids for the New Mexico Community Solar Program remains pending, please take a moment to review the following changes to the scoring for several bid items based on the Program Administrator’s re-examination of the Community Solar Rule (the “Rule”). Please note that these changes already are reflected in each bid’s scoring report available in the program portal.
Procurement Preference Clarification:
We would like to clarify that the procurement preference bonus points are calculated based on 92 total possible non-bonus points. This is in keeping with the Rule and ensures a fair and consistent evaluation process for all bids, irrespective of the number of non-bonus points awarded to any given bid.
Sliding Scale Adjustments:
- Workforce Development, Existing and Continued Relationships:
- Scoring these bid questions on a sliding scale is not contemplated in the Rule. As a result, the following scoring adjustments have been made:
- Bids that include a commitment to offer workforce training or educational opportunities to disproportionately impacted communities have been awarded 6 points.
- Bids that provide evidence of an existing and continuing partnership with a tribe, pueblo, local community, or non-profit community organization registered to do business in New Mexico have been awarded 6 points.
- Scoring these bid questions on a sliding scale is not contemplated in the Rule. As a result, the following scoring adjustments have been made:
- Innovative Commitments
- The Program Administrator has the discretion to award an additional 5 points to any bids that include innovative commitments or provisions beneficial to the local community, potential subscribers, or the program overall. As this item also cannot be scored on a sliding scale, only scores of 0 points or 5 points may be awarded. The Program Administrator has rescored this category with the majority of bids receiving 0 points and only a small portion of bids with the most innovative commitments receiving 5 points. As a result, some bids saw an increase in scoring for this item, while many saw a decrease. Previously having points in this category does not entitle a bid to keep them, as this is scored at the Program Administrator’s discretion.
Aligning scoring with the Rule ensures that the program is administered in a manner consistent with the guidelines set forth by the Commission. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Program Administrator at [email protected] or (877) 794-0109.
