The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) offers resources to help federal agencies implement utility energy service contracts (UESCs).
Essential Education
These resources offer helpful information about structuring sound UESC projects with sustained savings.
- Utility Energy Service Contracts Guide: Key resource for acquisition teams developing UESCs includes a compilation of templates to help contracting officers implement task orders under existing U.S. General Services Administration areawide contracts. Note: The UESC Guide and all associated templates are currently under review. New versions of each template have not been integrated into the UESC Guide, but they can be found in each of the Phase Sections below; please use the hyperlinks to access the latest version of each template.
- Performance Assurance Planning: Includes protocol and templates for emphasizing sustained performance to ensure projected savings are realized in a UESC.
- UESC Project Development Report Template: Provides resources to discuss project priorities and objectives, establish deliverables and expectations, and negotiate and document agreed-upon scope and pricing for each deliverable.
- UESCs: Enabling Documents: Presents legislative, executive, and agency mandates and legal opinions regarding UESCs and energy improvements in federal facilities.
- UESC Lessons Learned: Describes recommended best practices generated by a growing group of innovative energy managers across multiple successful projects.
- Frequently Asked Questions: Offers answers to frequently asked questions about federal UESCs.
- FEMP Utility Team Utility Energy Service Contract Scope of Support: Outlines activities and services offered by the FEMP utility team.
UESC Resources for Utility Companies
Are you a utility wondering how to launch a UESC program for your federal customers? FEMP's Utility Energy Service Contract Basics provides answers and addresses the preliminary steps to prepare your stakeholders for UESCs.
Phase 1: Acquisition Planning
Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 1 of the UESC process.
- Utility Energy Service Contract Planning and Document Development Checklist
- Acquisition Plan—Template
- JOFOC/J&A—Template
- Diversifying Project Portfolios for Utility Energy Service Contracts
- Cybersecurity Considerations for Performance Contracts
- Enhancing Performance Contracts with Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx)
Phase 2: Utility Selection and Preliminary Assessment
Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 2 of the UESC process.
Utility Selection
- Letter of Interest to Serving Utilities—Template
- Utility Selection Evaluation Factors—Template
- Utility Selection and Notice to Proceed with PA Letter—Template
Preliminary Assessment (PA)
Establishing Escalation Rates for Financed Projects
- Guidance on Utility Rate Estimations and Weather Normalization in Performance Contracts
- Energy Escalation Rate Calculator
- Escalation Rates in Energy Savings Performance Contracts
- Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis: Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135
Phase 3: Project Development
Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 3 of the UESC process.
Investment Grade Audit (IGA)
Task Order Development and Award
Performance Assurance Planning
- Performance Assurance Considerations for Task Order Language
- Performance Assurance Plan—Format
- Performance Assurance Protocol—Template
Proposal Review: Task Order Financial Schedules
Financing
The investor deal summary (IDS) and standard financing offer (SFO) that are required for ESPCs have been modified for UESCs.
- Investor Deal Summary for UESCs: Recommended format for summarizing the UESC project and soliciting financing offers
- Standard Financing Offer for UESCs: Recommended format for financing offers
UESC Reporting and Data Collection
Phase 4: Project Implementation and Construction
Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 4 of the UESC process.
- Agency Project Announcement—Template
- ECM Performance Verification Checklist—Sample
- Performance Assurance Plan—Training Format
- Letter of Final Acceptance—Template
Phase 5: Post-Acceptance Performance
Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 5 of the UESC process.