RFA: Community Buildings Decarbonization Technical Assistance and Program Design

Community Buildings Decarbonization Program – Request for Applications

Applications are no longer open.

Archival Language:

Update: This request will remain open through July 21, 2025 at 11:59PM (PT).

This request will remain open through July 16, 2025, at 11:59PM (PT). King County may extend the deadline depending on the volume of submissions from qualified applicants. King County will notify each applicant no later than 60 days following submission about the status of their application.

King County is soliciting applications from qualified firms to provide technical assistance and program design support for a program to equitably decarbonize community buildings.* The consultant will support delivery of King County’s new Community Buildings Decarbonization Program, funded through a U.S. EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG).

Submissions are requested from consultants who can provide the following services in-house or in partnership with a team of subconsultants:

• Technical assistance for non-government owned community buildings – services and project planning, as well as management of the technical assistance process, to deliver planning for cost-effective decarbonization for non-government owned community buildings.
• Program design support – program design feedback, graphic design for program logos, GIS analysis, and other services as needed to support design and implementation of a direct installation program for non-government owned community buildings.
• Custom engineering and project design – development of engineering and mechanical plans for non-government owned buildings participating in the program that need custom solutions.
• Pre-award technical assistance for government-owned community buildings – decarbonization project design and planning to support development of strong project plans for government-owned community buildings.

*Community buildings serve as community gathering spaces or offer community services. Buildings that participate in this program will be similar to small-medium sized commercial buildings.

The selected Consultant (and their subconsultants, where relevant) will deliver these services as part of a King County program aimed at equitably decarbonizing community buildings, with a specific focus on those serving low-income, disadvantaged communities (LIDAC). The program will serve communities in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

The purpose of this Request for Application (RFA) is to establish a contract to provide goods and/or services.

The contract term will run from 2025 through September 30, 2029, subject to funding availability and the termination clauses contained herein. King County reserves the right to extend the contract term or number of buildings served if determined to be in the best interest of the County.

• Program design support will begin in Q3 or Q4 2025 and run through the contract term (Q3 2029).
• Pre-application technical assistance will likely occur in Q1 and Q2 of 2026, though may start earlier in Q3 or Q4 of 2025.
• Technical assistance for program participants, as well as any custom design, engineering, and mechanical work, will likely occur from Q2 2026 through Q1 2028.
  
  
  

Informational Webinar

Definitions

• Community buildings – buildings that serve as community gathering spaces or offer community services.
• Buildings that serve as gathering spaces – enclosed structures, fully protected from the elements, in which large groups of people intentionally congregate. Examples of such buildings include community centers, places of worship, community arts centers, etc.
• Buildings that provide community services – enclosed structures, fully protected from the elements, that are used to directly enable people to improve their lives. Examples of such buildings include food banks, community health clinics, skills training sites, etc.
• Low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs) – According to US EPA: Any community that meets at least one of the following characteristics:
  • Identified as disadvantaged by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST);
  • Any census block group that is at or above the 90th percentile for any of EJScreen’s Supplemental Indexes when compared to the nation or state; and/or
  • Any geographic area within Tribal lands as included in EJScreen.  

Funding Acknowledgement

Frequently Asked Questions

Request for Applications: Community Buildings Program Technical Assistance and Program Design Support

Questions

Updated 7/17/2025

Posted 7/17/2025

1. Will the July 1, 2025 RFA Info Session webinar recording be posted?
​Yes, the RFA info session was recorded and the recording is posted on this webpage, in the Information Session section.

2. Can I apply to provide a subset of the service areas outlined in the RFA?
No. Applicants must be able to provide all services described in the RFA either in-house or in partnership with a team of subconsultants.

3. Can I apply to provide services only in specific counties?
No. Applicants must be able to provide all services across ALL four counties—King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish—either in-house or in partnership with a team of subconsultants.

4. Are applicants required to have experience working with ALL utility companies that serve King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties?
No, experience working with all utilities companies that serve all four counties is not an eligibility requirement for this RFA. One component of the Introduction and Overview section of the Narrative Response portion of the application asks applicants to describe their “history of work and activity in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, including your work with each utility serving these areas. Please note if any county, or any portion of any county, is outside your current service area and what your approach would be to delivering services to buildings in those areas if selected for this contract.” If an applicant does not have experience working with a particular utility, the Narrative Response should acknowledge that and share what the approach would be to establishing those working relationships.

5. Based on the quantity of Pre-Application Technical Assistance described in the scope of work of the RFA, it sounds like many buildings will skip Pre-Application Technical Assistance and go straight to initial assessment (Phase I technical assistance). Is that correct?
Yes. We anticipate 10-20 entities will request and receive Pre-Application Technical Assistance to support them in applying to the program; and we anticipate that the majority of entities applying to the program will not request or require Pre-Application Technical Assistance. After their applications are reviewed, and if they are accepted into the program, entities would go straight to Phase I technical assistance.


6. In the RFA scope of work Section 2.5, is the 5-building target output for “Custom engineering support provided to non-government owned community buildings” a subset of the 40-50 buildings listed as an output for non-government owned buildings receiving Phase II technical assistance? Or is it a separate 5 buildings?
We anticipate a TOTAL of 40-50 non-government owned buildings moving sequentially through Phase I technical assistance and then Phase II technical assistance. Any building receiving custom engineering design support will be a part of that existing pool of 40-50 buildings and will complete both Phase I and Phase II technical assistance for non-government owned community buildings.


7. With regard to the Custom Engineering for Non-Government Owned Community Buildings described in the RFA scope of work section, does this task include stamping drawings, serving as Engineer of Record, and managing the permitting process? Or are most projects anticipated to be developed to a level to be handed off to a design-build contractor for installation?
The scope of work described in the RFA does not include any construction work; it only takes projects through the planning stage to move them to a place of being “shovel ready.” Given this, it is not anticipated that an Engineer of Record, stamped plans, or management of permitting processes would be needed within the scope of work of this RFA. A specific project may require those services at a later phase as the project moves into implementation/installation. As such, it’s anticipated that custom engineering support and solutions provided through this RFA, in addition to providing the designs themselves, would also flag any instances where an Engineer of Record and/or specific permitting would be required in order to execute on the plans.

8. Given the timing of the 4th of July holiday and vacations, can the County please consider extending the deadline for this RFA?
Noting potential impact of summer vacations around the July 4 holiday, King County is extending the RFA submission deadline to Monday, July 21 at 11:59pm PT.


9. We understand that this program is funded by the CPRG grant that the County was awarded in 2024. Does the County have any perspective on whether those funds are at risk of being frozen, terminated, or rescinded; or is that funding fully secured?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded King County a $50 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant on October 17, 2024. The Award is obligated in full for the entire project and budget period, which ends on September 30, 2029. King County has been making monthly draws of Award funds without issue. King County follows developments at the federal level closely, and does not anticipate any change in availability of the grant funds.


10. Section 1.22 Utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises indicates the King County historical construction utilization rates of MBE 17.4% and WBE 6.3%. Is the Consultant required to commit to these utilization rates or higher in the MWBE Utilization Approach as a part of the “fair share” objectives?
King County’s historical DBE utilization rates referenced in the RFA are included as a point of reference. They do not represent a minimum threshold; RFA applicants are not required to commit to meeting King County’s historical DBE utilization rates. Applicants are required to submit RFA Attachment A – MWBE Utilization Approach. The Approach contains five required elements, including the Applicant’s proposed MBE and WBE utilization rates for the project. The remaining four Approach elements involve a description of the specific actions, or good faith efforts, planned by the Applicant firm to maximize MBE and WBE opportunities and participation on the project.

See RFA Section 1.22 Utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for additional information regarding good faith efforts.

Please note: The terms MWBE Utilization Approach and MWBE Utilization Plan are used in the RFA materials interchangeably.


11. Task 4 requires “Development of custom engineering and mechanical plans for program participant buildings that require specialized engineering or mechanical solutions.” Can the County please clarify if this includes the Consultant stamping drawings and serving as Engineer of Record?
​Please see response to question #7.

12. Is the Consultant expected to support permit applications where required for custom engineering projects? Can we assume that the County or some other party will be responsible for submitting and coordinating permit applications for engineering design work?
​Please see response to question #7.

13. Regarding workforce development under Task 2 and the note that “The Consultant will require energy audit subconsultants to participate in paid work-based learning”, can the County please clarify if there is a minimum amount of “paid work-based learning” required per subconsultant or trainee per year?

In order to fulfill the work-based learning requirement, contractors are required to host 2 trainees for 240 hours (which is 6 weeks full time, or 12 weeks part time) as a part of King County signature workforce development program King County JumpStart or through Coalition for Climate Careers. Staff from JumpStart will work collaboratively with contractors to meet program requirements while accounting for projects needs and contractor capacity. Paid work-based learning is of no financial cost to contractors; the U.S. EPA grant funding covers this expense.

14. Regarding workforce development, can the County please clarify what is meant by “the Consultant will also host at least two workforce program participants each year”. What is hosting expected to include? Does it include training, a certain minimum amount of work, hiring/staffing on a temporary basis, etc.?
JumpStart and Coalition for Climate Careers require host sites provide workforce program participants with a schedule, supervision, and training in completing assignments, signed weekly timesheets, and 2 evaluation surveys over the course of the 240 hours of training. The County covers financial compensation for the trainees for the first 240 hours and the consultant has the option to hire on the trainee or end the paid work-based learning experience after completion of 240 hours. Jumpstart and Coalition for Climate Careers will also assist participants in completing any pre-training required by contractors before the start of paid work-based learning. Participants are not required to exclusively work on projects associated with community building technical assistance but are strongly encouraged to have touch points with the program during their paid work-based learning experience.


15. Regarding the note that “workforce development program participants will complete 240 hours of work-based learning with relevant contractors”, we assume that such work would occur for installation and construction activities and therefore would be separate from this RFA technical assistance scope. Can the County clarify or confirm this?
King County will collaborate with the technical assistance provider to create paid work-based learning activities tailored to the interests and capacities of young people, where feasible. For instance, graduates of the project management track of JumpStart may want to learn more about decarbonization project design or other services rendered through this contract. If this occurs, JumpStart staff will work with the contractor to ensure that participants are well-prepared to complete a paid work-based learning placement with the contractor, while also considering project goals and the contractor's capacity.


16. The RFA and Attachment B cost proposal do not seem to indicate any requirements regarding rates. Since this is a Federally funded project, is the Consultant required to meet FAR rates, or meet some other rate requirement?
This project is funded by a U.S. EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), and is therefore subject to both federal and King County consultant rate requirements.

Under King County’s CPRG Award (EPA Award No. 84101001), the following federal consultant rate cap applies:  EPA participation in the salary rate (excluding overhead) paid to individual consultants retained by recipients or by a recipient’s contractors or subcontractors is limited to the maximum daily rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule.  As of January 1, 2024, this limit is $735.60 per day or $91.95 per hour.  This rate cap applies to individuals with specialized skills who are paid on a daily or hourly basis.

However, this cap does not apply to firms providing services under contracts awarded using the procurement requirements in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D, unless the contract gives King County the ability to select, direct, or control the individual providing services (see 2 CFR § 1500.10.).  In most cases under this RFA, King County will not exercise this type of control over subcontractor/subconsultant personnel, so the federal consultant rate cap will not apply to firms with multiple employees delivering services through standard procurement contracts.

That said, King County’s consultant rate caps apply to all contracts under this RFA, regardless of federal applicability.  Proposed labor or billing rates that exceed the County’s established caps must include adequate justification and are subject to County review.  For current rate caps, please visit: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/about-king-county/business-operations/finance-business-operations/procurement-payables/labor-and-escalation-rates

If your proposal includes individual consultants (not firm employees), please clearly identify them and describe how rates were determined.  King County reserves the right to request clarification or documentation before awarding a contract.

17. Can you clarify how many work-based learning placements are required to be placed with the consultant for this scope of work and if the budget for trainees working in these placements should be included in the consultant’s cost proposal?
King County will collaborate with the technical assistance provider to create paid work-based learning activities tailored to the interests and capacities of young people, where feasible. The stipends for trainees working in these workforce development placements will be covered by King County or Coalition for Climate Careers (C3); thus, budget for trainees working in these places should not be included in the consultant’s cost proposal for the RFA.

18. Do you have objective criteria in mind for determining “sound project readiness”? Or is that something you expect the consultant to develop with you?
We don’t currently have criteria set for determining “project readiness.” This will be developed in the coming months and in partnership with the consultants through this RFA.

19. Can you provide clarification on what you mean by a “shovel ready” project that does not require an engineer of record, stamped plans, and permitting? This is regarding a response already posted in Q&A.
The response to Question #7 above, includes the line “The scope of work described in the RFA does not include any construction work; it only takes projects through the planning stage to move them to a place of being ‘shovel ready.’” This is intended to highlight that the scope of work described in the RFA is to support the planning of decarbonization projects, not the installation of them or any potential construction related to installation. “Shovel ready” is intended to convey that a project is fully planned out (e.g., budget, timeline, feasibility, and any needed plans for custom engineering solutions are sufficiently drawn up) and ready to hand off to an installation contractor and/or a construction and installation contractor where needed. The operating assumption is that in cases where custom engineering solutions are needed, the consultant working through this (currently posted) RFA would hand off all project planning documents and engineering drawings to the separately-procured construction and/or installation contractor to secure permits, an engineering stamp on plans, and any additional final needs to proceed with a separate construction phase.