Municipal Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Power Purchase Agreement

The City of Ocean City is soliciting proposals under RFP #Q-26-01 for the design, installation, commissioning, and warranty of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at four municipal facilities: the Public Works Building at 115 E. 12th Street, the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, the Fire Headquarters at 550 Asbury Avenue, and the Fleet Maintenance Facility at 1008 Haven Avenue. The contract is structured as a Power Purchase Agreement, where the city will pay a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour for energy produced, with an annual escalation rate applied to the base rate. The contractor must provide all labor, materials, equipment, permits, and supervision, including solar panels, inverters, racking, wiring, monitoring hardware, and balance-of-system components, and must ensure full compliance with NEC, IBC, IFC, NJ UCC, and local codes. A critical requirement is the expansion of system capacity beyond 100% of each building’s usage to enable Remote Net Metering, directing surplus energy to other city-owned facilities. The project timeline varies by site, with a 180-day completion window from panel arrival for the Public Works Building and Community Center, and a 180-day window measured from the later of roof replacement or panel arrival for the Fire Headquarters and Fleet Maintenance Facility. Liquidated damages of $500 to $2,000 per day apply for delays, escalating based on the number of days past deadline. Contractors must meet stringent insurance requirements, including commercial general liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, $1 million automotive liability, and $2 million umbrella coverage, with policies naming the City and its engineer or architect as additional insured. Proof of worker’s compensation coverage under New Jersey law is mandatory, as is compliance with the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bidders are required to submit a bid bond equal to 10% of the total bid price, not exceeding $20,000, with a valid Power of Attorney, along with Consent of Surety for Performance and Payment Bonds covering the full labor value. Additional prerequisites include a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, Non-Debarment certification, Statement of Ownership Disclosure, Non-Collusion Certification, and Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran. The evaluation process prioritizes price per kWh and annual escalation rate at 40%,