MCE Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2026-06
MCE seeks qualified DER developers to design, install, and operate customer-sited energy storage, EV chargers, smart thermostats, and other load-modification assets for its VPP program. Selected firms receive pay-for-performance compensation, grant funding opportunities, and OpenADR integration support; proposals are due October 18, 2026.
Categories
Important dates
-
Published
-
Pre-Submission Webinar
Non-mandatory informational webinar; registration required. Ends at 14:00 PDT.
-
Questions due
Submit questions via email to contracts@mcecleanenergy.org with subject line 'MCE 2026-06 RFQ Question'.
-
Q&A responses posted
MCE will provide written responses to questions by 4:00 p.m. PDT.
-
Submission deadline
Deadline passed -
Anticipated award
Selection of qualified developers expected by this date.
AI overview
MCE (Marin Clean Energy) is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 2026-06) to create a qualified pool of distributed energy resource (DER) developers for its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. The program is funded in part by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and aims to integrate customer-sited DERs—including energy storage, smart thermostats, EV chargers, heat pump water heaters, lighting controls, and other load-modification technologies—into a unified, dispatchable VPP orchestrated via MCE's Enterprise Distributed Energy Resource Management System (eDERMS) using the open-standard OpenADR communication protocol.
Developers selected through this RFQ will design, install, operate, and optionally own DER projects that enable participation in the VPP. They will receive pay-for-performance (P4P) compensation based on measured load flexibility and wholesale market value, with initial contracts offering 20% of net value generated. Residential-aligned deployments receive 5-year terms and commercial/industrial-aligned deployments receive 7-year terms. Developers also gain access to MCE's customer acquisition support, data-driven lead generation, potential CEC grant funding for high-value projects, and assistance with OpenADR 3.0 certification.
Key deadlines include a pre-submission webinar on September 22, 2026 (12:00-2:00 p.m. PDT), a question deadline on September 25, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. PDT, and final submission deadline of October 18, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. PDT via the specified Egnyte upload link. MCE anticipates selecting qualified developers by November 13, 2026. Respondents must meet minimum qualifications including 3 years of DER project development experience, 3 completed projects in California, and willingness to sign program agreements and comply with prevailing wage requirements.
Evaluation is based on a 100-point scoring system for narrative proposal (30 points), relevant project development experience (30 points), safety practices (15 points), prevailing wage practices (15 points), and OEM/aggregator integrations (10 points), plus up to 25 interview points and 10 bonus points for financing capability and OpenADR experience. MCE intends to select multiple developers to support a range of project types across commercial, industrial, agricultural, public sector, and residential market segments throughout its service territory in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano counties, California.
Resources & contact
Proposal Document
View proposal documentSolicitation number
RFQ 2026-06
Unlock Full Access to Utility Proposals
You're viewing past opportunities. Start a free trial to see active RFPs right now, filter by your utilities, and get real-time alerts — no credit card required.
Already have an account? Log in