Request for Proposals
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 9.1 MW COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT SOLAR EQUIPMENT SUPPLY ISSUED BY: Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) CONTACT NAME: Sean Fleming CONTACT EMAIL: [email protected] RFP REFERENCE #: AREA2034 RFP ISSUE DATE: Friday, November 13th, 2020 RFP CLOSING DATE: Monday, December 14th, 2020 RFP CLOSING TIME: 3:00 PM Atlantic Time Page 1 of 30 Summary, Contents & Instructions: Summary: The Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced original equipment manufacturers “OEMs” to provide solar equipment in support of AREA’s community solar photovoltaic projects in Antigonish, Berwick, and Mahone Bay Nova Scotia (project). Equipment Supply in this RFP can be generally broken into the following categories: 1) Solar Modules 2) Inverters 3) DC Combiner Boxes 4) Racking Qualified OEMs can submit proposals for any or all the equipment categories outlined above. For further clarity, an OEM does not need to provide a proposal for all equipment categories to be considered eligible to participate in this RFP. Further details on the Equipment Supply are provided in Part A. Documents for this project will be publicly available through: • NS Tenders (https://procurement.novascotia.ca/ns-tenders.aspx) • MERX (https://www.merx.com/) Contents: This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is organized as follows: • Part A: The Project – details of the project and equipment required by AREA • Part B: The RFP Process – the process for submissions, evaluation, and award for the RFP • Part C: Proposal Submission Requirements and Appendices – the forms an OEM should submit in their proposal and any other appendices Page 2 of 30 Part A: The Project Part A provides detail on the equipment required by the Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) for this project. OEMs should read this section in detail and ensure they are fully capable of providing the equipment as described. 1. Background: AREA is a partnership between the Towns of Antigonish, Berwick and Mahone Bay (Towns). The Towns each operate a municipal electric utility (MEU) to distribute power safely and cost effectively within their service territory. AREA’s mandate is to leverage clean technology to reduce the costs and carbon intensity of the energy that powers these communities and other municipalities in Atlantic Canada. AREA is planning the construction of approximately 9.1 megawatts (MW) of community solar photovoltaic (PV) gardens across the three (3) Town MEU service areas. The solar PV installations under consideration will be developed on sites in Berwick (4.8 MW), Mahone Bay (2.2 MW) and Antigonish (2.1 MW). Addresses for the sites under consideration are as follows: • Antigonish: 1623 Brierly Brook Road, Antigonish, Nova Scotia • Berwick: 181 Willow Avenue, Berwick, Nova Scotia • Mahone Bay: 740 Main St, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia 2. Equipment Supply: This section details the requirements and deliverables under this RFP with respect to solar equipment supply. AREA’s goal is to deploy community solar gardens safely and cost-effectively within the Town MEU service territories. The primary objective of this RFP is to select well qualified OEMs to support AREA delivering solar energy (kWh) at the lowest rate while minimizing risk exposure for AREA’s municipal owners through proven, reliable, solar equipment backed by strong warranties and service. The specifications and submittals for Equipment Supply in this RFP are not written to be all inclusive, prescriptive, or as mandatory requirements. The specifications and submittals should be used by OEMs as a guide. AREA welcomes suggestions, recommendations, methods, appropriate or applicable technology, standards, industry best practices, and further details from OEMs on the equipment supply as part of their Proposal. AREA’s objective with the project is to cost effectively maximize the useful lifetime of the system to minimize the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Because of this, AREA places a high degree of value on equipment that has a proven track record of reliability and performance to minimize potential maintenance issues. OEMs are encouraged to provide any additional details and technical reports in addition to those requested below to demonstrate how their products meet the project requirements and objectives. AREA has hired consultants to conduct engineering design services for the projects. Copies of the relevant reports and designs can be provided to qualified OEMs after registration. At its sole discretion AREA may opt not to share copies of these reports if requested by an entity that does not meet the criteria of a qualified OEM as detailed in 5. OEM Qualifications. Page 3 of 30 2.1. Equipment Supply: The equipment requested in this RFP can be generally broken into the following categories: 1) Solar Modules 2) Inverters 3) DC Combiner Boxes 4) Racking Qualified OEMs can submit proposals for any or all the equipment categories outlined above, provided the OEM manufactures the equipment they are proposing. For further clarity, an OEM does not need to provide a proposal for all equipment to be considered eligible to participate in this RFP. Further details on the categories of equipment are detailed below. The specifications and submittals are not written to be all inclusive, prescriptive, or as mandatory requirements, but deviations from the specifications and submittals should be clearly highlighted to AREA as part of a proposal. Details of potential alternate equipment that does not meet the specifications, and or document submittals, outlined below must be submitted to AREA for review, and consideration, at least one (1) week prior to the RFP closing date. 1) Solar Photovoltaic Modules Quantity: • 9.1MWpdc ± 10%. • Assumed to be 400W modules with a total QTY of 22,750. Performance Specifications: • Bifacial module design. • Minimum nominal power rating of 400W at Standard Test Conditions (STC), excluding bifacial gain. Higher capacity modules will be considered. OEMs are encouraged to submit proposals for their highest capacity and most competitive product offering. • Minimum module efficiency of 19%, excluding bifacial gain. • Maximum operating voltage of 1500V. • Various cell counts, sizes and layouts will be considered. • Monocrystalline cell type. • Tempered glass with anti-reflective (AR) coating. • Nominal size of two (2) meters by one (1) meter. Higher capacity modules that exceed the nominal dimensions will be considered. • Minimum mechanical loading of 5400Pa front and 2400Pa rear. • Minimum 1400mm 12 AWG cable length with MC4/EVO2 connectors. • IP68 junction box. • Operating temperature range of -40°C ~ +80°C on continuous duty. • Positive power tolerance (ex. 0 ~ +5W, 0-+5%, etc.) • Temperature coefficient of Pmax <= -0.35%/°C +/- 0.01% Page 4 of 30 • Modules shall be free of potential induced degradation (PID) in operating conditions up to 60℃/85% relative humidity (RH). Submittals: • Proposed delivery schedule and lead times including a risk mitigation plan to ensure delivery within the stated schedule given potential supply chain disruptions (ex. COVID-19). • All relevant safety and performance certifications for installation in Canada, including but not limited to: • CSA, cUL or equivalent; • IEC 61215, 61730, 61701, 62716; • UL 1703; • Fire Performance: TYPE 1 (UL1703) or CLASS C (IEC/EN 61730-2); • Other relevant safety or performance certifications. • Detailed datasheet with electrical properties, including power output under 10% (100W/m2 ) and 20% (200W/m2 ) bifacial gain. • Installation instructions including allowable fastening methods and resulting front and rear loading. • Ownership, operations, and maintenance guidelines. • Certificate of Origin, or equivalent documentation, specifying the location, ownership, and annual capacity in MWdc of the manufacturing facility. • Relevant certifications for the manufacturing facility, including but not limited to: • ISO 9001, 14001, 50001; OHSAS 18001. • Module quantity per standard 40’ shipping container • Workmanship and power production warranty details including length, claims process, optional extensions, and transferability. The warranty must be clear on which legal entity holds the warranty, and whether this is a parent company or division of a parent company, and who honours the warranty in the case of the warranty holder becoming insolvent. • OEM site conditions sign off procedure for verification of warranty acceptance. OEM to include a per visit line item cost, and hourly rate schedule, to send a factory representative to the sites, verify site conditions, and generate a punch list of deficiencies as required to be corrected by the contractor prior to verification of warranty acceptance. • Performance reports and characterization, preferably by PVEL or equivalent third party, including but not limited to: • Module product qualification program (PQP) • Factory witness production monitoring and bill of materials (BOM) verification • Intake characterization • Light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) and sensitivity • Thermal cycling and damp heat • Backsheet durability • Dynamic mechanical loading • Potential Induced Degradation (PID) Page 5 of 30 • PVSyst compatible PAN file and IAM profile • Field exposure • Highly accelerated life testing (HALT) • Long term power output performance degradation (%/yr) • Post purchase order, OEM to submit flash test results for each module to be supplied to AREA, in a MS Excel spreadsheet format, prior to the release