There are two main approaches to solicit an ESCO:

1. ESCO Solicitation with ESCO Pre-Qualification
2. ESCO Solicitation with Standard RFP

An institution can pre-qualify ESCOs by using a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)/Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select from a pre-qualified pool of ESCOs. Model documents for ESCO solicitations with ESCO pre-qualification are listed below and are organized in the following three categories.

• RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs
• Attachment A: Base Agreement ESCO Contract (See ESCO Pre-Qualification Contract and Attachments)
• Attachment B: ESCO Response to this RFQ
• Attachment C: Final ESCO Selection Process (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment D: Cost and Pricing
  • Attachment D-1: Cost and Pricing Definitions
  • Attachment D-2: Cost and Pricing Spreadsheet
• Attachment E: State Statutes on ESPC (Placeholder. No file)
• Attachment F: Investment Grade Audit and Project Development Contract (See Investment Grade Audit and Project Proposal)
• Attachment G: Energy Savings Performance Grant (See Investment Grade Audit and Project Proposal)
• Attachment H: Financing Solicitation Package (See Financing Solicitation)
• Attachment I: Owner's Memorandum of Understanding (See Attachment E under ESCO Pre-Qualification Contract section)
• Attachment J: State Governor Executive Orders (Placeholder. No file.)
• RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs: Evaluation Workbook

• RFP to Select an ESCO from Pre-Qualified Pool
• Attachment A: ESCO Response to this RFP
• Attachment B: Evaluation (Included in RFP to Select an ESCO From Pre-Qualified Pool)
• Attachment C: Technical Facility Profile
• Attachment D: Cost and Pricing (See attachments D-1 and D-2 in RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs)
• Attachment E: Special Contract Terms and Conditions (Included in RFP to Select an ESCO From Pre-Qualified Pool)
• Attachment F: Investment Grade Audit and Project Development Contract (See Investment Grade Audit and Project Proposal)
• Attachment G: Energy Savings Performance Contract (See Energy Savings Performance Contract)
• Attachment H: Financing Solicitation Package (See Financing Solicitation)
• Attachment I: Legislative Requirements (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment J: Proposed Project Schedule (Included in RFP to Select an ESCO From Pre-Qualified Pool)
• RFP to Select an ESCO from Pre-Qualified Pool: Evaluation Workbook

• ESCO Base Contract
• Attachment A: Left Blank (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment B: Contract Renewal Option Letter
• Attachment C: Left Bank (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment D: Cost and Pricing (See attachments D-1 and D-2 in RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs)
• Attachment E: Owner MOU

In the absence of a pre-qualified pool, an institution can issue an RFP to solicit and select an ESCO. Model documents for ESCO solicitation with standard RFP include: 

• RFP for Facility Owners to Select an ESCO
• Attachment A: ESCO Response
• Attachment B: Evaluation Criteria (Included in RFP for Facility Owners to Select an ESCO)
• Attachment C: Technical Facility Profile
• Attachment D: Cost and Pricing (See attachments D-1 and D-2 in RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs)
• Attachment E: Special Contract Terms and Conditions (Included in RFP for Facility Owners to Select an ESCO)
• Attachment F: Investment Grad Audit and Project Development Contract (See Investment Grade Audit and Project Proposal)
• Attachment G: Energy Savings Performance Contract (See Energy Savings Performance Contract)
• Attachment H: Financing Solicitation Package (See Financing Solicitation)
• Attachment I: State Statutes on ESPC (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment J: Other
• Attachment K: Proposed Project Schedule (Included in RFP for Facility Owners to Select an ESCO)
• RFP to Select an ESCO: Evaluation Workbook

Once an ESCO is selected, the ESCO enters into a contract with the institution to:

1. Conduct an investment grade audit to evaluate potential energy savings measures
2. Present a project proposal for a set of bundled measures that deliver savings to pay for the project over the finance term

Model documents for investment grade audits and project proposals include: 

• Investment Grade Audit and Project Proposal
• Attachment A: Scope of Work
• Attachment B: Notice of Acceptance of Investment Grade Audit Report
• Attachment C: Guidelines for Preliminary Measurement and Verification Plan
• Attachment D: Cost and Pricing for Investment Grade Audit Development (See attachments D-1 and D-2 in RFQ to Pre-Qualify ESCOs)
• Attachment E: Sample Audit Workplan Approval Matrix
• Attachment F: Review Comments
• Attachment G: Energy Savings Performance Contract (See Energy Savings Performance Contract)
• Attachment H: Financing Solicitation Package (See Financing Solicitation)
• Attachment I (Placeholder. No file.)
• Attachment J: Deep Energy Retrofit Planning
• Exhibit A: RFP for ESCO Solicitation (Pre-qualification Phase; Final Selection Phase)
• Exhibit B: ESCO Proposal (Pre-qualification Phase; Final Selection Phase)
• Exhibit C: ESCO Base Contract (including maximum markups)

The ESPC defines the project, establishing how it will be implemented during construction and how it will be managed through the entire term of the agreement, addressing construction details, roles and responsibilities of the ESCO and institution, and guaranteed savings through measurement and verification.

View a model ESPC to see examples of how it can be arranged. Download model schedules and exhibits as one complete document. 

Financial firms may be competitively selected to provide financing, where the solicitation can be handled by the end-user or by the ESCO on behalf of the institution.

Model documents for financing solicitations include: 

• Financing Solicitation
• Attachment A: Sample Provisions for Lease Contract
• Attachment B: Financing Proposal Letter
• Attachment C: Signature Sheet
• Attachment D: Overview of Facility Improvement Projects
• Pre-Qualification of Financing Firms