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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Solar Project Round VIII Grant Application Packet              Corporate Office Central Peninsula Service Center 3977 Lake Street 280 Airport Way Homer, Alaska 99603-7680 Kenai, Alaska 99611-5280 Phone (907) 235-8551 Phone (907) 283-5831 FAX (907) 235-3313 FAX (907) 283-7122  September 19, 2014 Alaska Energy Authority 813 W. Northern Lights Boulevard Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2495 Attn: Round VIII Renewable Energy Grant Application, Community Solar Project To Whom It May Concern: Enclosed is Homer Electric Association’s (HEA) Round VIII Renewable Energy Grant Application for a Community Solar Project located in Homer, Alaska. HEA is pursuing grant funds to construct a 100 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) community-oriented project. Community members will be given an opportunity to purchase a partial equity interest. The value of each member’s share of the project’s generation would be credited to their monthly electric bill. For this renewable energy project, HEA is seeking $342,600 in grant funds with approximately 20% ($85,000) in matching grant funds provided by participating members. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Kathy McDonough at 907-235-3389, 907-283- 6222 or kmcdonough@homerelectric.com if you require additional information, Sincerely, Bradley P. Janorschke General Manager Enclosures Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 1 of 22 7/2/14 Application Forms and Instructions This instruction page and the following grant application constitutes the Grant Application Form for Round VIII of the Renewable Energy Fund. A separate application form is available for projects with a primary purpose of producing heat (see RFA section 1.5). This is the standard form for all other projects, including projects that will produce heat and electricity. An electronic version of the Request for Applications (RFA) and both application forms is available online at: http://www.akenergyauthority.org/REFund8.html.  If you need technical assistance filling out this application, please contact Shawn Calfa, the Alaska Energy Authority Grants Administrator at (907) 771-3031 or at scalfa@aidea.org.  If you are applying for grants for more than one project, provide separate application forms for each project.  Multiple phases for the same project may be submitted as one application.  If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project, provide milestones and grant budget for each phase of the project.  In order to ensure that grants provide sufficient benefit to the public, AEA may limit recommendations for grants to preliminary development phases in accordance with 3 ACC 107.605(1).  If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting funding for an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the preceding phases are completed and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.  If you have additional information or reports you would like the Authority to consider in reviewing your application, either provide an electronic version of the document with your submission or reference a web link where it can be downloaded or reviewed.  In the sections below, please enter responses in the spaces provided, often under the section heading. You may add additional rows or space to the form to provide sufficient space for the information, or attach additional sheets if needed. REMINDER:  Alaska Energy Authority is subject to the Public Records Act AS 40.25, and materials submitted to the Authority may be subject to disclosure requirements under the act if no statutory exemptions apply.  All applications received will be posted on the Authority web site after final recommendations are made to the legislature.  In accordance with 333 (b) Applicants may request trade secrets or proprietary company data be kept confidential subject to review and approval by the Authority. If you want information is to be kept confidential the applicant must: o Request the information be kept confidential. o Clearly identify the information that is the trade secret or proprietary in their application. o Receive concurrence from the Authority that the information will be kept confidential. If the Authority determines it is not confidential it will be treated as a public record in accordance with AS 40.25 or returned to the applicant upon request. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 2 of 22 7/2/14 SECTION 1 – APPLICANT INFORMATION Name (Name of utility, IPP, or government entity submitting proposal) Homer Electric Association, Inc. Type of Entity: Fiscal Year End: Electric Utility December 31 Tax ID #92-0014079 Tax Status: ☐ For-profit ☒ Non-profit ☐ Government (check one) Date of last financial statement audit: Mailing Address: Physical Address: 3977 Lake Street 3977 Lake Street Homer, Alaska 99603 Homer, Alaska 99603 Telephone: 907-235-8551 Fax: 907-235-3323 Email: 1.1 APPLICANT POINT OF CONTACT / GRANTS MANAGER Name: Kathy McDonough Title: Manager of Engineering Services Mailing Address: 3977 Lake Street Homer, Alaska 99603 Telephone: Fax: Email: 907-235-3389 907-235-3323 kmcdonough@homerelectric.com 1.1.1 APPLICANT ALTERNATE POINTS OF CONTACT 1.1.2 Name Telephone: Fax: Email: Bradley P. Janorschke 907-283-2312 907-283-7122 bjanorschke@homerelectric.com Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 3 of 22 7/2/14 1.2 APPLICANT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Please check as appropriate. If you do not to meet the minimum applicant requirements, your application will be rejected. 1.2.1 As an Applicant, we are: (put an X in the appropriate box) ☒ An electric utility holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity under AS 42.05, or ☐ An independent power producer in accordance with 3 AAC 107.695 (a) (1), or ☐ A local government, or ☐ A governmental entity (which includes tribal councils and housing authorities) 1.2 APPLICANT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (continued) Please check as appropriate. ☒ 1.2.2 Attached to this application is formal approval and endorsement for the project by the applicant’s board of directors, executive management, or other governing authority. If the applicant is a collaborative grouping, a formal approval from each participant’s governing authority is necessary. (Indicate by checking the box) ☒ 1.2.3 As an applicant, we have administrative and financial management systems and follow procurement standards that comply with the standards set forth in the grant agreement (Section 3 of the RFA). (Indicate by checking the box) ☒ 1.2.4 If awarded the grant, we can comply with all terms and conditions of the award as identified in the Standard Grant Agreement template at http://www.akenergyauthority.org/REFund8.html. (Any exceptions should be clearly noted and submitted with the application.) (Indicate by checking the box) ☒ 1.2.5 We intend to own and operate any project that may be constructed with grant funds for the benefit of the general public. If no please describe the nature of the project and who will be the primary beneficiaries. (Indicate yes by checking the box) Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 4 of 22 7/2/14 SECTION 2 – PROJECT SUMMARY This section is intended to be no more than a 2-3 page overview of your project. 2.1 Project Title – (Provide a 4 to 7 word title for your project). Type in space below. Community Solar Project 2.2 Project Location – Include the physical location of your project and name(s) of the community or communities that will benefit from your project in the subsections below. 2.2.1 Location of Project – Latitude and longitude, street address, or community name. Latitude and longitude coordinates may be obtained from Google Maps by finding you project’s location on the map and then right clicking with the mouse and selecting “What is here? The coordinates will be displayed in the Google search window above the map in a format as follows: 61.195676.-149.898663. If you would like assistance obtaining this information please contact AEA at 907-771-3031. Parcel No. 75, Northeast corner of East Road and Bear Creek Drive, Homer, Alaska Tract B, Nordby Subdivision, No. 6 2.2.2 Community benefiting – Name(s) of the community or communities that will be the beneficiaries of the project. The residents of the Kenai Peninsula 2.3 PROJECT TYPE Put X in boxes as appropriate 2.3.1 Renewable Resource Type ☐ Wind ☐ Biomass or Biofuels (excluding heat-only) ☐ Hydro, Including Run of River ☐ Hydrokinetic ☐ Geothermal, Excluding Heat Pumps ☐ Transmission of Renewable Energy ☒ Solar Photovoltaic ☐ Storage of Renewable ☐ Other (Describe) ☐ Small Natural Gas 2.3.2 Proposed Grant Funded Phase(s) for this Request (Check all that apply) Pre-Construction Construction ☐ Reconnaissance ☐ Final Design and Permitting ☐ Feasibility and Conceptual Design ☒ Construction Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 5 of 22 7/2/14 2.4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Provide a brief one paragraph description of the proposed project. In response to strong member-consumer interest, Homer Electric Association (HEA) is pursuing $342,600 in grant funds to construct a 100 kW solar phovoltaic (PV) community-oriented project. The general concept would be to develop an economy-of-scale project, and allow members to participate in that project through matching grant funds. The size of the project would be nominally 100 kW of photovoltaic panels, with the actual quantity adjusted to reflect internal system losses. The project would be sited on lands owned by HEA east of the town of Homer, Alaska. This land is currently leased for use as a sod farm and has an optimal south-facing slope. HEA distribution lines are adjacent to the site, with a 3 phase 12.5 kV line on the south side and a single phase 7.2 kV line on the west side. The following assumptions were made, based on a review of products from several manufacturers: 1. Output per panel: Average of 300 Watts (Vendor Range: 250 to 410 watts) 2. Power delivered to grid: 3 phase, transformed to 12.5 kV at interconnection point 3. Number of Panels required: 360 (will vary depending on vendor) 4. General Panel Layout anticipated: (9 double rows of 20 panels each) 5. 6 ft. X 7 ft. land surface area required for each panel: (7 ft. is largest case, and reflects ten Solar panels w/reflectors) 6. 12 ft. wide vehicle access between panel rows for maintenance & snow removal 7. Estimated Total Land Surface Area (including inverter): 0.7 Acres 2.5 PROJECT BENEFIT Briefly discuss the financial and public benefits that will result from this project, (such as reduced fuel costs, lower energy costs, local jobs created, etc.) HEA would build and operate the 100 kW solar project. Members would then be given an opportunity to purchase a partial equity interest in the solar PV project through matching grant funds of approximately 20% or $85,000. (34 shares @ $2500 = $85,000). The value of each member’s share of the project’s generation would be credited to their monthly electricity bill, less a proportional share of the operating costs of the project. . 2.6 PROJECT BUDGET OVERVIEW Briefly discuss the amount of funds needed, the anticipated sources of funds, and the nature and source of other contributions to the project. Capital Cost: $336,692 Engineering: $ 20,202 Project Management: $ 20,202 (assuming 6%) Admin./Overhead/IDC $ 16,835 (assuming 5%) Contingency & Misc.: $ 33,669 (assuming 10%) Total $427,600 2.7 COST AND BENEFIT SUMMARY Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 6 of 22 7/2/14 Include a summary of grant request and your project’s total costs and benefits below. Costs for the Current Phase Covered by this Grant (Summary of funds requested) 2.7.1 Grant Funds Requested in this application $ 342,600 2.7.2 Cash match to be provided $ 85,000/Member Shares 2.7.3 In-kind match to be provided $ 2.7.4 Other grant funds to be provided $ 2.7.5 Total Costs for Requested Phase of Project (sum of 2.7.1 through 2.7.4) $427,600 Other items for consideration 2.7.6 Other grant applications not yet approved $ N/A Project Costs & Benefits (Summary of total project costs including work to date and future cost estimates to get to a fully operational project) 2.7.7 Total Project Cost Summary from Cost Worksheet, Section 4.4.4, including estimates through construction. $ 427,600 2.7.8 Additional Performance Monitoring Equipment not covered by the project but required for the Grant Only applicable to construction phase projects $ 2.7.9 Estimated Direct Financial Benefit (Savings) The economic model used by AEA is available at www.akenergyauthority.org/REFund8.html. This economic model may be used by applicants but is not required. Other economic models developed by the applicant may be used, however the final benefit/cost ratio used will be derived from the AEA model to ensure a level playing field for all applicants. $ 2.7.10 Other Public Benefit If you can calculate the benefit in terms of dollars please provide that number here and explain how you calculated that number in Section 5 below. $ Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 7 of 22 7/2/14 SECTION 3 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN Describe who will be responsible for managing the project and provide a plan for successfully completing the project within the scope, schedule and budget proposed in the application. 3.1 Project Manager Tell us who will be managing the project for the Grantee and include contact information, a resume and references for the manager(s). In the electronic submittal, please submit resumes as separate PDFs if the applicant would like those excluded from the web posting of this application. If the applicant does not have a project manager indicate how you intend to solicit project management support. If the applicant expects project management assistance from AEA or another government entity, state that in this section. Homer Electric Association will provide overall project management. A contractor has not yet been selected to construct the project. Kathy McDonough, Manager of Engineering Services, will be the project manager of HEA staff, contractors and consultants. Ms. McDonough has been employed with Homer Electric Association since 2009, overseeing the activities of Distribution Engineering Services, land management, and geographic information systems. Please see attached resume. Ms. McDonough can be contacted at 907-235-3389, 907-283-6222 or kmcdonough@homerelectric.com. 3.2 Project Schedule and Milestones Please fill out the schedule below. Be sure to identify key tasks and decision points in in your project along with estimated start and end dates for each of the milestones and tasks. Please clearly identify the beginning and ending of all phases of your proposed project. Please fill out form provided below. You may add additional rows as needed. Tasks Estimated Dates Design & Feasibility requirements 06/30/2015 Completion of Bid Documents 07/30/2015 Contractor / Vendor Selection and Award 08/15/2015 Equipment Procurement 09/15/2015 Construction 10/01/2015 Integration and Testing 11/01/2015 Final Acceptance / Commissioning 12/31/2015 Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 8 of 22 7/2/14 3.3 Project Resources Describe the personnel, contractors, personnel or firms, equipment, and services you will use to accomplish the project. Include any partnerships or commitments with other entities you have or anticipate will be needed to complete your project. Describe any existing contracts and the selection process you may use for major equipment purchases or contracts. Include brief resumes and references for known, key personnel, contractors, and suppliers as an attachment to your application. HEA staff will manage this project with the following staff:  Bradley P. Janorschke, General Manager - Will act as the executive of the project and will maintain ultimate authority.  Carrie Buckley, Director of Finance and Regulatory Affairs - Ms. Buckley will provide financial and regulatory support.  Diana Imlay, Accounting Supervisor - Under the direction of Ms. Buckley, Ms. Imlay will be responsible for grant reporting and will oversee all accounting functions.  Harvey Ambrose, Director of Power Fuels & Dispatch – HEA’s environmental compliance falls within Mr. Ambrose’s responsibility.  Darrell Birkhimer, Director of Operations – Mr. Birkhimer will provide interconnection oversight.  Mark Peery, Director of Engineering – Mr. Peery will provide technical assistance and information on HEAs existing power system.  Kathy McDonough, Manager of Engineering Services – Ms. McDonough is the Project Team Leader and will overseeing HEA staff, consultants and contractors.  Joe Gallagher, Director of Member Relations – Mr. Gallagher will provide all media communication to the members of the cooperative.  Pat Ferguson, Director of Administration – Ms. Ferguson will provide safety, human resources, warehouse, purchasing, facilities, and project management services No official contracts have been entered into as of this date. However, four of the Alaskan solar contractors contacted have expressed confidence in installing a system of this size. Installation contractors will be certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Further selection criteria will include establishing their ability and willingness to provide ongoing post-construction maintenance. Other contractors would be required for site survey and geotechnical investigation. Selection process for contractor and vendors will be in accordance with HEA’s purchasing and procurement policies. 3.4 Project Communications Discuss how you plan to monitor the project and keep the Authority informed of the status. Please provide an alternative contact person and their contact information. HEA currently has in place grant reporting procedures which have been used with previous grants. Updates will be forwarded as required by AEA either monthly or quarterly. 3.5 Project Risk Discuss potential problems and how you would address them. No unforeseen risks. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 9 of 22 7/2/14 3.6 Project Accountant(s) Tell us who will be performing the accounting of this Project for the Grantee and include contact information, a resume and references for the project accountant(s). In the electronic submittal, please submit resumes as separate PDFs if the applicant would like those excluded from the web posting of this application. If the applicant does not have a project accountant indicate how you intend to solicit project management support. Diana Imlay, Accounting Supervisor 907-235-3397 dimlay@homerelectric.com 3.7 Financial Accounting System Discuss the accounting system that will be used to account for project costs and whom will be the primary user of the accounting system. South Eastern Data Corporation (SEDC). Diana Imlay, Accounting Supervisor 3.8 Financial Management Controls Discuss the controls that will be utilized to ensure that only costs that are reasonable, ordinary and necessary will be allocated to this project. Also discuss the controls in place that will ensure that no expenses for overhead, or any other unallowable costs will be requested for reimbursement from the Renewable Energy Fund Grant Program. Attached: Board Policy #306, Corporate Services Contracts Board Policy #401, Contracting & Purchasing Management Directive #305, Purchasing Authority and Definitions Management Directive #306, Procurement SECTION 4 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND TASKS The level of information will vary according to phase(s) of the project you propose to undertake with grant funds. If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting funding for an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the preceding phases are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted. 4.1 Proposed Energy Resource Describe the potential extent/amount of the energy resource that is available. Discuss the pros and cons of your proposed energy resource vs. other alternatives that may be available for the market to be served by your project. For pre-construction applications, describe the resource to the extent known. For design and permitting or construction projects, please provide feasibility documents, design documents, and permitting documents (if applicable) as attachments to this application. Results from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Program indicate approximately 81,056 kWh per year are expected to be produced with a 100 kW fixed (open rack) installation, with an array tilt of 59.6 degrees and an array azimuth of 180 degrees, located in Homer, Alaska. Data was captured at the Homer Airport. In addition to exploring solar as a renewable energy source, HEA is also exploring hydro and tidal energy. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 10 of 22 7/2/14 4.2 Existing Energy System 4.2.1 Basic configuration of Existing Energy System Briefly discuss the basic configuration of the existing energy system. Include information about the number, size, age, efficiency, and type of generation. Nikiski Combined Cycle Plant (Steam/Gas) 80 MW CT 1984; ST 2014 Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant (Gas) 48 MW 2014 Bernice Lake Combustion Turbine Plant (Gas) 80 MW 3 Units 1971, 1978, 1981 Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project (hydro) 14 MW 1991 4.2.2 Existing Energy Resources Used Briefly discuss your understanding of the existing energy resources. Include a brief discussion of any impact the project may have on existing energy infrastructure and resources. HEA’s power supply portfolio primarily consists of natural gas-fired generation and hydro-electric power. HEA’s large portion of gas-fired generation strongly influences HEA’s rates and is subject to wide price volatility. No impact on existing energy infrastructure or resources foreseen. 4.2.3 Existing Energy Market Discuss existing energy use and its market. Discuss impacts your project may have on energy customers. Homer Electric serves approximately 26,150 residential consumers on the Kenai Peninsula As of December 31, 2013, $481,572,764 million –kilowatt hours were sold and $81,056,877 in total revenue received. The average residential electric cost between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, was $120.31/month or $1,443.75 annually. No impacts on energy customers are anticipated as the member-owner would receive a proportional share of the electricity produced by the project based on his/her purchased share of project ownership. The quantity of power allocated to each member owning shares would be credited on that member’s bill as if the generation had occurred at that member’s location. The credited value would reflect the quantity of the allocated generation from the project. At the same time, a proportional share of the operating costs of the project could be deducted from the credit. Economically, the business case for a solar project is tax driven. While a not-for-profit cooperative does not have a tax appetite to directly monetize tax incentives, members owning shares of the project may be able to individually leverage those federal incentives to effectively lower their cost of ownership. 4.3 Proposed System Describe the system you are intending to develop and address potential system design, land ownership, permits, and environmental issues. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 11 of 22 7/2/14 4.3.1 System Design Provide the following information for the proposed renewable energy system: A description of renewable energy technology specific to project location Optimum installed capacity Anticipated capacity factor Anticipated annual generation Anticipated barriers Basic integration concept Delivery Methods Description of renewable energy technology specific to project location: The primary technologies considered for this project are poly-crystalline silicon and mono- crystalline silicon panels. Both are readily available in quantities ranging from small residential to large multi-megawatt applications. Prices of the photovoltaic panels themselves have fallen below $1.00 a watt, a key benchmark in bringing the technology closer to price parity with other generation. The difference between mono-crystalline vs. poly-crystalline solar cells is essentially that one is produced from a single crystal of silicon and the other is produced from a piece of silicon consisting of many crystals. While the single crystal provides slightly more efficiency, the polycrystalline cell typically has a slightly lower cost, but a larger surface area. Since adequate project area is available, both forms will work in this application, so the selection of cell technology should be based on the final cost per kWh generated. Following discussions with equipment vendors, a fixed axis system is recommended, rather than single or double axis tracking systems. While a tracking system will increase production, the increased capital and maintenance costs were projected to exceed the value of the increased production. Furthermore, the extreme sun angle at this latitude raises issues with tracking software and equipment. However, the final design of the system should provide a method for manual adjustment of panel angles on a seasonal basis (i.e., spring and fall) by maintenance personnel or temporary labor. The effort to adjust the panels to seasonal angles is estimated at roughly 4 person-days for each seasonal angle adjustment. Alternatively, one installer recommended short piles for this application, noting they have the equipment specifically designed for this type of installation. Both options should be priced during the design phase. The dimensions of solar panel assemblies are assumed to be roughly 6 feet by 7 feet (tenK Solar dimensions), and typically weigh less than 100 pounds each. Screw-in anchors should be sufficient to support the light loads, including snow load, while providing sufficient tension resistance to address uplift potential from strong winds causing an airfoil effect on the panels. Use of screw-in anchors would also avoid the potential for weather, labor and equipment complications often experienced in concrete placement. The solar panel would then be mounted on the screw-in anchor supports, using a site-specific structural frame and racking system selected or designed by the system provider. Final design of the support system should provide sufficient height of the panels from the ground (i.e., 3-4 feet) to allow for heavy snows and snow clearing Optimum installed capacity Analysis of existing residential solar installations already in place within the HEA system, as well as projections from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 12 of 22 7/2/14 suggest that a realistic capacity factor for a solar PV project using current photovoltaic technology would be in the range of 9 to 11%. Anticipated capacity factor A realistic capacity factor for a solar PV project using current photovoltaic technology would be in the range of 9 to 11%. Anticipated annual generation 78,000 to 105,000 kWhs of electricity to the grid annually. Basic integration concept and delivery methods HEA would provide the project interconnection point and install a transformer sized for the project at that point. The project would interconnect at that point with the appropriate solar interconnection electronics and switchgear to be determined in consultations among the system vendor, a solar consultant and HEA. The same approach would be taken with regard to the level and type of communications & controls for the project. While normal utility practice for generation usually entails fairly sophisticated SCADA communications, it must be recognized that the project size is comparable to a medium-size commercial load and a more limited communications and controls may be adequate. Options may include cell phone or local internet connections (fiber or wireless) to monitor the project. Similarly, the need and scope of a protection study should be evaluated by a competent electrical engineer familiar with solar projects and taking into account the limited size of the power flows. 4.3.2 Land Ownership Identify potential land ownership issues, including whether site owners have agreed to the project or how you intend to approach land ownership and access issues. HEA owns a parcel of land near Homer, Alaska that could provide a fairly optimal location for a solar PV project on the Kenai Peninsula. 4.3.3 Permits Provide the following information as it may relate to permitting and how you intend to address outstanding permit issues.  List of applicable permits  Anticipated permitting timeline  Identify and discuss potential barriers An email inquiry to the Kenai Peninsula Borough indicated that no permits or zoning issues would apply to this project as it is located outside the Homer city limits. No potential barriers are foreseen. 4.3.4 Environmental Address whether the following environmental and land use issues apply, and if so how they will be addressed:  Threatened or endangered species  Habitat issues  Wetlands and other protected areas  Archaeological and historical resources  Land development constraints  Telecommunications interference Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 13 of 22 7/2/14  Aviation considerations  Visual, aesthetics impacts  Identify and discuss other potential barriers No environmental issues are foreseen. 4.4 Proposed New System Costs and Projected Revenues (Total Estimated Costs and Projected Revenues) The level of cost information provided will vary according to the phase of funding requested and any previous work the applicant may have done on the project. Applicants must reference the source of their cost data. For example: Applicants records or analysis, industry standards, consultant or manufacturer’s estimates. 4.4.1 Project Development Cost Provide detailed project cost information based on your current knowledge and understanding of the project. Cost information should include the following:  Total anticipated project cost, and cost for this phase  Requested grant funding  Applicant matching funds – loans, capital contributions, in-kind  Identification of other funding sources  Projected capital cost of proposed renewable energy system  Projected development cost of proposed renewable energy system The project will cost approximately $427,600 of which HEA is requesting $342,600 though this Renewable Energy Fund application. 4.4.2 Project Operating and Maintenance Costs Include anticipated O&M costs for new facilities constructed and how these would be funded by the applicant. (Note: Operational costs are not eligible for grant funds however grantees are required to meet ongoing reporting requirements for the purpose of reporting impacts of projects on the communities they serve.) Publicly available O&M cost data are limited, but the data found in national research by Bolinger & Weaver at Berkeley suggests $20-$40/kW-year for large projects. That range was confirmed in other sources. However, for a smaller 100 kW project, a higher cost per kW-year should be expected, due simply to the fixed costs and overheads required to maintain an inventory of spare parts and personnel to monitor and maintain the facility. An annual O&M cost estimate will be $5,000. That estimate should be reviewed internally and with local solar contractors at the outset of this project to consider options to control these costs. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 14 of 22 7/2/14 4.4.3 Power Purchase/Sale The power purchase/sale information should include the following:  Identification of potential power buyer(s)/customer(s)  Potential power purchase/sales price - at a minimum indicate a price range  Proposed rate of return from grant-funded project The proposed concept would be to design, construct and operate a solar project of modest size, yet large enough to bring reasonable economy of scale to the project economics. At that size, a substantial number of members would then have the option to purchase ownership shares in the project. With the production of power from the project, the member-owner would receive a proportional share of the electricity produced by the project, based on his/her purchased share of project ownership. The quantity of power allocated to each member owning shares would be credited on that member’s bill as if the generation had occurred at that member’s location. The credited value would reflect the quantity of the allocated generation from the project. At the same time, a proportional share of the operating costs of the project could be deducted from the credit. 4.4.4 Project Cost Worksheet Complete the cost worksheet form which provides summary information that will be considered in evaluating the project. Please fill out the form provided below. Renewable Energy Source The Applicant should demonstrate that the renewable energy resource is available on a sustainable basis. Analysis of available production data from 21 individual existing solar installations on the HEA system shows a wide spread of capacity factors, ranging from 3.2% to 27.7%. The average capacity factor was 11.7% and the median of the respective capacity factors as 10.6% A separate analysis was run on NREL’s PVWatts program which projected a 9.3% capacity factor based on meteorological data from the Homer Airport. As may be expected, the majority of production (roughly 2/3) occurs from mid-March through mid-September. PV performance, based on the solar radiation received, may vary from the long-term average by 30% monthly and 10% yearly. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 15 of 22 7/2/14 Unit depends on project type (e.g. wind speed, hydropower output, biomass fuel) Existing Energy Generation and Usage a) Basic configuration (if system is part of the Railbelt1 grid, leave this section blank) i. Number of generators/boilers/other N/A ii. Rated capacity of generators/boilers/other iii. Generator/boilers/other type iv. Age of generators/boilers/other v. Efficiency of generators/boilers/other b) Annual O&M cost (if system is part of the Railbelt grid, leave this section blank) i. Annual O&M cost for labor N/A ii. Annual O&M cost for non-labor c) Annual electricity production and fuel usage (fill in as applicable) (if system is part of the Railbelt grid, leave this section blank) i. Electricity [kWh] ii. Fuel usage Diesel [gal] N/A Other iii. Peak Load iv. Average Load v. Minimum Load vi. Efficiency vii. Future trends d) Annual heating fuel usage (fill in as applicable) i. Diesel [gal or MMBtu] ii. Electricity [kWh] iii. Propane [gal or MMBtu] N/A iv. Coal [tons or MMBtu] v. Wood [cords, green tons, dry tons] vi. Other 1 The Railbelt grid connects all customers of Chugach Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, Golden Valley Electric  Association, the City of Seward Electric Department, Matanuska Electric Association and Anchorage Municipal Light and Power.    Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 16 of 22 7/2/14 Proposed System Design Capacity and Fuel Usage (Include any projections for continued use of non-renewable fuels) a) Proposed renewable capacity (Wind, Hydro, Biomass, other) [kW or MMBtu/hr] 100kW b) Proposed annual electricity or heat production (fill in as applicable) i. Electricity [kWh] 78,000 – 105,000 kWhs ii. Heat [MMBtu] c) Proposed annual fuel usage (fill in as applicable) i. Propane [gal or MMBtu] N/A ii. Coal [tons or MMBtu] iii. Wood or pellets [cords, green tons, dry tons] iv. Other Project Cost a) Total capital cost of new system $427,600 b) Development cost c) Annual O&M cost of new system $5,000 d) Annual fuel cost $0 Project Benefits a) Amount of fuel displaced for i. Electricity ii. Heat iii. Transportation iv. Natural Gas 1,027 Mcf b) Current price of displaced fuel The current price for one (1.0) Mcf of natural gas is $7.23 c) Other economic benefits d) Alaska public benefits Power Purchase/Sales Price a) Price for power purchase/sale N/A Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 17 of 22 7/2/14 Project Analysis a) Basic Economic Analysis Project benefit/cost ratio Payback (years) 4.4.5 Impact on Rates Briefly explain what if any effect your project will have on electrical rates in the proposed benefit area. If the is for a PCE eligible utility please discuss what the expected impact would be for both pre and post PCE. There would be no effect on electric rates. SECTION 5– PROJECT BENEFIT Explain the economic and public benefits of your project. Include direct cost savings, and how the people of Alaska will benefit from the project. The benefits information should include the following:  Potential annual fuel displacement (gallons and dollars) over the lifetime of the evaluated renewable energy project  Anticipated annual revenue (based on i.e. a Proposed Power Purchase Agreement price, RCA tariff, or cost based rate)  Potential additional annual incentives (i.e. tax credits)  Potential additional annual revenue streams (i.e. green tag sales or other renewable energy subsidies or programs that might be available)  Discuss the non-economic public benefits to Alaskans over the lifetime of the project Potential Annual Fuel Displacement: $7,425 Anticipated annual revenue: $0 Potential additional annual incentives (i.e., tax credits): For a non-for-profit cooperative, to realize the tax benefits of a solar project, fairly sophisticated financial innovation is required. Partnerships with taxable entities with a “tax appetite” and careful structuring of the project can achieve a major portion of the economic value of the tax benefits and reduce the cost of the project. Such structuring involves establishment of special purpose entities (SPEs), such as LLCs or S- Corps and partnerships with taxable entities. A “blocker” corporation to provide separation between the coop and the project ownership may be necessary to enable partnering with a taxable entity. Developing that structure will be more appropriately addressed by organizations with legal, financial and accounting capabilities. Potential annual revenue streams: $0 Non-economic public benefits to Alaskans over the lifetime of project: Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 18 of 22 7/2/14 The project would provide an opportunity for a member to purchase a partial equity interest in the solar PV project and benefit from that ownership. By purchasing a share in a larger project, members could realize the benefits of economy of scale, as well as leverage an optimal solar location on the Kenai Peninsula. Under the proposed concept, HEA would develop and operate the facility, and members owning shares of the solar project would have the value of their proportionate share of the project’s generation credited to their monthly electricity bill. 5.1 Public Benefit for Projects with Private Sector Sales Projects that include sales of power to private sector businesses (sawmills, cruise ships, mines, etc.), please provide a brief description of the direct and indirect public benefits derived from the project as well as the private sector benefits and complete the table below. See section 1.6 in the Request for Applications for more information. Renewable energy resource availability (kWh per month) N/A Estimated sales (kWh) Revenue for displacing diesel generation for use at private sector businesses ($) Estimated sales (kWh) Revenue for displacing diesel generation for use by the Alaskan public ($) SECTION 6– SUSTAINABILITY Discuss your plan for operating the completed project so that it will be sustainable. Include at a minimum:  Proposed business structure(s) and concepts that may be considered.  How you propose to finance the maintenance and operations for the life of the project  Identification of operational issues that could arise.  A description of operational costs including on-going support for any back-up or existing systems that may be require to continue operation  Commitment to reporting the savings and benefits Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 19 of 22 7/2/14 Business Plan Structure: The community solar plant will be developed and operated by HEA. Operations and maintenance will be financed through typical utility accounting procedures using revenue generated by utility cash flows. The facility would be essentially unmanned requiring only periodic inspection and routine maintenance. Annual O&M costs are anticipated to be approximately $5,000/year. SECTION 7 – READINESS & COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER GRANTS Discuss what you have done to prepare for this award and how quickly you intend to proceed with work once your grant is approved. Tell us what you may have already accomplished on the project to date and identify other grants that may have been previously awarded for this project and the degree you have been able to meet the requirements of previous grants. In 2013, Energy Engineering, Inc., prepared a business plan for a 100 kW community solar project. At its regular meeting of March 11, 2014, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution #45-2014-07 authorizing management to pursue grant funding for this project. If funds are awarded, HEA will begin construction as soon as possible after approximately $85,000 of matching funds are received from HEA members. SECTION 8 – LOCAL SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION Discuss local support and opposition, known or anticipated, for the project. Include letters of support or other documentation of local support from the community that would benefit from this project. The Documentation of support must be dated within one year of the RFA date of July 2, 2014 The HEA board of directors, which represents approximately 31,000 member-owners, has shown consistent support for renewable energy projects. Additionally, HEA has been encouraged by its members to explore alternative sources of sustainable power supply, lessen its reliance on natural gas fuel, and stabilize rates, while providing an opportunity for member-owners to participate in the development of alternative power supply development. SECTION 9 – GRANT BUDGET Tell us how much you are seeking in grant funds. Include any investments to date and funding sources, how much is being requested in grant funds, and additional investments you will make as an applicant. 9.1 Funding sources and Financial Commitment Provide a narrative summary regarding funding source and your financial commitment to the project Requested Grant Funds $342,600 Expenditures to Date: Renewables Consultant $ 17,101 9.2 Cost Estimate for Metering Equipment Please provide a short narrative, and cost estimate, identifying the metering equipment, and its related use to comply with the operations reporting requirement identified in Section 3.15 of the Request for Applications. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 20 of 22 7/2/14 Applications MUST include a separate worksheet for each project phase that was identified in section 2.3.2 of this application, (I. Reconnaissance, II. Feasibility and Conceptual Design, III. Final Design and Permitting, and IV. Construction and Commissioning). Please use the tables provided below to detail your proposed project’s budget. Be sure to use one table for each phase of your project. If you have any question regarding how to prepare these tables or if you need assistance preparing the application please feel free to contact AEA at 907-771-3031 or by emailing the Grants Administrator, Shawn Calfa, at scalfa@aidea.org. Milestone or Task Anticipated Completion Date RE- Fund Grant Funds Grantee Matching Funds Source of Matching Funds: Cash/In- kind/Federal Grants/Other State Grants/Other TOTALS (List milestones based on phase and type of project. See Milestone list below. ) $ $ $ Design and feasibility requirements complete 06/30/2015 $ $ $ Completion of Bid Documents 07/30/2015 $ $ $ Contractor/vendor selection and award 08/15/2015 $ $ $ Order Materials 09/15/2015 $ $ $ Begin Construction 11/01/2015 $ $ $ Integration & Testing 11/01/2015 $ $ Final Acceptance, Commissioning and Start-Up 12/31/2015 $ Budget Categories: Direct Labor & Benefits $ $ $ Travel & Per Diem $ $ Equipment $ $ $ Materials & Installation $ 336,692 $ 83,500 $ 420,192 Contractual Services $ $ $ Construction Services $ $ $ Other $ 5,908 $ 1,500 $ 7,408 TOTALS $ 342,600 $ 85,000 $ 427,600 SECTION 10 – AUTHORIZED SIGNERS FORM Community/Grantee Name: Homer Electric Association, Inc. Regular Election is held: Annually Date: May 7, 2015 Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 21 of 22 7/2/14 Authorized Grant Signer(s): Printed Name Title Term Signature Bradley P. Janorschke General Manager N/A I authorize the above person(s) to sign Grant Documents: (Highest ranking organization/community/municipal official) Printed Name Title Term Signature Bradley P. Janorschke General Manager N/A Grantee Contact Information: Mailing Address: 3977 Lake Street, Homer, Alaska 99603 Phone Number: 907-235-8551 Fax Number: 907-235-3323 E-mail Address: Bjanorschke@homerelectric.com Federal Tax ID #: 92-0014079 Please submit an updated form whenever there is a change to the above information. Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII Grant Application - Standard Form AEA 15003 Page 22 of 22 7/2/14 SECTION 11 – ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION: A. Contact information and resumes of Applicant’s Project Manager, Project Accountant(s), key staff, partners, consultants, and suppliers per application form Section 3.1, 3.4 and 3.6. Applicants are asked to provide resumes submitted with applications in separate electronic documents if the individuals do not want their resumes posted to the project web site. B. Letters or resolutions demonstrating local support per application form Section 8. C. For projects involving heat: Most recent invoice demonstrating the cost of heating fuel for the building(s) impacted by the project. D. Governing Body Resolution or other formal action taken by the applicant’s governing body or management per RFA Section 1.4 that: - Commits the organization to provide the matching resources for project at the match amounts indicated in the application. - Authorizes the individual who signs the application has the authority to commit the organization to the obligations under the grant. - Provides as point of contact to represent the applicant for purposes of this application. - Certifies the applicant is in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local, laws including existing credit and federal tax obligations. E. An electronic version of the entire application on CD or other electronic media, per RFA Section 1.7. F. CERTIFICATION The undersigned certifies that this application for a renewable energy grant is truthful and correct, and that the applicant is in compliance with, and will continue to comply with, all federal and state laws including existing credit and federal tax obligations and that they can indeed commit the entity to these obligations. Print Name Bradley P. Janorschke Signature Title General Manager Date September 19, 2014 Section 3.8 Financial Management Controls Documents    BOARD POLICY  306 – Corporate Services Contracts    I. OBJECTIVE(S)    A. To establish procedures for soliciting and retaining certain formal services for the  Cooperative.    II. POLICY CONTENT    A. Formal corporate services agreements for legal services, financial auditing services, and  insurance services should not exceed three years in duration.    B. The Board of Directors shall review the agreement and vendor performance prior to the  expiration of the contract.    C. To the extent possible, corporate services agreement expiration dates during the same  calendar year shall be kept to a minimum.    III. RESPONSIBILITY    A. The General Manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.                 February 12, 2013     DATE   BOARD PRESIDENT          POLICY HISTORY    Date Adopted: May, 2004  Reviewed Dates: 05/06; 04/08; 06/10; 01/13; 02/13  Revision Dates: 05/06; 04/08; 06/10; 02/13        DOCUMENT REFERENCE(S)  Board Policy 301, Corporate Banking  Management Directive 305, Purchasing Authority and Definitions    BOARD POLICY  401 – Contracting and Purchasing    I. OBJECTIVE(S)    A. To establish guidelines for procuring materials, equipment, and services from acceptable  vendors.     II. POLICY CONTENT    A. The Board shall annually adopt operating, general plant, and annual work plan budgets.   Those actions provide the General Manager with the authority to make purchases and  other commitments in line with such budgets and work plans.     B. The General Manager has authority to approve purchases of goods or services for  operational, general plant or work plan budgets which have been approved by the  Board. The General Manager also has the authority to issue change orders for contracts  awarded in a formal bidding process in amounts which do not exceed an aggregate  change equal to the lesser of $500,000 or 10% of the original contract price.  The General  Manager shall submit a monthly report to the Board for any individual purchases or  services which exceed $100,000.    C. For project costs which are fully reimbursable to HEA, the General Manager has  authority to make necessary purchases of goods and services.     D. The General Manager will determine and delegate other purchasing authorities as  necessary for the smooth and timely operations of the Cooperative in amounts not to  exceed the authorities granted herein.    E. Any purchase for which authority is not delegated pursuant to this policy shall be  presented to the Board for approval in advance of the execution of a contract therefore.    F. Bidding Requirements    1. For all purchases exceeding $25,000 and less than $100,000 a minimum of three  informal bids will be solicited.    2. For all purchases in excess of $100,000, a formal bid process will be followed.  This  requirement also applies to blanket purchase orders in excess of $100,000 per year.  BP 401, Page 2 of 3    3. Bidders on construction contracts must demonstrate knowledge of transportation  and communication problems, climatic variations, unusual mobilization costs,  unique topographical and soil conditions, and the local working environment.    4. The General Manager shall maintain Management Directives and pre‐qualification  procedures for related bidding requirements.    5. All purchases of materials made with RUS loan funds shall be made following the  ʺBuy Americanʺ requirements of RUS, as amended by the North American Free  Trade Agreement Implementation Act.     G. When purchasing goods, materials, or services, the Cooperative shall first solicit  quotations from vendors:    1. Possessing an Alaska business license;    2. Maintaining an office and staff within the State of Alaska;    3. Incorporated in the State of Alaska or registered within the State of Alaska as foreign  corporations authorized to do business within the State of Alaska.    H. Where price, quality and quantity are approximately equal, a vendor maintaining an  office or other place of business in the service area shall be given preference within 5  percent. This policy will not apply where the provisions of an applicable statute,  regulation, or grant prohibit local bidder preference; nor will it apply to HEA facilities or  operations located outside of the service area.    I. Waiver of Requirements    1. The General Manager may waive a bidding requirement in the event of an  emergency.  If the General Manager declares an emergency he shall report it to the  Board within 30 days of declaring the emergency.    2. The General Manager may waive bidding requirements if documentation is  provided supporting a determination that the purchase can only be made from a  single source or verification of the absence of three responsive formal or informal  bids. If the bidding requirement is waived, the General Manager will report the  waiver to the board within 30 days.    3. The Board may waive any requirements of this policy.    J. Unbudgeted Expenses  BP 401, Page 3 of 3    1. The General Manager shall have the authority to approve unbudgeted purchases  within the approved spending limits which in his judgment are vital to the  operations of the Cooperative.  The General Manager shall report unbudgeted  purchases to the board within 30 days.       III. RESPONSIBILITY    A. The General Manager shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.                June 15, 2010    DATE   BOARD PRESIDENT          POLICY HISTORY    Date Adopted: February, 1992 (formerly Policy I‐18)  Reviewed Dates: 04/96; 12/03; 05/04; 12/05; 07/06; 06/08; 06/10  Revision Dates: 04/96; 12/03; 05/04; 12/05; 07/06; 06/08; 06/10  MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE 305 -Purchasing Authority and Definitions PURPOSE: To clearly define and establish purchasing authority and the process for initiating a purchase. CONTENT 1. Pre-Purchase Planning: a. Initiator shall work with the Purchasing Agent to develop specifications and sources which will allow financial preparation for expenditures and to assure proper procedures are followed. b. The Engineering Department shall provide the Purchasing Agent an estimated materials list for the annual order for those construction projects they expect to perform. 2. Authorized Signatures and Limits: a. Authorized limits and signers are identified per the attached. b. In the absence of the General Manager, the General Manager's designee shall assume the General Manager's purchasing authority and reporting responsibilities identified in Board Policy #401. c. All purchases over $25,000 must conform to Management Directive #306, Procurement. 3. Types of Purchases: All purchases shall be in compliance with the authorized signatures and limits noted above and shall be handled as follows: a. Purchase Requisition (for most purchases): i. Requestor shall submit a completed "Purchase Requisition," HEA Form #0132, for items to be purchased. If suggested vendor or prices are not available, please so state. The Purchasing Department will obtain the Accounting Department and General Manager's authorizations. MD 305, Page 2 of 4 ii. If the requisition is processed, a copy of the completed purchase order (P.O.) will be sent to the requestor. m. Jf the requisition is rejected, it will be returned to the requestor with an explanation IV. If additional information is required, the requestor shall be so advised. v. If an item is not received shortly after expected delivery date, the requestor should notify purchasing, who will contact the vendor for an update on delivery. b. Items Not Requiring a Purchase Requisition: Certain administrative items do not require a purchase requisition. A Department Director, Manager, or Supervisor's signature on a completed check request may be used for the payment of the following types of purchases: Airline travels Air taxi service (all types) Annual meeting services Attorney fees Banking fees Board meeting expenses Call out meal expenses Collection and credit expenses Courier services CPA services Credit card payments Donations Dues and membership fees Employee expense statements Employee recognition expenses Freight expenses Utility bills Hotel expenses Insurance premiums & deductibles Maintenance Agreements Medical expenses Newspaper advertisements One-Call locate services Payroll taxes/CSED Permits Petty cash Postage Purchased power Radio advertisements Recruitment expenses Rental cars Scholarships Seminars and conferences Subscriptions & updates Telephone bills c. Local Purchase Order (LPO): A local purchase order may be used for purchases that do not exceed $500. The Purchasing Agent will be responsible for and issuance of LPO books. d. Annual (or Blanket) P.O.: A vendor providing materials, supplies, or a service to the Cooperative on a continuing or monthly basis may be issued an annual purchase order. Follow purchase requisition procedures above. MD 305, Page 3 of 4 e. Air Travel: For local air travel, travel vouchers may replace a purchase order. For out of state travel or special travel arrangements, a check request must be signed by the General Manager. f. Meals: For local meals (e.g., call-out meals, travel meals, etc.) a meal voucher may be submitted for reimbursement and a purchase requisition/order is not required. g. Invoices: Invoices $500 or less for goods and services (not including construction material, construction services or capital budget items) may be approved by the authorized signer on the invoice. h. Purchasing cards may be used for purchases included in items b., c., f., and g. above that are within the current approved budget and spending limits. 4. Emergency Purchases: Only purchases which meet the qualification of "emergency purchase," as established by Board Policy #401, may be processed under this provision. In the event of an emergency, a Department Manager may authorize purchases without following the required purchase process. All such events, paperwork and justification will be presented to the General Manager for review. 5. Non-Authorized Purchases: The Accounting and Purchasing Departments shall work together to resolve non- authorized purchases or problem invoices to assure timely payment to vendors. RESPONSIBILITY: It is the responsibility of each employee to adhere to these guidelines. DATE ~~-r:~ Bradley P. Janor ke /Z-/Z..-/1 GENERAL MANAGER DIRECTIVE HISTORY Formerly MD 601 Date Adopted: March 3, 1994 Revision Dates: 10/15/1994, 10/25/1994, 5/11/2000, 07/07/2004, 09/22/2004, 02/06/2006, 06/13/2006, 05/08/2008, 12/14/2010 BOARD POLICY REFERENCE(S) BP 401, Contracting and Purchasing MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE REFERENCE(S) MD 306, Procurement Procedures FORMS REFERENCE(S) Form 0132, Purchase Requisition MD 305, Page 4 of 4 MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE 306 -Procurement PURPOSE: To set forth specific details on administering the procurement process for Homer Electric Association operations, maintenance, contractors, or goods and services, and to set forth specific details on the qualifications of subcontractors for construction contracts. CONTENT 1. Delegation of Authority The Projects Group Manager and Purchasing Agent have been delegated the responsibility and authority to negotiate and enter into contracts and procure goods and services on behalf of Homer Electric Association using the procedures established herein as follows: a. Procure supplies, services and construction materials required by HEA; b. Sell, trade or otherwise dispose of surplus supplies belonging to HEA; c. Maintain all records pertaining to the procurement of supplies, services and construction, and the disposal of supplies by HEA; d. Join with other cooperatives, subject to the approval of the General Manager, in joint purchasing ventures where the best interests of HEA would be served; e. Compile and maintain, to the extent practicable, a qualified bidder list for maintenance, construction, and professional services utilized by HEA; f. Compile and maintain a log of all contracts awarded for supplies, services, professional services or construction, together with any amendments thereto; and g. Participate in the development and adoption of standard specifications for supplies, services, and construction wherever practicable, which shall be in compliance with RUS and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) requirements. MD 306, Page 2 of 9 2. Pre-Qualification Lists a. Pre-Qualification Lists may be utilized for procurement via either a formal or informal bid process. The lists are generally used for major equipment/materials acquisition or contracting certain services. Examples of such procurement include annual snow plowing bids, equipment rentals, line materials bids, etc. b. Pre-Qualification Lists will be developed annually by the Projects Group Manager or the Purchasing Agent. Development of such lists will be accomplished by: 1. Publication of the intent to develop a pre-qualification list, specifying the service I materials involved and deadline for submitting appropriate information (publication shall include at least one paper of general circulation located within each service area); or ii. Written notice to businesses on the Kenai Peninsula known to be involved in the requested service or materials. c. Final determination of the businesses on the Pre-Qualification List may include consideration of such matters as: i. The timely availability of the goods/materials; 11. The prior history of the firm/vendor in supplying goods, materials, services, and/or labor to HEA; iii. Possession of an Alaska business license; IV. Maintenance of an office and staff within Alaska; v. Corporate registration within Alaska or corporations authorized to do business in Alaska; vi. Regulatory requirements of the federal or state government; and vn. Other such qualifications as may be periodically determined necessary. 3. Formal Bid Process A Formal Bid Process, with a minimum of three bids solicited, is required for purchases exceeding $100,000 in cumulative value (including "blanket" or "annual" purchase orders for supplies and I or materials). A Formal Bid Process will include the following procedures. MD 306, Page 3 of 9 a. Pre-Qualification List If this step is utilized, the list previously developed for the specific procurement will be utilized and the formal bid process shall invite only those names shown on the Pre-Qualification List. Any pre-qualified service area business will be eligible for the bid process. b. Invitation to Bid 1. An Invitation to Bid will be developed by the Projects Group Manager, a consultant or staff member assigned for the purpose of administering or managing the specific project. Reference to the Projects Group Manager in this section is intended to indicate that it is his/her direct responsibility, unless a consultant is engaged or staff member assigned for a particular project, in which case the responsibility rests with the consultant or staff member. The responsibility for reviewing the consultant's or staff member's product rests with the Department Director or project sponsor who is responsible for the particular project.) ii. An Invitation to Bid is a general statement, for publication purposes, of the Scope of the Project, and also provides details on the availability and costs of the bid package, the date I time of the pre-bid conference, the date/time of the bid opening, the contact source at HEA, the architect I engineer, and other such information as may be required. c. Bid Package Development The Bid Package Development generally includes a contract and the plans and specifications for the project. The Projects Group Manager is responsible for the Bid Package Development. Development of the bid package shall include, when applicable, specific sections for evaluation of: i. Timeliness in responding to warranties and/or repairs; u. Availability of repair facilities located within the service area; iii. Availability of replacement parts within the service area; and iv. Other such matters which may not necessarily involve only the lowest bid but are none-the-less of value to HEA in its operations. MD 306, Page 4 of 9 The contract and other documents will be reviewed by the attorney prior to dissemination, as appropriate. d. Advertise Bid Publication of the Invitation to Bid shall be in at least one paper of general circulation, as defined by Alaska State Statutes, located within the SPSC and CPSC service areas a minimum of once per week for two consecutive weeks, unless otherwise approved by the General Manager. e. Pre-Bid Conference If it is determined that there is a need for a Pre-Bid Conference, the conference shall be held at either the Homer or Kenai office of HEA. The conference shall be conducted by the Projects Group Manager. f. Bid Period 1. The bid period shall be at least 14 calendar days unless otherwise approved by the General Manager. ii. Bids shall be received only at an HEA office, and shall be logged in so as to show the date and time of receipt. Bids shall be turned over to the Projects Group Manager for safekeeping until the date of the bid opening. g. Bid Opening The Projects Group Manager shall conduct the bid opening and is responsible for determining responsiveness to bids by: 1. Opening the bids in the order in which they were received; ii. Reading aloud the name and address of the bidder and the date and time the bid was received; iii. Verifying that all required submittals were received; iv. Setting aside those bids considered not responsive and which do not have the submittals required; v. Reading aloud the bid prices for all responsive bids; vi. Assuring that the bid information is recorded on a Bid Register, for permanent records; MD 306, Page 5 of 9 vii. Reading aloud the Cost Estimate completed by I for HEA, if provided; and viii. Announcing the close of the Bid Opening and stating that an award may be made after reviewing and evaluating all bids. h. Evaluation of Bids The Project Group Manager is responsible for assuring that: 1. All bids are reviewed for correct pricing and unit extensions; 11. All technical requirements of the bid package are met by the apparent low bidder, relying upon the evaluation of consultants and HEA staff as necessary; iii. If deemed necessary by HEA, the apparent low bidder will submit a confidential bidder questionnaire or provide a list of references in order to satisfy HEA that they are responsible and qualified to perform the contract requirements; and iv. When applicable, review vendor evaluation file for matters such as timeliness of warranty work, etc.; and v. The quality of previous work/services performed for the Cooperative shall be a component of the bid evaluation. The Projects Group Manager develops an award recommendation to the General Manager, based upon such evaluation. Where price, quality and quantity are approximately equal, a business maintaining an office in the service area will be given preference in the bid award. 1. Notice of Bid Award The Projects Group Manager or the Purchasing Agent shall notify the successful bidder within ten days of the bid opening date, unless otherwise noted in bid package. 4. Informal Bid Process: All purchases which exceed $25,000, but are less than $100,000, require an informal bid process. The process for Informal Bids is as follows: MD 306, Page 6 of 9 a. Pre-Qualification List If this step is utilized, the list previously developed for the specific procurement will be utilized and the informal bid process shall include only those names shown on the Pre-Qualification List if there is a minimum of three qualified bidders. b. Informal Bid Notice i. The Projects Group Manager shall contact, v1a telecommunications, businesses qualified to provide the goods/materials required. ii. At least three bids shall be solicited. Any pre-qualified service area business shall be eligible for the invited bid process. c. Informal Bid Register The Project Group Manager is responsible for assuring that the bid information received from the contacted business is recorded on a Bid Register, and is kept on permanent record. d. Evaluation of Informal Bids The Project Group Manager and HEA staff, as required, is responsible for assuring that: i. All informal bids are reviewed for correct pricing and unit extensions; ii. All technical requirements are met by the apparent low informal bidder; and 111. Previous work performed for the Cooperative is considered in the bid evaluations. e. Award of Informal Bid 1. The Projects Group Manager and I or Purchasing Agent are authorized to award informal bids which are within the procurement limits set forth in Management Directive #305. Where price, quality and quantity are approximately equal, a business maintaining an office in the service area will be given preference in the award. 11. Informal Bids which exceed the authority of the Purchasing Agent or Department Managers for procurement authorization shall be sent to the MD 306, Page 7 of 9 General Manager for award, with a recommendation of award from the Purchasing Agent or Projects Group Manager. f. Notice of Bid Award The Purchasing Agent or Projects Group Manager shall notify the successful bidder within ten days of the bid opening date. 5. Single or Sole Source Procurement Single or sole source procurement is utilized when: a. A written determination, with supporting documentation, is made that justifies the purchase should only be made from a single or sole source. A completed HEA form 393 "Waiver of Bidding Requirements" with appropriate signatures must be submitted for General Manager authorization. b. All single or sole source procurements will be authorized by the General Manager. 6. Request for Proposal HEA periodically engages consultants in a professional or technical advisory capacity to provide certain expertise, with an end product normally being a report or recommendation, a technical service, or plans, specifications or estimates for construction projects. Such consultants typically include the following services: a. Audit Service c. Legal Services d. Banking Services d. Engineering Services These procurements require a "Request for Proposal" process, which utilizes the steps outlined in the bid process, except that the bid package is substituted with a Scope of Services Section. a. The Scope of Services Section identifies the work or services required by HEA, and methods of evaluation of the responses to the Request for Proposals. MD 306, Page 8 of 8 b. Pre-Qualification Lists for these services may be utilized and, if so, must then conform to the procedures set forth in that section. c. The term of these services may exceed a one year duration. All services with annual costs over $100,000 shall be reviewed at least every three years. d. The General Manager may waive the requirements of this process and the procurement shall then be considered a single or sole source procurement, and will follow the requirements of that section. 7. Standard Procurements Standard or routine procurements for goods or materials under $25,000 shall be accomplished in accordance with the appropriate Management Directives. 8. Exceptions Exceptions to these procedures require the authorization of the General Manager. RESPONSIBILITY It is the responsibility of each employee to adhere to these guidelines. 1"2:1_?... -II DATE DIRECTIVE HISTORY Formerly MD 603 Date Adopted: July 1993 Reviewed Dates: Revision Dates: 01/94, 10/01, 2/06, 07/06 BOARD POLICY REFERENCE(S) #401, Contracting and Purchasing MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES REFERENCE(S) MD 305, Purchasing Authority and Definitions FORMS REFERENCE(S) # 393, Waiver of Bidding Requirements ~~ BTadJ€YP.Jill10 GENERAL MANAGER Section 7 Resolution 45.2014.07  Corporate Office Central Peninsula Service Center 3977 Lake Street 280 Airport Way Homer, Alaska 99603-7680 Kenai, Alaska 99611-5280 Phone (907) 235-8551 Phone (907) 283-5831 FAX (907) 235-3313 FAX (907) 283-7122 RESOLUTION 45.2014.07 AUTHORIZATION TO PURSUE GRANT FUNDING WHEREAS,the Board of Directors of Homer Electric Association,Inc. (HEA) wishes to pursue a renewable energy Solar Community Project; and WHEREAS,the HEA Board wishes to seek a grant from the Renewable Energy Grant Fund Program, managed by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), to help fund the project;and WHEREAS, the process to pursue AEA project funding requires adequate lead time, staffing, and resources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer Electric Association, Inc. Board of Directors hereby authorizes the General Manager to proceed with the Alaska Energy Authority application process to pursue grant funding for a Solar Community Project. CERTIFICATION I, Jim Levine, do hereby certify that I am the Deputy Secretary of Homer Electric Association, Inc., and that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Directors of Homer Electric Association, Inc. held on March 11, 2014, at which meeting a quorum was present. Jim Levine, Deputy SecretaryLineDeputy Secreta