Wildfire Planning Tool for Bidirectional Long-Term Risk Quantification and Management

The California Energy Commission is funding the design and development of a software platform to quantify and manage mid- and long-term bidirectional wildfire risk associated with electrical infrastructure, with the goal of enabling utilities to make informed decisions about grid expansion and wildfire mitigation strategies. The tool will integrate climate trends to improve the accuracy of risk assessments, leading to enhanced electricity reliability, reduced long-term operational costs, and increased public safety for ratepayers. The project is being led by the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the UCLA Campus, with oversight from the California Energy Commission, and performance will occur across multiple locations within California, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although the contract is classified as a forecast and lacks a formal solicitation number, it was signed on October 15, 2025, and is rooted in a categorical exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, confirming that the activity involves basic research and software development without significant environmental impact. No detailed contract value, payment terms, invoicing procedures, or federal acquisition regulation clauses have been provided, and no formal evaluation factors, award basis, or socioeconomic certifications are documented. The primary deliverable is a decision-support software platform that conducts data fusion, numerical modeling, and simulations to generate actionable insights for grid resilience planning. Point of contact for the agreement is Aryana Sherzai of the California Energy Commission, with additional coordination through Enrique López Droguett of UCLA. Two mandatory attachments are required: a certified exemption finding and confirmation of a filed Notice of Exemption, but no packaging, marking, delivery, or technical specifications beyond the software’s functional intent are detailed.