Grow Solar East Central Iowa Group Buy Program 2026

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) seeks qualified solar installation firms to design, procure, and install residential and small commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems as part of a bulk purchasing group buy program in East Central Iowa. The program covers Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington Counties and aims to reduce solar installation costs through group purchasing, competitive contractor selection, and advantageous pricing structures.

The selected firm(s) will be responsible for all aspects of PV installation including site assessments and cost estimates (provided free to participants), system design, permitting, interconnection coordination, incentive application assistance (including IRA tax credits), inspection scheduling, and final installation. Each contracted system must be installed and operational by February 28, 2027. The firm must provide weekly, bi-weekly, and/or monthly progress reports tracking lead status, site assessments, cost estimates, contracts signed, system installations, system specifications, pricing, and estimated energy production. The MREA reserves the right to review all site assessments and cost estimates to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Key dates include: RFP announcement February 27, 2026; questions due March 13, 2026 by 2:00pm CST; proposals due March 27, 2026 by 2:00pm CST; firm(s) selected April 1-3, 2026; participant list provided April 6, 2026; Solar Power Hours held May-August 2026; site assessments provided May-September 2026; participant go/no-go decisions September 31, 2026; installations begin May 2026 and must complete by February 28, 2027. Installations must be completed on an ongoing basis rather than waiting until program end.

The selected firm must hold NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification, maintain all required electrical licensing, provide proof of insurance, have at least 200 kW of residential solar installation experience, comply with SEIA Solar Business Code, and provide volume-based tiered pricing that incentivizes participation through lower prices as capacity increases. All contracts are between property owners and the selected contractor; MREA and program partners are not party to contracts and are prohibited from selling or sharing customer data without permission.