May 2013 Renewable Auction Mechanism

SDG&E’s Renewable Auction Mechanism May 2013 RFO Seeking RAM Power Purchase Agreements

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) is issuing this fourth Request for Offers (RFO) in support of its Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM).  This RFO is issued to solicit offers from eligible energy generators (Respondents).  By responding, Respondents are bound by the terms of this RFO.

The RAM, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in Decision (D.) 10-12-048 and modified by Resolution E-4414, Resolution E-4489, Resolution E-4546, and Resolution E-4582 (together, the RAM Decision), supplements the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, complements the California Solar Initiative (CSI) program, promotes small-scale renewable development and may present local employment potential in California.  SDG&E’s RAM program incorporates the directives of the RAM Decision.  SDG&E’s RAM program is designed to procure a total of 155 MW over the course of five solicitations.  SDG&E’s first, second, and third RAM solicitations, held in November, 2011, May, 2012, and November 2012 respectively, resulted in the procurement of approximately 85 MW, leaving approximately 70 MW to procure over the course of the next two solicitations.

SDG&E intends to procure 47 MW during this solicitation pursuant to 10, 15 and 20-year RAM Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers.  SDG&E is not requesting bids for renewable energy credits, feed-in-tariff projects or other RPS procurement activities that currently exist or are being contemplated.

Winning Respondents shall enter into a non-negotiable PPA for bundled renewable energy deliveries from eligible renewable resources that can meet the criteria described in the RFO documents (provided below).

Solicitation Protocols:

Details regarding the solicitation process and eligibility requirements are provided in the RFO document below.

• The May 2013 RAM RFO (pdf)

Required Forms and Documents

Respondents may submit offers to this solicitation by submitting the forms listed below (note the exception in regards to the Form PPA as further described below).  Forms are available on the RFO Website.  The failure to provide the required information may result in the offer being deemed non-conforming and may disqualify the offer from further consideration.

• Project Description Form (doc)
  Submit one per project.

• Pricing Form – may submit two pricing options per project (one showing Energy Only pricing and another showing Full Capacity Deliverability Status pricing)

  • Off-Peak and/or Baseload Form (xlsx)

  • Peak Form (xlsx)

• Site Control Documentation

• Copy of interconnection agreement, most recent study results or equivalent Fast Track documentation.

• Form PPA (doc)
  The Form PPA includes some terms that provide options (e.g. 10, 15, or 20 year term).  Terms that do not provide options are non-modifiable.  Respondents DO NOT have to provide a redline of the Form PPA in their offers.  Bids that are selected and shortlisted will receive from SDG&E, as part of its notification to winning bidders, a FORM RAM PPA that is redlined to reflect the relevant provisions that are applicable to the proposed project as indicated by Respondent in their Project Description Form.

Any party interested in submitting an offer must submit the offer via electronic mail (e-mail) to RAMSolicitation@sdge.com, which is the RAM RFO inbox, and attach all required forms and bid materials to the e-mail.  The Subject line of the e-mail should be as follows: Bid Submission for SDG&E’s May 2013 RAM RFO.  A reply e-mail from the RAM RFO inbox will be sent to the email address submitting the offer to confirm receipt of the offer.  All offers must be e-mailed by no later than 12:00 p.m. (i.e. Noon), Pacific Standard Time, on the CLOSING DATE, June 28, 2013 (see RAM RFO Schedule).

The Project Description Form must be in Word or Word-compatible format (not in PDF).  The Pricing Form must be in Excel or Excel-compatible format (not in PDF).  The interconnection and site control documentation must be submitted in PDF format.

RFO Communication

All questions or other communications regarding this RFO should be submitted via e-mail to RAMSolicitation@sdge.com.  All questions and answers will be posted on this website anonymously.  SDG&E will not accept questions or comments in any other form, except during the pre-bid conference.  Respondents are encouraged to check this RFO Website periodically for updates, notices, and postings.

Pre-Bid Conference

SDG&E will hold one pre-bid conference via web conference.  The pre-bid conference will be held on May 29, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  If you plan to join, please email RAMSolicitation@sdge.com, by Thursday, May 23, and provide your company name and a list of attendees including their full names and contact information.  Please limit participation to two representatives per company.

May 2013 RAM RFO Pre-Bid Conference
Event reference: 1615314
Date: 29 May 2013 - 1:00 PM, PST

Pre-Bid Conference presentation
Audience link: http://icsus.meeting-stream.com/052913_Sempra_1615314/

Participant dial in (toll-free)*:(866) 793-1340

Web conference participation instructions for the pre-bid conference will be updated shortly.  Please check the RAM RFO website periodically for updates, notices and postings.

*Participation in the pre-bid conference is NOT mandatory in order to submit an offer.

RFO Announcements

Please check this website periodically as SDG&E will post all solicitation announcements, including scheduling changes or RFO amendments if any.

Pre-Bid Conference Questions and Answers (pdf)

Submitting Offers

Any party interested in submitting an offer must submit the offer via e-mail to RAMSolicitation@sdge.com, and the Subject line of the e-mail should be as follows: Bid Submission for SDG&E’s May 2013 RAM RFO.  All offers must be emailed no later than 12:00 p.m. (i.e. Noon), Pacific Standard Time, on the CLOSING DATE, June 28, 2013 (see RFO Schedule).  A reply email from the RAM RFO inbox will be sent to the email address submitting the offer to confirm receipt of the offer.  If Respondents encounter technical difficulties with emailing, they should provide evidence of such difficulties (e.g. a screen shot of the error message) and email the bid again to the RAM RFO inbox by 1:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, on the Closing Date.  If the Respondent encounters further technical difficulties with the RAM RFO inbox, they should provide evidence of such difficulties (e.g. a screen shot of the error message or a sent email notice with a time stamp before 1:00 p.m. on the Closing Date) and submit a hard copy and a CD of the bid package to SDG&E and the Independent Evaluator at the addresses below by close of business on the day following the Closing Date.

• San Diego Gas & Electric Company
  Electric and Gas Procurement Department
  Attn: RAM Solicitation
  8315 Century Park Court, CP-21D
  San Diego, CA 92123-1548

• Barbara Sands
  PA Consulting Group
  1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 4600
  Denver, CO 80203

The following schedule and deadlines apply to this RFO. SDG&E reserves the right to revise this schedule at anytime and at SDG&E's sole discretion. Respondents are responsible for accessing the RFO website for updated schedules and possible amendments to the RFO or the solicitation process.