In a request for offer (RFO) released March 9, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) asks for responses from companies on the the California Multiple Award Schedule that can help it “replicate and expand the functionalities of the existing (Renewables Portfolio Standard Database) RPSD system.” The commission’s RPSD tracks “renewable energy electricity generation projects that contribute” to meeting the state’s renewable energy requirements set in place by the Legislature. Three of the best-known large investor-owned utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — submit this type of data monthly and annually via an online database portal. Among the takeaways:
- The CPUC’s RPSD database portal lets its Energy Division follow “additional milestones related to Western Electricity Coordinating Council transmission system,” along with the total amounts of RPS generation and annual procurement expenses on RPS projects. Monitoring of procurement costs is important because of “cost containment” legislation and the CPUC’s mission to minimize customer rate impacts, as well as required annual reporting. This project would “expand the functionality of the existing system and include additional reporting entities such as small and multi-jurisdictional utilities, community choice aggregators and electric service providers.” The CPUC already has an RPSD Expansion Project ongoing, reportable to the California Department of Technology (CDT); it’s in Stage 3 of the Project Approval Lifecycle process.
- The CPUC’s existing RPSD system was a custom build using Python programming language (Django Web framework) in a Linux operating system and PostgreSQL database environment, per the RFO. Its production system is deployed in an Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud environment and uses an AWS Relational Database Service; and Docker containers to host the application and application servers. The system also uses AWS Simple Storage Service for data storage, and AWS native facilities for data security.
- “The state intends to make a single contract award to the vendor that the state determines can best meet its needs,” according to the RFO; however, its Statement of Work indicates the CPUC reserves the right to approve all subs before they do any work. In terms of advanced functionalities, the CPUC wants the new system to enable external users to upload, validate, store and query GIS Shapefiles for existing RPS projects and offers; let electricity retail seller users seek accounts/logins; provide a public interface/website to allow the general public to access the information in the RPS database system; and providing RPS database interfacing capability, so program staff can query data sets in Tableau.
- Resources qualifications include at least five years’ experience with Python, Django Web framework, PostgreSQL, and Web app design and development for lead architects and developers, plus three years’ experience with AWS and one year of experience with Tableau-based analytics. Staff qualifications include familiarity with “electric utility registration in the state,” understanding the state’s RPS program and goals and previous experience with an electric utility and/or energy company and related state agencies.
- The contract term is two years, with two optional one-year extensions; the anticipated term is May 28-May 27, 2023, subject to approval by CDT. Per the RFO, the RPSD System Implementation Services Contract Assessment total “will be the maximum value used for the Awarded Base Contract and optional years,” not to exceed $800,000. Questions are due by 12 p.m. Thursday with responses coming March 25. Offers are due by 12 p.m. April 1 and will be assessed April 5-9. The notification of award is slated for May 28 and the anticipated contract start date is June 4.
